Berean Standard Bible

Genesis 38

(1 Chronicles 2:3–4)

1Aboutוַֽיְהִי֙vay.HiH1961thatהַהִ֔ואha.Hiv'H1931timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256,Judahיְהוּדָ֖ה מֵאֵ֣תye.hu.Dah me.'EtH3063 H854leftוַיֵּ֥רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381his brothersאֶחָ֑יו'e.ChavH251and settledוַיֵּ֛טvai.YetH5186nearעַד־'ad-H5704a manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376namedוּשְׁמ֥וֹu.she.MoH8034Hirahחִירָֽה׃chi.RahH2437,an Adullamiteעֲדֻלָּמִ֖י'a.du.la.MiH5726.

2Thereשָׁ֧םshamH8033Judahיְהוּדָ֛הye.hu.DahH3063sawוַיַּרְא־vai.yar'-H7200the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of a Canaaniteכְּנַעֲנִ֖יke.na.'a.NiH3669manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376namedוּשְׁמ֣וֹu.she.MoH8034Shuaשׁ֑וּעַShu.a'H7770,and he took her as a wifeוַיִּקָּחֶ֖הָvai.yi.ka.Che.haH3947and slept withוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935herאֵלֶֽיהָ׃'e.Lei.haH413.

3So she conceivedוַתַּ֖הַרva.Ta.harH2029and gave birth toוַתֵּ֣לֶדva.Te.ledH3205a sonבֵּ֑ןBenH1121,and Judah namedוַיִּקְרָ֥אvai.yik.Ra'H7121אֶת־'et-H853himשְׁמ֖וֹshe.MoH8034Erעֵֽר׃'ErH6147.

4Againע֖וֹדodH5750she conceivedוַתַּ֥הַרva.Ta.harH2029and gave birth toוַתֵּ֣לֶדva.Te.ledH3205a sonבֵּ֑ןBenH1121,and she namedוַתִּקְרָ֥אva.tik.Ra'H7121אֶת־'et-H853himשְׁמ֖וֹshe.MoH8034Onanאוֹנָֽן׃'o.NanH209.

5Then she gave birth toוַתֵּ֣לֶדva.Te.ledH3205anotherוַתֹּ֤סֶף עוֹד֙va.To.sef 'OdH3254 H5750sonבֵּ֔ןBenH1121and namedוַתִּקְרָ֥אva.tik.Ra'H7121אֶת־'et-H853himשְׁמ֖וֹshe.MoH8034Shelahשֵׁלָ֑הshe.LahH7956;it wasוְהָיָ֥הve.ha.YahH1961at Chezibבִכְזִ֖יבvikh.ZivH3580that she gave birth to himבְּלִדְתָּ֥הּbe.lid.TahH3205אֹתֽוֹ׃'o.ToH853.

6Now Judahיְהוּדָ֛הye.hu.DahH3063acquiredוַיִּקַּ֧חvai.yi.KachH3947a wifeאִשָּׁ֖ה'i.ShahH802for Erלְעֵ֣רle.'ErH6147,his firstbornבְּכוֹר֑וֹbe.kho.RoH1060,and her nameוּשְׁמָ֖הּu.she.MahH8034was Tamarתָּמָֽר׃ta.MarH8559.

7Butוַיְהִ֗יvay.HiH1961Erעֵ֚ר'erH6147,Judah’sיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063firstbornבְּכ֣וֹרbe.KhorH1060,was wickedרַ֖עra'H7451in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068;so the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068put him to deathוַיְמִתֵ֖הוּvay.mi.Te.huH4191.

8Then Judahיְהוּדָה֙ye.hu.DahH3063saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Onanלְאוֹנָ֔ןle.'o.NanH209, “Sleep withבֹּ֛א אֶל־bo' 'el-H935 H413your brother’sאָחִ֖יךָ'a.Chi.khaH251wifeאֵ֥שֶׁת'E.shetH802.Perform your duty as her brother-in-lawוְיַבֵּ֣םve.ya.BemH2992אֹתָ֑הּ'o.TahH853and raise upוְהָקֵ֥םve.ha.KemH6965offspringזֶ֖רַעZe.ra'H2233for your brotherלְאָחִֽיךָ׃le.'a.Chi.khaH251.”

