The big picture
Genesis has just followed Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob, the family patriarch, after his brothers sell him into slavery. He is taken to Egypt, a kingdom southwest of Canaan, the land where Jacob's family has settled. Chapter 38 turns to Judah, another of Jacob's sons, who remains in Canaan. Tamar, a woman who becomes the wife of his oldest son, Er, joins Judah's household. After Er and Judah's second son, Onan, die, Tamar is left without a husband or child. Judah's promise about his youngest son, Shelah, becomes the issue that drives the rest of the chapter.
In this chapter
- Judah Withholds the Family Duty Genesis 38:1-11
Judah leaves his brothers and stays near Hirah, a man from Adullam, a town in Canaan.
- Tamar Takes Judah's Identifying Pledge Genesis 38:12-23
Judah's wife dies.
- Judah Recognizes His Own Wrong Genesis 38:24-30
About three months later, Judah hears that Tamar is pregnant and has been accused of prostitution.
Central truth
Judah withholds his duty to Tamar, but her evidence exposes his failure and preserves her place in the family line.
Scripture beside the summary
Genesis · King James Version · 30Genesis 38:1-11
Judah Withholds the Family Duty
Judah leaves his brothers and stays near Hirah, a man from Adullam, a town in Canaan. He takes the daughter of Shuah, a man from Canaan, as his wife. Their sons are Er, Onan and Shelah. Judah chooses Tamar as a wife for Er. Genesis says Er is wicked before the LORD, and the LORD kills him. Judah then tells Onan, Er's brother, to marry Tamar and provide offspring for Er's line. Onan knows the child would count for his brother, not for him, and deliberately prevents conception. The LORD is displeased and Onan also dies. Judah tells Tamar to live as a widow in her father's house until Shelah grows up. Privately, Judah fears Shelah will die too.
In everyday life
A younger brother becomes trustee for his dead brother's share of a family farm. He quietly blocks the papers because any gain would go to his brother's branch, not his own. The widow waits while he refuses the duty he accepted. Modern inheritance law does not require the marriage and childbearing duty Judah places on Onan.
Notice
Genesis 38:9 Onan's motive matters. He knows the child would continue his brother's line, so he deliberately prevents conception rather than carrying out the family duty Judah gave him.
Genesis 38:1-11
King James Version1And 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.
2And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.
3And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
4And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.
5And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
6And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
7And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.
8And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
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.
10And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.
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.
Genesis 38:12-23
Tamar Takes Judah's Identifying Pledge
Judah's wife dies. After mourning, he goes to Timnath, a town where his sheep are being sheared. Tamar hears that he is coming. She sees that Shelah is grown, yet Judah has not given him to her as a husband. She removes her widow's clothes, covers her face and sits beside Judah's route. Judah does not recognize her and assumes she is a prostitute. He offers a young goat for sex. Tamar asks for security until he sends it, and Judah gives his signet, bracelets and staff. She becomes pregnant by him, then returns home and puts on her widow's clothes again. Judah sends the goat through Hirah, but Hirah cannot find the woman or recover the pledge.
In everyday life
A repair-shop owner lets a customer take his car before paying in full. The customer leaves an engraved ring and work badge as collateral until he returns with cash. The next day, the customer denies the deal, but the items in the shop point straight back to him. The repair bill has no sex, family duty or widow's future at stake.
Notice
Genesis 38:14 Tamar acts after seeing that Shelah is grown and Judah has still not given him to her. Judah's broken promise comes before her disguise and explains her decision.
Genesis 38:12-23
King James Version12And 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.
13And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
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.
15When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
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?
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?
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.
19And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
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.
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.
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.
23And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
Genesis 38:24-30
Judah Recognizes His Own Wrong
About three months later, Judah hears that Tamar is pregnant and has been accused of prostitution. He orders that she be brought out and burned. As she is brought out, Tamar sends Judah the signet, bracelets and staff. She says their owner is the father of her child. Judah recognizes them and admits that Tamar has been more righteous than he has, because he did not give Shelah to her. He has no sexual relations with her again. Tamar later gives birth to twins. One baby puts out a hand, so the midwife ties a scarlet thread around it. The hand pulls back, and the other baby is born first. He is named Pharez, and his brother is named Zarah.
In everyday life
A department head condemns an employee for breaking a rule, then she produces his signed approval showing that his decision created the problem. The evidence forces him to admit his part instead of leaving all blame on her. The workplace dispute has no pregnancy, family duty or threat of death.
Notice
Genesis 38:26 Judah's confession turns the accusation back on himself. He admits that his failure to give Shelah to Tamar made his own conduct more blameworthy than hers.
Genesis 38:24-30
King James Version24And 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.
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.
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.
27And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
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.
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.
30And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Genesis 38:1 begins with “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.”
Where the chapter turns
Genesis 38:16 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
Genesis 38:30 leaves the reader with “And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Judah, name, hand, daughter, harlot, place help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- bare
- Gave birth to; an older form of bore.
- seed
- Offspring or descendants, especially a continuing family line here.
- harlot
- An older word for a prostitute.
- pledge
- Property left as security until a promised payment is made.
- travail
- Labor or severe pain during childbirth.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
