Genesis 38:15

15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, because she had covered her face with a veil.

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 Tamar learned that Judah, her father-in-law, was going to Timnah to cut the wool from his sheep.

14 So she took off the clothes that showed she was a widow and covered her face with a veil to hide who she was. Then she sat down by the gate of Enaim on the road to Timnah. She did this because Judah's younger son Shelah had grown up, but Judah had not made plans for her to marry him.

15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, because she had covered her face with a veil.

16 So Judah went to her and said, "Let me have sexual relations with you." He did not know that she was Tamar, his daughter-in-law. She asked, "What will you give me if I let you have sexual relations with me?"

17 Judah answered, "I will send you a young goat from my flock." She answered, "First give me something to keep as a deposit until you send the goat."