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Genesis 38 :: New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

Judah and Tamar

Gen 38:1

And it came about at that time, that Judah [fn]departed from his brothers and [fn]visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.

Gen 38:2Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua; and he took her as a wife and had relations with her.
Gen 38:3And she conceived and gave birth to a son, and he named him Er.
Gen 38:4Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and she named him Onan.
Gen 38:5She gave birth to yet another son and named him Shelah; and it was at Chezib [fn]that she gave birth to him.
Gen 38:6

Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

Gen 38:7But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life.
Gen 38:8Then Judah said to Onan, “Have relations with your brother’s wife and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up a [fn]child for your brother.”
Gen 38:9Now Onan knew that the [fn]child would not be his; so when he had relations with his brother’s wife, he [fn]wasted his seed on the ground so that he would not give [fn]a child to his brother.
Gen 38:10But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He took his life also.
Gen 38:11Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”; for he [fn]thought, “I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.
Gen 38:12

Now [fn]after a considerable time Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when [fn]the time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

Gen 38:13And Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”
Gen 38:14So she [fn]removed her widow’s garments and covered herself with a [fn]veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of [fn]Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife.
Gen 38:15When Judah saw her, he assumed she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
Gen 38:16So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, “[fn]Here now, let me have relations with you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may have relations with me?”
Gen 38:17He said, therefore, “I will send you a [fn]young goat from the flock.” She then said, “Will you give a pledge until you send it?
Gen 38:18He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, “Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and had relations with her, and she conceived by him.
Gen 38:19Then she got up and departed, and [fn]removed her [fn]veil and put on her widow’s garments.
Gen 38:20

When Judah sent the [fn]young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her.

Gen 38:21He asked the people of her place, saying, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no temple prostitute here.”
Gen 38:22So he returned to Judah, and said, “I did not find her; and furthermore, the people of the place said, ‘There has been no temple prostitute here.’”
Gen 38:23Then Judah said, “Let her [fn]keep them, otherwise we will become a laughingstock. [fn]After all, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her.”
Gen 38:24

Now it was about three months later that Judah was [fn]informed, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has prostituted herself, and behold, she is also pregnant by prostitution.” Then Judah said, “Bring her out and have her burned!”

Gen 38:25It was while she was being brought out that she sent word to her father-in-law, saying, “I am pregnant by the man to whom these things belong.” She also said, “Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?”
Gen 38:26And Judah recognized them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not [fn]have relations with her again.
Gen 38:27

It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb.

Gen 38:28Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, that one baby put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.”
Gen 38:29But it came about as he drew back his hand that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named [fn]Perez.
Gen 38:30Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named [fn]Zerah.
NASB20 Footnotes
Lit went down
Lit turned aside to
Lit when
Lit seed
Lit seed
Lit spilled on the ground
Lit seed
Lit said
Lit the days became many and
Lit Judah was comforted, he
Lit removed from herself
Or shawl
In Josh 15:34, Enam
Or Come, now
Lit kid of goats
Lit removed from herself
Or shawl
Lit kid of goats by the hand of
Lit take for herself
Lit Behold
Lit informed, saying
Lit know her yet again
I.e., a breach
I.e., a dawning or brightness
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Genesis Chapter 38 — Additional Translations: