King James Version

Genesis 38

1And it came to pass at that timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256,that Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063went downוַיֵּ֥רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381from his brethrenאֶחָ֑יו'e.ChavH251,and turnedוַיֵּ֛טvai.YetH5186in to a certainאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376Adullamiteעֲדֻלָּמִ֖י'a.du.la.MiH5726,whose nameוּשְׁמ֥וֹu.she.MoH8034wasHirahחִירָֽה׃chi.RahH2437.

2And Judahיְהוּדָ֛הye.hu.DahH3063sawוַיַּרְא־vai.yar'-H7200there a daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of a certainאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376Canaaniteכְּנַעֲנִ֖יke.na.'a.NiH3669,whose nameוּשְׁמ֣וֹu.she.MoH8034wasShuahשׁ֑וּעַShu.a'H7770;and he took herוַיִּקָּחֶ֖הָvai.yi.ka.Che.haH3947,and went inוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935unto her.

3And she conceivedוַתַּ֖הַרva.Ta.harH2029,and bareוַתֵּ֣לֶדva.Te.ledH3205a sonבֵּ֑ןBenH1121;and he calledוַיִּקְרָ֥אvai.yik.Ra'H7121his nameשְׁמ֖וֹshe.MoH8034Erעֵֽר׃'ErH6147.

4And she conceivedוַתַּ֥הַרva.Ta.harH2029again, and bareוַתֵּ֣לֶדva.Te.ledH3205a sonבֵּ֑ןBenH1121;and she calledוַתִּקְרָ֥אva.tik.Ra'H7121his nameשְׁמ֖וֹshe.MoH8034Onanאוֹנָֽן׃'o.NanH209.

5And she yet again conceivedוַתֹּ֤סֶףva.To.sefH3254,and bareוַתֵּ֣לֶדva.Te.ledH3205a sonבֵּ֔ןBenH1121;and calledוַתִּקְרָ֥אva.tik.Ra'H7121his nameשְׁמ֖וֹshe.MoH8034Shelahשֵׁלָ֑הshe.LahH7956:and he was at Chezibבִכְזִ֖יבvikh.ZivH3580,when she bareבְּלִדְתָּ֥הּbe.lid.TahH3205him.

6And Judahיְהוּדָ֛הye.hu.DahH3063tookוַיִּקַּ֧חvai.yi.KachH3947a wifeאִשָּׁ֖ה'i.ShahH802for Erלְעֵ֣רle.'ErH6147his firstbornבְּכוֹר֑וֹbe.kho.RoH1060,whose nameוּשְׁמָ֖הּu.she.MahH8034wasTamarתָּמָֽר׃ta.MarH8559.

7And Erעֵ֚ר'erH6147,Judah’sיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063firstbornבְּכ֣וֹרbe.KhorH1060,was wickedרַ֖עra'H7451in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of the Lordיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068;and the Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068slewוַיְמִתֵ֖הוּvay.mi.Te.huH4191him.

8And Judahיְהוּדָה֙ye.hu.DahH3063saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Onanלְאוֹנָ֔ןle.'o.NanH209,Go inבֹּ֛אbo'H935unto thy brother’sאָחִ֖יךָ'a.Chi.khaH251wifeאֵ֥שֶׁת'E.shetH802,and marryוְיַבֵּ֣םve.ya.BemH2992her, and raise upוְהָקֵ֥םve.ha.KemH6965seedזֶ֖רַעZe.ra'H2233to thy brotherלְאָחִֽיךָ׃le.'a.Chi.khaH251.

9And Onanאוֹנָ֔ן'o.NanH209knewוַיֵּ֣דַעvai.Ye.da'H3045that the seedהַזָּ֑רַעha.Za.ra'H2233should not be his; and it came to pass, whenאִם־'im-H518he went inבָּ֨אba'H935unto his brother’sאָחִיו֙'a.ChivH251wifeאֵ֤שֶׁת'E.shetH802,that he spilledוְשִׁחֵ֣תve.shi.ChetH7843iton the groundאַ֔רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776,lestלְבִלְתִּ֥יle.vil.TiH1115that he should giveנְתָן־ne.ton-H5414seedזֶ֖רַעZe.ra'H2233to his brotherלְאָחִֽיו׃le.'a.ChivH251.

10And the thing whichאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he didעָשָׂ֑ה'a.SahH6213displeasedבְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.NeiH5869 H3415the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068:wherefore he slewוַיָּ֖מֶתvai.Ya.metH4191him also.

11Then saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559Judahיְהוּדָה֩ye.hu.DahH3063to Tamarלְתָמָ֨רle.ta.MarH8559his daughter in lawכַּלָּת֜וֹka.la.ToH3618,Remainשְׁבִ֧יshe.ViH3427a widowאַלְמָנָ֣ה'al.ma.NahH490at thy father’sאָבִ֗יךְ'a.VikhH1houseבֵית־veit-H1004,till Shelahשֵׁלָ֣הshe.LahH7956my sonבְנִ֔יve.NiH1121be grownיִגְדַּל֙yig.DalH1431:for he saidאָמַ֔ר'a.MarH559,Lest peradventure he dieיָמ֥וּתya.MutH4191also, as his brethrenכְּאֶחָ֑יוke.'e.ChavH251did.And Tamarתָּמָ֔רta.MarH8559wentH3212and dweltוַתֵּ֖שֶׁבva.Te.shevH3427in her father’sאָבִֽיהָ׃'a.Vi.haH1houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004.

