Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Genesis » Chapter 38 » Verse 1-30

Genesis 38:1-30 King James Version (KJV)

1 And 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 And 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.

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

11 Then 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.

12 And 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.

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

14 And 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.

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

16 And 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?

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

18 And 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.

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

20 And 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.

21 Then 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.

22 And 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.

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

24 And 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.

25 When 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.

26 And 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.

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

28 And 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.

29 And 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.

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


Genesis 38:1-30 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And it came to pass at that time, H6256 that Judah H3063 went down H3381 from his brethren, H251 and turned H5186 in to a certain H376 Adullamite, H5726 whose name H8034 was Hirah. H2437

2 And Judah H3063 saw H7200 there a daughter H1323 of a certain H376 Canaanite, H3669 whose name H8034 was Shuah; H7770 and he took her, H3947 and went in H935 unto her.

3 And she conceived, H2029 and bare H3205 a son; H1121 and he called H7121 his name H8034 Er. H6147

4 And she conceived H2029 again, and bare H3205 a son; H1121 and she called H7121 his name H8034 Onan. H209

5 And she yet again conceived, H3254 and bare H3205 a son; H1121 and called H7121 his name H8034 Shelah: H7956 and he was at Chezib, H3580 when she bare H3205 him.

6 And Judah H3063 took H3947 a wife H802 for Er H6147 his firstborn, H1060 whose name H8034 was Tamar. H8559

7 And Er, H6147 Judah's H3063 firstborn, H1060 was wicked H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD; H3068 and the LORD H3068 slew H4191 him.

8 And Judah H3063 said H559 unto Onan, H209 Go in H935 unto thy brother's H251 wife, H802 and marry H2992 her, and raise up H6965 seed H2233 to thy brother. H251

9 And Onan H209 knew H3045 that the seed H2233 should not be his; and it came to pass, when H518 he went in H935 unto his brother's H251 wife, H802 that he spilled H7843 it on the ground, H776 lest H1115 that he should give H5414 seed H2233 to his brother. H251

10 And the thing which H834 he did H6213 displeased H3415 H5869 the LORD: H3068 wherefore he slew H4191 him also.

11 Then said H559 Judah H3063 to Tamar H8559 his daughter in law, H3618 Remain H3427 a widow H490 at thy father's H1 house, H1004 till Shelah H7956 my son H1121 be grown: H1431 for he said, H559 Lest peradventure he die H4191 also, as his brethren H251 did. And Tamar H8559 went H3212 and dwelt H3427 in her father's H1 house. H1004

12 And in process H7235 of time H3117 the daughter H1323 of Shuah H7770 Judah's H3063 wife H802 died; H4191 and Judah H3063 was comforted, H5162 and went up H5927 unto his sheepshearers H1494 H6629 to Timnath, H8553 he and his friend H7453 Hirah H2437 the Adullamite. H5726

13 And it was told H5046 Tamar, H8559 saying, H559 Behold thy father in law H2524 goeth up H5927 to Timnath H8553 to shear H1494 his sheep. H6629

14 And she put H5493 her widow's H491 garments H899 off H5493 from her, and covered her H3680 with a vail, H6809 and wrapped herself, H5968 and sat in H3427 an open H5869 place, H6607 which is by the way H1870 to Timnath; H8553 for she saw H7200 that Shelah H7956 was grown, H1431 and she was not given H5414 unto him to wife. H802

15 When Judah H3063 saw her, H7200 he thought H2803 her to be an harlot; H2181 because she had covered H3680 her face. H6440

16 And he turned H5186 unto her by the way, H1870 and said, H559 Go to, H3051 I pray thee, let me come in H935 unto thee; (for he knew H3045 not that she was his daughter in law.) H3618 And she said, H559 What wilt thou give H5414 me, that thou mayest come in H935 unto me?

17 And he said, H559 I will send H7971 thee a kid H5795 H1423 from the flock. H6629 And she said, H559 Wilt thou give H5414 me a pledge, H6162 till thou send H7971 it?

18 And he said, H559 What H834 pledge H6162 shall I give H5414 thee? And she said, H559 Thy signet, H2368 and thy bracelets, H6616 and thy staff H4294 that is in thine hand. H3027 And he gave H5414 it her, and came in H935 unto her, and she conceived H2029 by him.

