Genesis 38 :: King James Version (KJV)

Judah and Tamar

Gen 38:1And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.

Gen 38:2

Gen 38:2And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.

Gen 38:3

Gen 38:3And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.

Gen 38:4

Gen 38:4And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.

Gen 38:5

Gen 38:5And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.

Gen 38:6

Gen 38:6And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.

Gen 38:7

Gen 38:7And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.

Gen 38:8

Gen 38:8And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

Gen 38:9

Gen 38:9And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.

Gen 38:10

Gen 38:10And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

Gen 38:11

Gen 38:11Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

Gen 38:12

Gen 38:12And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

Gen 38:13

Gen 38:13And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

Gen 38:14

Gen 38:14And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

Gen 38:15

Gen 38:15When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.

Gen 38:16

Gen 38:16And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?

Gen 38:17

Gen 38:17And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?

Gen 38:18

Gen 38:18And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.

Gen 38:19

Gen 38:19And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

Gen 38:20

Gen 38:20And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not.

Gen 38:21

Gen 38:21Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.

Gen 38:22

Gen 38:22And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.

Gen 38:23

Gen 38:23And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.

Gen 38:24

Gen 38:24And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.

Gen 38:25

Gen 38:25When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.

Gen 38:26

Gen 38:26And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.

Gen 38:27

Gen 38:27And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.

Gen 38:28

Gen 38:28And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.

Gen 38:29

Gen 38:29And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.

Gen 38:30

Gen 38:30And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

See the KJV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

The Authorized Version or King James Version (KJV), 1611, 1769.
Outside of the United Kingdom, the KJV is in the public domain. Within the United Kingdom, the rights to the KJV are vested in the Crown.

For more information on this translation, see the KJV Preface.

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Genesis Chapter 38 — Additional Translations:

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Genesis 38 :: King James Version (KJV)

Judah and Tamar

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Genesis Chapter 38 — Additional Translations:

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