9But Onanאוֹנָ֔ן'o.NanH209knewוַיֵּ֣דַעvai.Ye.da'H3045thatכִּ֛יkiH3588the offspringיִהְיֶ֣ה הַזָּ֑רַעyih.Yeh ha.Za.ra'H2233 H1961would notלֹּ֥אlo'H3808belongוְהָיָ֞הve.ha.YahH1961to him;so wheneverאִם־'im-H518he would sleep withבָּ֨א אֶל־ba' 'el-H935 H413his brother’sאָחִיו֙'a.ChivH251wifeאֵ֤שֶׁת'E.shetH802,he would spill his seedוְשִׁחֵ֣תve.shi.ChetH7843on the groundאַ֔רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776so that he would notלְבִלְתִּ֥יle.vil.TiH1115produceנְתָן־ne.ton-H5414offspringזֶ֖רַעZe.ra'H2233for his brotherלְאָחִֽיו׃le.'a.ChivH251.

10Whatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he didעָשָׂ֑ה'a.SahH6213was wickedוַיֵּ֛רַעvai.Ye.ra'H7489in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,so He put Onan to deathוַיָּ֖מֶתvai.Ya.metH4191as wellגַּם־gam-H1571אֹתֽוֹ׃'o.ToH853.

11Then Judahיְהוּדָה֩ye.hu.DahH3063saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his daughter-in-lawכַּלָּת֜וֹka.la.ToH3618Tamarלְתָמָ֨רle.ta.MarH8559, “Liveשְׁבִ֧יshe.ViH3427as a widowאַלְמָנָ֣ה'al.ma.NahH490in your father’sאָבִ֗יךְ'a.VikhH1houseבֵית־veit-H1004untilעַד־'ad-H5704my sonבְנִ֔יve.NiH1121Shelahשֵׁלָ֣הshe.LahH7956grows upיִגְדַּל֙yig.DalH1431.”Forכִּ֣יkiH3588he thoughtאָמַ֔ר'a.MarH559, “Heה֖וּאhu'H1931mayפֶּן־pen-H6435dieיָמ֥וּתya.MutH4191tooגַּם־gam-H1571,like his brothersכְּאֶחָ֑יוke.'e.ChavH251.”So Tamarתָּמָ֔רta.MarH8559wentוַתֵּ֣לֶךְva.Te.lekhH1980to liveוַתֵּ֖שֶׁבva.Te.shevH3427in her father’sאָבִֽיהָ׃'a.Vi.haH1houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004.

12After a longוַיִּרְבּוּ֙vai.yir.BuH7235timeהַיָּמִ֔יםhai.ya.MimH3117Judah’sיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063wifeאֵֽשֶׁת־'e.shet-H802,the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Shuaשׁ֣וּעַShu.a'H7770,diedוַתָּ֖מָתva.Ta.motH4191.When Judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063had finished mourningוַיִּנָּ֣חֶםvai.yi.Na.chemH5162,heה֗וּאHu'H1931and his friendרֵעֵ֥הוּre.'E.huH7453Hirahוְחִירָ֛הve.chi.RahH2437the Adullamiteהָעֲדֻלָּמִ֖יha.'a.du.la.MiH5726went upוַיַּ֜עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927toעַל־'al-H5921his sheepshearersגֹּֽזֲזֵ֤י צֹאנוֹ֙go.za.Zei tzo.NoH1494 H6629at Timnahתִּמְנָֽתָה׃tim.Na.tahH8553.

13When Tamarלְתָמָ֖ר לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֥הle.ta.Mar le.Mor hi.NehH8559 H559 H2009was toldוַיֻּגַּ֥דvai.yu.GadH5046, “Your father-in-lawחָמִ֛יךְcha.MikhH2524is going upעֹלֶ֥ה'o.LehH5927to Timnahתִמְנָ֖תָהtim.Na.tahH8553to shearלָגֹ֥זla.GozH1494his sheepצֹאנֽוֹ׃tzo.NoH6629,”

