Genesis 38:15

15 And when Judas saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she covered her face, and he knew her not.

Genesis 38:15 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 38:15

When Judah saw her, he thought her [to be] an harlot
By her posture and the place she was in: because she had covered her face;
with her veil, that he did not know her; for this is not given as a reason why he took her to be an harlot; the reason of this was, because she sat in the public road; but having covered her face he could not discern who she was, and therefore, from the other circumstance, concluded that she was an harlot, and sat there to prostitute herself to any that passed by.

Genesis 38:15 In-Context

13 And it was told Thamar his daughter-in-law, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Thamna, to shear his sheep.

14 And having taken off the garments of her widowhood from her, she put on a veil, and ornamented her face, and sat by the gates of Aenan, which is in the way to Thamna, for she saw that Selom was grown; but he gave her not to him for a wife.

15 And when Judas saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she covered her face, and he knew her not.

16 And he went out of his way to her, and said to her, Let me come in to thee; for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law; and she said, What wilt thou give me if thou shouldest come in to me?

17 And he said, I will send thee a kid of the goats from my flock; and she said, , if thou wilt give me an earnest, until thou send it.