19 And she arose, H6965 and went away, H3212 and laid by H5493 her vail H6809 from her, and put on H3847 the garments H899 of her widowhood. H491

20 And Judah H3063 sent H7971 the kid H1423 H5795 by the hand H3027 of his friend H7453 the Adullamite, H5726 to receive H3947 his pledge H6162 from the woman's H802 hand: H3027 but he found her H4672 not.

21 Then he asked H7592 the men H582 of that place, H4725 saying, H559 Where is the harlot, H6948 that was openly H5869 by the way side? H1870 And they said, H559 There was no harlot H6948 in this H2088 place.

22 And he returned H7725 to Judah, H3063 and said, H559 I cannot H3808 find H4672 her; and also the men H582 of the place H4725 said, H559 that there was no harlot H6948 in this place.

23 And Judah H3063 said, H559 Let her take H3947 it to her, lest we be shamed: H937 behold, I sent H7971 this kid, H1423 and thou hast not found H4672 her.

24 And it came to pass about three H7969 months H2320 after, that it was told H5046 Judah, H3063 saying, H559 Tamar H8559 thy daughter in law H3618 hath played the harlot; H2181 and also, behold, she is with child H2030 by whoredom. H2183 And Judah H3063 said, H559 Bring her forth, H3318 and let her be burnt. H8313

25 When she was brought forth, H3318 she sent H7971 to her father in law, H2524 saying, H559 By the man, H376 whose these are, am I with child: H2030 and she said, H559 Discern, H5234 I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, H2858 and bracelets, H6616 and staff. H4294

26 And Judah H3063 acknowledged H5234 them, and said, H559 She hath been more righteous H6663 than I; because that I gave H5414 her not to Shelah H7956 my son. H1121 And he knew her H3045 again H3254 no more.

27 And it came to pass in the time H6256 of her travail, H3205 that, behold, twins H8380 were in her womb. H990

28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, H3205 that the one put out H5414 his hand: H3027 and the midwife H3205 took H3947 and bound H7194 upon his hand H3027 a scarlet thread, H8144 saying, H559 This came out H3318 first. H7223

29 And it came to pass, as he drew back H7725 his hand, H3027 that, behold, his brother H251 came out: H3318 and she said, H559 How hast thou broken forth? H6555 this breach H6556 be upon thee: therefore his name H8034 was called H7121 Pharez. H6557

30 And afterward H310 came out H3318 his brother, H251 that had the scarlet thread H8144 upon his hand: H3027 and his name H8034 was called H7121 Zarah. H2226


Genesis 38:1-30 American Standard (ASV)

1 And 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.

2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. And he took her, and went in unto her.

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

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

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

6 And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar.

7 And Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of Jehovah. And Jehovah slew him.

8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

9 And Onan knew that the seed would 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 he should give seed to his brother.

10 And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and he slew him also.

11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow in thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown up; for he said, Lest he also die, like his brethren. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

12 And in process of time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheep-shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnah to shear his sheep.

14 And she put off from her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is by the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she was not given unto him to wife.

15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she had covered her face.

16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Come, 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?

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

18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet and thy cord, and thy staff that is in thy hand. And he gave them to her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.

19 And she arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

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

21 Then he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the wayside? And they said, There hath been no prostitute here.

22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I have not found her; and also the men of the place said, There hath been no prostitute here.

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

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

25 When 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 the cords, and the staff.

26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She is more righteous than I; forasmuch as I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.

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

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

29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, Wherefore hast thou made a breach for thyself? Therefore his name was called Perez.

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


Genesis 38:1-30 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And it cometh to pass, at that time, that Judah goeth down from his brethren, and turneth aside unto a man, an Adullamite, whose name `is' Hirah;

2 and Judah seeth there the daughter of a man, a Canaanite, whose name `is' Shuah, and taketh her, and goeth in unto her.

3 And she conceiveth, and beareth a son, and he calleth his name Er;

4 and she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Onan;

5 and she addeth again, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Shelah; and he was in Chezib in her bearing him.

6 And Judah taketh a wife for Er, his first-born, and her name `is' Tamar;

7 and Er, Judah's first-born, is evil in the eyes of Jehovah, and Jehovah doth put him to death.

8 And Judah saith to Onan, `Go in unto the wife of thy brother, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother;'

9 and Onan knoweth that the seed is not `reckoned' his; and it hath come to pass, if he hath gone in unto his brother's wife, that he hath destroyed `it' to the earth, so as not to give seed to his brother;

10 and that which he hath done is evil in the eyes of Jehovah, and He putteth him also to death.