14she removedוַתָּסַר֩va.ta.SarH5493herמֵֽעָלֶ֗יהָme.'a.Lei.haH5921widow’sאַלְמְנוּתָ֜הּ'al.me.nu.TahH491garmentsבִּגְדֵ֨יbig.DeiH899,covered her faceוַתִּתְעַלָּ֔ףva.tit.'a.LafH5968with a veilבַּצָּעִיף֙ba.tza.'IfH6809to disguise herselfוַתְּכַ֤סva.te.KhasH3680,and satוַתֵּ֙שֶׁב֙va.Te.shevH3427at the entranceבְּפֶ֣תַחbe.Fe.tachH6607to Enaimעֵינַ֔יִם'ei.Na.yimH5879,whichאֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834is onעַל־'al-H5921the wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870to Timnahתִּמְנָ֑תָהtim.Na.tahH8553.Forכִּ֤יkiH3588she sawרָאֲתָה֙ra.'a.TahH7200thatכִּֽי־ki-H3588although Shelahשֵׁלָ֔הshe.LahH7956had grown upגָדַ֣לga.DalH1431,sheוְהִ֕ואve.Hiv'H1931had notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808been givenנִתְּנָ֥הni.te.NahH5414to himas a wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802.

15When Judahיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063saw herוַיִּרְאֶ֣הָvai.yir.'E.haH7200,he thoughtוַֽיַּחְשְׁבֶ֖הָvai.yach.she.Ve.haH2803she was a prostituteלְזוֹנָ֑הle.zo.NahH2181becauseכִּ֥יkiH3588she had coveredכִסְּתָ֖הkhi.se.TahH3680her faceפָּנֶֽיהָ׃pa.Nei.haH6440.

16הַדֶּ֗רֶךְha.De.rekhH1870כִּ֚יkiH3588Notלֹ֣אlo'H3808realizingיָדַ֔עya.Da'H3045thatכִּ֥יkiH3588sheהִ֑ואhi'H1931was his daughter-in-lawכַלָּת֖וֹkha.la.ToH3618,he went overוַיֵּ֨טvai.YetH5186to herאֵלֶ֜יהָ'e.Lei.haH413and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “Comeהָֽבָה־ha.vah-H3051nowנָּא֙na'H4994,let me sleep withאָב֣וֹא'a.Vo'H935youאֶל־'el-H413.” “Whatמַה־mah-H4100will you giveתִּתֶּן־ti.ten-H5414meforכִּ֥יkiH3588sleeping withאֵלַ֔יִךְ תָב֖וֹא'e.La.yikh ta.Vo'H935 H413youאֵלָֽי׃'e.LaiH413?”she inquiredוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.To.merH559.

17“Iאָנֹכִ֛י'a.no.KhiH595will send youאֲשַׁלַּ֥ח'a.sha.LachH7971a young goatגְּדִֽי־ עִזִּ֖יםge.di- 'i.ZimH1423 H5795fromמִן־min-H4480my flockהַצֹּ֑אןha.TzonH6629,” Judahansweredוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559.But she repliedוַתֹּ֕אמֶרva.To.merH559, “Only ifאִם־'im-H518you leave meתִּתֵּ֥ןti.TenH5414something as a pledgeעֵרָב֖וֹןe.ra.VonH6162untilעַ֥ד'adH5704you send itשָׁלְחֶֽךָ׃shal.Che.khaH7971.”

18“Whatמָ֣הmahH4100pledgeהָֽעֵרָבוֹן֮ha.'e.ra.VonH6162אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834should I giveאֶתֶּן־'e.ten-H5414you?”he askedוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559.She answeredוַתֹּ֗אמֶרva.To.merH559, “Your sealחֹתָֽמְךָ֙cho.ta.me.KhaH2368and your cordוּפְתִילֶ֔ךָu.fe.ti.Le.khaH6616,and the staffוּמַטְּךָ֖u.ma.te.KhaH4294אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834in your handבְּיָדֶ֑ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027.”So he gave themוַיִּתֶּן־vai.yi.ten-H5414to herand slept withוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935herאֵלֶ֖יהָ'e.Lei.haH413,and she became pregnantוַתַּ֥הַרva.Ta.harH2029by him.

19Then Tamar got upוַתָּ֣קָםva.Ta.komH6965and departedוַתֵּ֔לֶךְva.Te.lekhH1980.And she removedוַתָּ֥סַרva.Ta.sarH5493her veilצְעִיפָ֖הּ מֵעָלֶ֑יהָtze.'i.Fah me.'a.Lei.haH6809 H5921and put on her widow’sאַלְמְנוּתָֽהּ׃'al.me.nu.TahH491garmentsבִּגְדֵ֥יbig.DeiH899againוַתִּלְבַּ֖שׁva.til.BashH3847.

