God’s Word Translation
Genesis 38:18
18“What should I give you as a deposit?” he asked. “Your signet ring, its cord, and the shepherd’s staff that’s in your hand,” she answered. So he gave them to her. Then he slept with her, and she became pregnant.
Genesis 38:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)He said, “What pledge should I give you?” “Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand,” she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He said, "What pledge shall I give you?" She replied, "Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand." So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.
Context of Genesis 38:18
16Since he didn’t know she was his daughter-in-law, he approached her by the roadside and said, “Come on, let’s sleep together!” She asked, “What will you pay to sleep with me?” 17“I’ll send you a young goat from the flock,” he answered. She said, “First give me something as a deposit until you send it.” “What should I give you as a deposit?” he asked. “Your signet ring, its cord, and the shepherd’s staff that’s in your hand,” she answered. So he gave them to her. Then he slept with her, and she became pregnant. 19After she got up and left, she took off her veil and put her widow’s clothes back on. 20Judah sent his friend Hirah to deliver the young goat so that he could get back his deposit from the woman, but his friend couldn’t find her.
Read all of Genesis 38Genesis 38:18 word by word
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מָ֣ה הָֽעֵרָבוֹן֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶתֶּן־לָּךְ֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר חֹתָֽמְךָ֙ וּפְתִילֶ֔ךָ וּמַטְּךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וַיִּתֶּן־לָּ֛הּ וַיָּבֹ֥א אֵלֶ֖יהָ וַתַּ֥הַר לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Whatאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- pledgeעֵרָבוֹן‛ărâbôn · pledgeH6162
- shall I giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- Thy signetחֹתָםchôthâm chôthâm · signetH2368
- and thy braceletsפָּתִילpâthîyl · cordH6616
- and thy staffמַטֶּהmaţţeh maţţâh · tribe: rodH4294
- in thine handיָדyâd · handH3027
- her, and came inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- unto her, and she conceivedהָרָהhârâh · to conceiveH2029
Cross-references for Genesis 38:18
- Genesis 38:25As she was brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law, “I’m pregnant by the man who owns these things. See if you recognize whose signet ring, cord, and shepherd’s staff these are.”
- Jeremiah 22:24“As I live,” declares the Lord, “even though you, Jehoiakin, son of Judah’s King Jehoiakim, are the signet ring on my right hand, I will pull you off my hand.
- Jeremiah 22:25I will hand you over to those who want to kill you, those you fear—King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the Babylonians.
- Luke 15:22“The father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
- Hosea 4:11Prostitutes, old wine, and new wine have robbed them of their senses.
Commentaries on Genesis 38:18
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-30Verses 1-30 - The Family of Judah 1. עדלם ‛ǎdûllâm Adullam, “righteousness.” חירה chı̂yrâh Chirah, “nobility?” 2. שׁוּע shûa‛ Shua, “luck, riches, cry.” 3. ער ‛êr Er, “watching.” 4. אונן 'ônân Onan, “strong.” 5. שׁלה shēlâh Shelah, “request? rest.” כזיב kezı̂yb Kezib, “falsehood.” 6. תמר tāmār Tamar, “palm.” 12. תמנה tı̂mnâh Timnah, “counted or assigned.” 14. עינים 'êynayı̂m Enaim, “two fountains.” 29. פרץ perets Perets, “breach.” This…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18seal: A small cylinder made of stone or metal was carved with unique designs. People usually wore it on a cord around the neck. When it was rolled over soft clay or wax, it left a clear impression of the design.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. 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.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 38:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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