11 And Judah saith to Tamar his daughter-in-law, `Abide a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son groweth up;' for he said, `Lest he die -- even he -- like his brethren;' and Tamar goeth and dwelleth at her father's house.

12 And the days are multiplied, and the daughter of Shuah, Judah's wife, dieth; and Judah is comforted, and goeth up unto his sheep-shearers, he and Hirah his friend the Adullamite, to Timnath.

13 And it is declared to Tamar, saying, `Lo, thy husband's father is going up to Timnath to shear his flock;'

14 and she turneth aside the garments of her widowhood from off her, and covereth herself with a vail, and wrappeth herself up, and sitteth in the opening of Enayim, which `is' by the way to Timnath, for she hath seen that Shelah hath grown up, and she hath not been given to him for a wife.

15 And Judah seeth her, and reckoneth her for a harlot, for she hath covered her face,

16 and he turneth aside unto her by the way, and saith, `Come, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee,' (for he hath not known that she `is' his daughter-in-law); and she saith, `What dost thou give to me, that thou mayest come in unto me?'

17 and he saith, `I -- I send a kid of the goats from the flock.' And she saith, `Dost thou give a pledge till thou send `it'?'

18 and he saith, `What `is' the pledge that I give to thee?' and she saith, `Thy seal, and thy ribbon, and thy staff which `is' in thy hand;' and he giveth to her, and goeth in unto her, and she conceiveth to him;

19 and she riseth, and goeth, and turneth aside her vail from off her, and putteth on the garments of her widowhood.

20 And Judah sendeth the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the hand of the woman, and he hath not found her.

21 And he asketh the men of her place, saying, `Where `is' the separated one -- she in Enayim, by the way?' and they say, `There hath not been in this `place' a separated one.'

22 And he turneth back unto Judah, and saith, `I have not found her; and the men of the place also have said, There hath not been in this `place' a separated one,'

23 and Judah saith, `Let her take to herself, lest we become despised; lo, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.'

24 And it cometh to pass about three months `after', that it is declared to Judah, saying, `Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath committed fornication; and also, lo, she hath conceived by fornication:' and Judah saith, `Bring her out -- and she is burnt.'

25 She is brought out, and she hath sent unto her husband's father, saying, `To a man whose these `are', I `am' pregnant;' and she saith, `Discern, I pray thee, whose `are' these -- the seal, and the ribbons, and the staff.'

26 And Judah discerneth and saith, `She hath been more righteous than I, because that I did not give her to Shelah my son;' and he hath not added to know her again.

27 And it cometh to pass in the time of her bearing, that lo, twins `are' in her womb;

28 and it cometh to pass in her bearing, that `one' giveth out a hand, and the midwife taketh and bindeth on his hand a scarlet thread, saying, `This hath come out first.'

29 And it cometh to pass as he draweth back his hand, that lo, his brother hath come out, and she saith, `What! thou hast broken forth -- on thee `is' the breach;' and he calleth his name Pharez;

30 and afterwards hath his brother come out, on whose hand `is' the scarlet thread, and he calleth his name Zarah.


Genesis 38:1-30 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a man of Adullam whose name was Hirah.

2 And Judah saw there the daughter of a Canaanitish man whose name was Shua; and he took her, and went in to her.

3 And she conceived and bore a son; and he called his name Er.

4 And she again conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.

5 And again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah; and he was at Chezib when she bore him.

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

7 And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Jehovah, and Jehovah slew him.

8 Then Judah said to Onan, Go in to thy brother's wife, and fulfil to her the brother-in-law's duty, and raise up seed to thy brother.

9 But when Onan knew that the seed should not be his own, it came to pass when he went in to his brother's wife, that he spilled [it] on the ground, in order to give no seed to his brother.

10 And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and he slew him also.

11 And Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow in thy father's house, until Shelah my son is grown; for he said, Lest he die also, as his brethren. And Tamar went and remained in her father's house.

12 And as the days were multiplied, Judah's wife, the daughter of Shua, died. And Judah was comforted, and he went up to his sheep-shearers, to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.

14 And she put the garments of her widowhood off from her, and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the entry of Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as wife.