20Now when Judahיְהוּדָ֜הye.hu.DahH3063אֶת־'et-H853sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֨חvai.yish.LachH7971his friendרֵעֵ֣הוּre.'E.huH7453Hirahthe Adullamiteהָֽעֲדֻלָּמִ֔יha.'a.du.la.MiH5726withבְּיַד֙be.YadH3027the young goatגְּדִ֣י הָֽעִזִּ֗יםge.Di ha.'i.ZimH1423 H5795to collectלָקַ֥חַתla.Ka.chatH3947the items he had left withהָעֵרָב֖וֹן מִיַּ֣דha.'e.ra.Von mi.YadH6162 H3027the womanהָאִשָּׁ֑הha.'i.ShahH802,he could notוְלֹ֖אve.Lo'H3808find herמְצָאָֽהּ׃me.tza.'AhH4672.

21He askedוַיִּשְׁאַ֞לvai.yish.'AlH7592אֶת־'et-H853לֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559the menאַנְשֵׁ֤י'an.SheiH582of that placeמְקֹמָהּ֙me.ko.MahH4725, “Whereאַיֵּ֧ה'ai.YehH346is the shrine prostituteהַקְּדֵשָׁ֛הha.ke.de.ShahH6948whoהִ֥ואhi'H1931was besideעַל־'al-H5921the roadהַדָּ֑רֶךְha.Da.rekhH1870at Enaimבָעֵינַ֖יִםva.'ei.Na.yimH5879?” “Noלֹא־lo'-H3808shrine prostituteקְדֵשָֽׁה׃ke.de.ShahH6948has beenהָיְתָ֥הha.ye.TahH1961hereבָזֶ֖הva.ZehH2088,”they answeredוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559.

22So Hirah returnedוַיָּ֙שָׁב֙vai.Ya.shovH7725toאֶל־'el-H413Judahיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063and saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “I could notלֹ֣אlo'H3808find herמְצָאתִ֑יהָme.tza.Ti.haH4672,and furthermoreוְגַ֨םve.GamH1571,the menאַנְשֵׁ֤י'an.SheiH582of that placeהַמָּקוֹם֙ha.ma.kOmH4725saidאָֽמְר֔וּ'a.me.RuH559, ‘Noלֹא־lo'-H3808shrine prostituteקְדֵשָֽׁה׃ke.de.ShahH6948has beenהָיְתָ֥הha.ye.TahH1961hereבָזֶ֖הva.ZehH2088.’”

23“Let herkeep the itemsתִּֽקַּֽח־ti.kach-H3947,”Judahיְהוּדָה֙ye.hu.DahH3063repliedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559. “Otherwiseפֶּ֖ןpenH6435we will becomeנִהְיֶ֣הnih.YehH1961a laughingstockלָב֑וּזla.VuzH937.After allהִנֵּ֤הhi.NehH2009,I did send herשָׁלַ֙חְתִּי֙sha.Lach.tiH7971thisהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088young goatהַגְּדִ֣יha.ge.DiH1423,but youוְאַתָּ֖הve.'a.TahH859could notלֹ֥אlo'H3808find herמְצָאתָֽהּ׃me.tza.TahH4672.”

24Aboutוַיְהִ֣י׀vay.HiH1961threeכְּמִשְׁלֹ֣שׁke.mish.LoshH7969months laterחֳדָשִׁ֗יםcho.da.ShimH2320,Judahלִֽיהוּדָ֤הli.hu.DahH3063was toldוַיֻּגַּ֨דvai.yu.GadH5046לֵֽאמֹר֙le.MorH559, “Your daughter-in-lawכַּלָּתֶ֔ךָka.la.Te.khaH3618Tamarתָּמָ֣רta.MarH8559has prostituted herselfזָֽנְתָה֙za.ne.TahH2181,andוְגַ֛םve.GamH1571nowהִנֵּ֥הhi.NehH2009she is pregnantהָרָ֖ה לִזְנוּנִ֑יםha.Rah liz.nu.NimH2030 H2183.” “Bring her outהוֹצִיא֖וּהָho.tzi.'U.haH3318!”Judahיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063repliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559. “Let her be burned to deathוְתִשָּׂרֵֽף׃ve.ti.sa.RefH8313!”

