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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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."}
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.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Genesis 38
Commentary on Genesis 38 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 38
This chapter gives us an account of Judah and his family, and such an account it is that one would wonder that, of all Jacob's sons, our Lord should spring out of Judah, Heb. 7:14. If we were to form a character of him by this story, we should not say, "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise,' ch. 49:8. But God will show that his choice is of grace and not of merit, and that Christ came into the world to save sinners, even the chief, and is not ashamed, upon their repentance, to be allied to them, also that the worth and worthiness of Jesus Christ are personal, of himself, and not derived from his ancestors. Humbling himself to be "made in the likeness of sinful flesh,' he was pleased to descend from some that were infamous. How little reason had the Jews, who were so called from this Judah, to boast, as they did, that they were not born of fornication! Jn. 8:41. We have, in this chapter,
Gen 38:1-11
Here is,
Gen 38:12-23
It is a very ill-favoured story that is here told concerning Judah; one would not have expected such folly in Israel. Judah had buried his wife; and widowers have need to stand upon their guard with the utmost caution and resolution against all fleshly lusts. He was unjust to his daughter-in-law, either through negligence or design, in not giving her his surviving son, and this exposed her to temptation.
Gen 38:24-30
Here is,