Genesis 38:6

6 For his first son Er, Judah got a wife whose name was Tamar.

Genesis 38:6 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 38:6

And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn
Chose one for him, and presented her to him for his liking, whom he approving of married: whose name [was] Tamar;
which signifies a "palm tree": the Targum of Jonathan says, she was the daughter of Shem; but it is altogether improbable that a daughter of his should be living at this time, and young enough to bear children: it is much more probable that she was daughter of Levi, Judah's brother, as an Arabic writer ^F15 asserts; but it is more likely still that she was the daughter of a Canaanite, who was living in the same place, though his name is not mentioned, ( Genesis 38:11 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F15 Abulpharag. Hist. Dynast. p. 16.

Genesis 38:6 In-Context

4 She became pregnant again and bore another son and named him Onan.

5 Again she had a son and named him Shelah. Judah was at Achzib when the boy was born.

6 For his first son Er, Judah got a wife whose name was Tamar.

7 Er's conduct was evil, and it displeased the Lord, so the Lord killed him.

8 Then Judah said to Er's brother Onan, "Go and sleep with your brother's widow. Fulfill your obligation to her as her husband's brother, so that your brother may have descendants."