25As sheהִ֣ואhi'H1931was being brought outמוּצֵ֗אתmu.TzetH3318, Tamarוְהִ֨יאve.Hi'H1931sentשָׁלְחָ֤הshal.ChahH7971a messageלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559לְאִישׁ֙le.'IshH376to herאֶל־'el-H413father-in-lawחָמִ֙יהָ֙cha.Mi.haH2524: “I amאָנֹכִ֖י'a.no.KhiH595pregnantהָרָ֑הha.RahH2030by the man to whomאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834these itemsאֵ֣לֶּה'E.lehH428belong.”And she addedוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.To.merH559, “Pleaseנָ֔אNa'H4994examine themהַכֶּר־ha.ker-H5234.Whoseלְמִ֞יle.MiH4310sealהַחֹתֶ֧מֶתha.cho.Te.metH2858and cordוְהַפְּתִילִ֛יםve.ha.pe.ti.LimH6616and staffוְהַמַּטֶּ֖הve.ham.ma.TehH4294are theseהָאֵֽלֶּה׃ha.'E.lehH428?”

26Judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063recognizedוַיַּכֵּ֣רvai.ya.KerH5234the itemsand saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “She is more righteousצָֽדְקָ֣הtza.de.KahH6663than Iמִמֶּ֔נִּיmi.Me.niH4480,sinceכִּֽי־ עַל־ כֵּ֥ןki- 'al- kenH3588 H5921 H3651I did notלֹא־lo'-H3808give herנְתַתִּ֖יהָne.ta.Ti.haH5414to my sonבְנִ֑יve.NiH1121Shelahלְשֵׁלָ֣הle.she.LahH7956.”And he did notוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808have relations with herלְדַעְתָּֽה׃le.da'.TahH3045againיָסַ֥ף ע֖וֹדya.Saf odH3254 H5750.

The Birth of Perez and Zerah

27When the timeבְּעֵ֣תbe.'EtH6256cameוַיְהִ֖יvay.HiH1961for Tamar to give birthלִדְתָּ֑הּlid.TahH3205,thereוְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.NehH2009were twinsתְאוֹמִ֖יםte.'o.MimH8380in her wombבְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃be.vit.NahH990.

28Andוַיְהִ֥יvay.HiH1961as she was giving birthבְלִדְתָּ֖הּve.lid.TahH3205,one of them put outוַיִּתֶּן־vai.yi.ten-H5414his handיָ֑דYadH3027;so the midwifeהַמְיַלֶּ֗דֶתham.ya.Le.detH3205tookוַתִּקַּ֣חva.ti.KachH3947a scarlet threadשָׁנִי֙sha.NiH8144and tiedוַתִּקְשֹׁ֨רva.tik.ShorH7194itaroundעַל־'al-H5921his wristיָד֤וֹya.DoH3027. “Thisזֶ֖הzehH2088one came outיָצָ֥אya.Tza'H3318firstרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃ri.sho.NahH7223,”she announcedלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559.

29וַיְהִ֣י׀vay.HiH1961But when he pulled his handיָד֗וֹ וְהִנֵּה֙ya.Do ve.hi.NehH3027 H2009backכְּמֵשִׁ֣יבke.me.ShivH7725and his brotherאָחִ֔יו'a.ChivH251came outיָצָ֣אya.Tza'H3318,she saidוַתֹּ֕אמֶר מַה־va.To.mer mah-H559 H4100, “You have broken out firstפָּרַ֖צְתָּ עָלֶ֣יךָ פָּ֑רֶץpa.Ratz.ta 'a.Lei.kha Pa.retzH6555 H5921 H6556!”So he was namedוַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹvai.yik.Ra' she.MoH7121 H8034Perezפָּֽרֶץ׃Pa.retzH6557.

30Thenוְאַחַר֙ve.'a.CharH310his brotherאָחִ֔יו'a.ChivH251came outיָצָ֣אya.Tza'H3318withאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834the scarlet threadהַשָּׁנִ֑יha.sha.NiH8144aroundעַל־'al-H5921his wristיָד֖וֹya.DoH3027,and he was namedוַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹvai.yik.Ra' she.MoH7121 H8034Zerahזָֽרַח׃ סZa.rachH2226.

(1 Chronicles 2:3–4)

The Birth of Perez and Zerah

Commentaries on Genesis 38