Genesis 38:1-6

Judah and Tamar

1 At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah.

2 There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her and made love to her;

3 she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was named Er.

4 She conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan.

5 She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah. It was at Kezib that she gave birth to him.

6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

Genesis 38:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 38

This chapter is wholly taken up with matters relating to Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, from whom the Jews have their name, and from whom Christ sprung: it treats of his marriage with a Canaanitess, his children by her, their character and end, Ge 38:1-11; of his incest with his daughter-in-law, though unknown by him, Ge 38:12-23; of his resentment against her, when he heard she was with child, and his confusion when he found it was by himself, Ge 38:24-26; and of the birth of twins by her, named Pharez and Zarah, Ge 38:27-30.

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 29:35
• 2. Joshua 12:15; Joshua 15:35; 1 Samuel 22:1; 2 Samuel 23:13; 2 Chronicles 11:7
• 3. ver 12,20
• 4. ver 12; 1 Chronicles 2:3
• 5. ver 6; Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19
• 6. ver 8,9; Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19
• 7. Numbers 26:20
• 8. ver 11,13