Genesis 38:1-8

1 It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and settled near a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah.

2 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua; he married her and went in to her.

3 She conceived and bore a son; and he named him Er.

4 Again she conceived and bore a son whom she named Onan.

5 Yet again she bore a son, and she named him Shelah. She was in Chezib when she bore him.

6 Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn; her name was Tamar.

7 But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death.

8 Then Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her; raise up offspring for your brother."

Genesis 38:1-8 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Gk: Heb [He]