15 And Judah saw her, and took her for a harlot; because she had covered her face.

16 And he turned aside to her by the way, and said, Come, I pray thee, let me go in to thee; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in to me?

17 And he said, I will send [thee] a kid of the goats from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give [me] a pledge, until thou send it?

18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy lace, and thy staff which is in thy hand. And he gave [it] her, and went in to her; and she conceived by him.

19 And she arose and went away; and she laid by her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

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

21 And he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the prostitute that was at Enaim, by the way-side? And they said, There was no prostitute here.

22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I have not found her; and also the men of the place said, No prostitute has been here.

23 Then Judah said, Let her take [it] for herself, lest we be put to shame. Behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.

24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law has committed fornication, and behold, she is also with child by fornication. And Judah said, Bring her forth, that she may be burned.

25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, By the man to whom these [belong] am I with child; and she said, Acknowledge, I pray thee, whose are this signet, and this lace, and this staff.

26 And Judah acknowledged [them], and said, She is more righteous than I, because I have not given her to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.

27 And it came to pass at the time of her delivery, that behold, twins were in her womb.

28 And it came to pass when she brought forth, that one stretched out [his] hand, and the midwife took it and bound round his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.

29 And it came to pass as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out; and she said, How hast thou broken forth! on thee be the breach! And they called his name Pherez.

30 And afterwards came out his brother, round whose hand was the scarlet thread; and they called his name Zerah.


Genesis 38:1-30 World English Bible (WEB)

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

2 Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her, and went in to her.

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

4 She conceived again, and bore a son; and she named him Onan.

5 She yet again bore a son, and named him Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bore him.

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

7 Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Yahweh. Yahweh killed him.

8 Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her, and raise up seed to your brother."

9 Onan knew that the seed wouldn't be his; and it happened, when he went in to his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother.

10 The thing which he did was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and he killed him also.

11 Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in your father's house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up;" for he said, "Lest he also die, like his brothers." Tamar went and lived in her father's house.

12 After many days, Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep-shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah, the Adullamite.

13 It was told Tamar, saying, "Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep."

14 She took off of her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is by the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she wasn't given to him as a wife.

15 When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.

16 He turned to her by the way, and said, "Please come, let me come in to you:" for he didn't know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?"

17 He said, "I will send you a kid of the goats from the flock." She said, "Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?"

18 He said, "What pledge will I give you?" She said, "Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand." He gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.

19 She arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

20 Judah sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman's hand, but he didn't find her.

21 Then he asked the men of her place, saying, "Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the road?" They said, "There has been no prostitute here."

22 He returned to Judah, and said, "I haven't found her; and also the men of the place said, 'There has been no prostitute here.'"

23 Judah said, "Let her keep it, lest we be shamed. Behold, I sent this kid, and you haven't found her."

24 It happened about three months later, that it was told Judah, saying, "Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute; and moreover, behold, she is with child by prostitution." Judah said, "Bring her forth, and let her be burnt."

25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "By the man, whose these are, I am with child." She also said, "Please discern whose are these-- the signet, and the cords, and the staff."

26 Judah acknowledged them, and said, "She is more righteous than I, because I didn't give her to Shelah, my son." He knew her again no more.

27 It happened in the time of her travail, that behold, twins were in her womb.

28 It happened, when she travailed, that one put out a hand: and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This came out first."

29 It happened, as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out, and she said, "Why have you made a breach for yourself?" Therefore his name was called Perez.{Perez means "breaking out."}

30 Afterward his brother came out, that had the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.{Zerah means "scarlet" or "brightness."}


Genesis 38:1-30 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Now at that time, Judah went away from his brothers and became the friend of a man of Adullam named Hirah.

2 And there he saw the daughter of a certain man of Canaan named Shua, and took her as his wife.

3 And she gave birth to a son, and he gave him the name Er.

4 And again she gave birth to a son, and he gave him the name Onan.

5 Then she had another son, to whom she gave the name Shelah; she was at Chezib when the birth took place.

6 And Judah took a wife for his first son Er, and her name was Tamar.

7 Now Er, Judah's first son, did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so that he put him to death.

8 Then Judah said to Onan, Go in to your brother's wife and do what it is right for a husband's brother to do; make her your wife and get offspring for your brother.

9 But Onan, seeing that the offspring would not be his, went in to his brother's wife, but let his seed go on to the earth, so that he might not get offspring for his brother.

10 And what he did was evil in the eyes of the Lord, so that he put him to death, like his brother.

11 Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, Go back to your father's house and keep yourself as a widow till my son Shelah becomes a man: for he had in his mind the thought that death might come to him as it had come to his brothers. So Tamar went back to her father's house.

12 And after a time, Bath-shua, Judah's wife, came to her end; and after Judah was comforted for her loss, he went to Timnah, where they were cutting the wool of his sheep, and his friend Hirah of Adullam went with him.

13 And when Tamar had news that her father-in-law was going up to Timnah to the wool-cutting,

14 She took off her widow's clothing, and covering herself with her veil, she took her seat near Enaim on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was now a man, but she had not been made his wife.

15 When Judah saw her he took her to be a loose woman of the town, because her face was covered.

16 And turning to her by the roadside, he said to her, Let me come in to you; for he had no idea that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, What will you give me as my price?

17 And he said, I will give you a young goat from the flock. And she said, What will you give me as a sign till you send it?

18 And he said, What would you have? And she said, Your ring and its cord and the stick in your hand. So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she became with child by him.

19 Then she got up and went away and took off her veil and put on her widow's clothing.

20 Then Judah sent his friend Hirah with the young goat, to get back the things which he had given as a sign to the woman: but she was not there.

21 And he put questions to the men of the place, saying, Where is the loose woman who was in Enaim by the wayside? And they said, There was no such woman there.

22 So he went back to Judah, and said, I have not seen her, and the men of the place say that there is no such woman there.

23 And Judah said, Let her keep the things, so that we may not be shamed; I sent the young goat, but you did not see the woman.

24 Now about three months after this, word came to Judah that Tamar, his daughter-in-law, had been acting like a loose woman and was with child. And Judah said, Take her out and let her be burned.

25 And while she was being taken out, she sent word to her father-in-law, saying, The man whose property these things are, is the father of my child: say then, whose are this ring and this cord and this stick?

26 Then Judah said openly that they were his, and said, She is more upright than I am, for I did not give her to Shelah my son. And he had no more connection with her.

27 And when the time came for her to give birth, it was clear that there were two children in her body.

28 And while she was in the act of giving birth, one of them put out his hand; and the woman who was with her put a red thread round his hand, saying, This one came out first.

29 But then he took his hand back again, and his brother came first to birth: and the woman said, What an opening you have made for yourself! So he was named Perez.

30 And then his brother came out, with the red thread round his hand, and he was named Zerah.

Commentary on Genesis 38 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 38

Ge 38:1-30. Judah and Family.

1. at that time—a formula frequently used by the sacred writers, not to describe any precise period, but an interval near about it.

2. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite—Like Esau [Ge 26:34], this son of Jacob, casting off the restraints of religion, married into a Canaanite family; and it is not surprising that the family which sprang from such an unsuitable connection should be infamous for bold and unblushing wickedness.

8. Judah said unto Onan … marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother—The first instance of a custom, which was afterwards incorporated among the laws of Moses, that when a husband died leaving a widow, his brother next of age was to marry her, and the issue, if any, was to be served heir to the deceased (compare De 25:5).

12. Judah … went up unto his sheep-shearers—This season, which occurs in Palestine towards the end of March, was spent in more than usual hilarity, and the wealthiest masters invited their friends, as well as treated their servants, to sumptuous entertainments. Accordingly, it is said, Judah was accompanied by his friend Hirah.

Timnath—in the mountains of Judah.

18. signet, &c.—Bracelets, including armlets, were worn by men as well as women among the Hebrews. But the Hebrew word here rendered "bracelets," is everywhere else translated "lace" or "ribbon"; so that as the signet alone was probably more than an equivalent for the kid, it is not easy to conjecture why the other things were given in addition, except by supposing the perforated seal was attached by a ribbon to the staff.

24. Bring her forth, and let her be burnt—In patriarchal times fathers seem to have possessed the power of life and death over the members of their families. The crime of adultery was anciently punished in many places by burning (Le 21:9; Jud 15:6; Jer 29:22). This chapter contains details, which probably would never have obtained a place in the inspired record, had it not been to exhibit the full links of the chain that connects the genealogy of the Saviour with Abraham; and in the disreputable character of the ancestry who figure in this passage, we have a remarkable proof that "He made himself of no reputation" [Php 2:7].