12And in processוַיִּרְבּוּ֙vai.yir.BuH7235of timeהַיָּמִ֔יםhai.ya.MimH3117the daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Shuahשׁ֣וּעַShu.a'H7770Judah’sיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063wifeאֵֽשֶׁת־'e.shet-H802diedוַתָּ֖מָתva.Ta.motH4191;and Judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063was comfortedוַיִּנָּ֣חֶםvai.yi.Na.chemH5162,and went upוַיַּ֜עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927unto his sheepshearersגֹּֽזֲזֵ֤י צֹאנוֹ֙go.za.Zei tzo.NoH6629 H1494to Timnathתִּמְנָֽתָה׃tim.Na.tahH8553,he and his friendרֵעֵ֥הוּre.'E.huH7453Hirahוְחִירָ֛הve.chi.RahH2437the Adullamiteהָעֲדֻלָּמִ֖יha.'a.du.la.MiH5726.

13And it was toldוַיֻּגַּ֥דvai.yu.GadH5046Tamarלְתָמָ֖רle.ta.MarH8559,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,Behold thy father in lawחָמִ֛יךְcha.MikhH2524goeth upעֹלֶ֥ה'o.LehH5927to Timnathתִמְנָ֖תָהtim.Na.tahH8553to shearלָגֹ֥זla.GozH1494his sheepצֹאנֽוֹ׃tzo.NoH6629.

14And she putH5493her widow’sאַלְמְנוּתָ֜הּ'al.me.nu.TahH491garmentsבִּגְדֵ֨יbig.DeiH899offH5493from her, and covered herוַתְּכַ֤סva.te.KhasH3680with a vailבַּצָּעִיף֙ba.tza.'IfH6809,and wrapped herselfוַתִּתְעַלָּ֔ףva.tit.'a.LafH5968,and sat inוַתֵּ֙שֶׁב֙va.Te.shevH3427an openH5869placeבְּפֶ֣תַחbe.Fe.tachH6607, which isby the wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870to Timnathתִּמְנָ֑תָהtim.Na.tahH8553;for she sawרָאֲתָה֙ra.'a.TahH7200that Shelahשֵׁלָ֔הshe.LahH7956was grownגָדַ֣לga.DalH1431,and she was not givenנִתְּנָ֥הni.te.NahH5414unto him to wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802.

15When Judahיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063saw herוַיִּרְאֶ֣הָvai.yir.'E.haH7200,he thoughtוַֽיַּחְשְׁבֶ֖הָvai.yach.she.Ve.haH2803her to bean harlotלְזוֹנָ֑הle.zo.NahH2181;because she had coveredכִסְּתָ֖הkhi.se.TahH3680her faceפָּנֶֽיהָ׃pa.Nei.haH6440.

16And he turnedוַיֵּ֨טvai.YetH5186unto her by the wayהַדֶּ֗רֶךְha.De.rekhH1870,and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,Go toהָֽבָה־ha.vah-H3051,I pray thee, let me come inאָב֣וֹא'a.Vo'H935unto thee; (for he knewיָדַ֔עya.Da'H3045not that she washis daughter in lawכַלָּת֖וֹkha.la.ToH3618.)And she saidוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.To.merH559,What wilt thou giveתִּתֶּן־ti.ten-H5414me, that thou mayest come inתָב֖וֹאta.Vo'H935unto me?

17And he saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I will sendאֲשַׁלַּ֥ח'a.sha.LachH7971theea kidגְּדִֽי־ עִזִּ֖יםge.di- 'i.ZimH1423 H5795from the flockהַצֹּ֑אןha.TzonH6629.And she saidוַתֹּ֕אמֶרva.To.merH559,Wilt thou giveתִּתֵּ֥ןti.TenH5414mea pledgeעֵרָב֖וֹןe.ra.VonH6162,till thou sendשָׁלְחֶֽךָ׃shal.Che.khaH7971it?

18And he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,WhatH834pledgeהָֽעֵרָבוֹן֮ha.'e.ra.VonH6162shall I giveאֶתֶּן־'e.ten-H5414thee? And she saidוַתֹּ֗אמֶרva.To.merH559,Thy signetחֹתָֽמְךָ֙cho.ta.me.KhaH2368,and thy braceletsוּפְתִילֶ֔ךָu.fe.ti.Le.khaH6616,and thy staffוּמַטְּךָ֖u.ma.te.KhaH4294that isin thine handבְּיָדֶ֑ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027.And he gaveוַיִּתֶּן־vai.yi.ten-H5414ither, and came inוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935unto her, and she conceivedוַתַּ֥הַרva.Ta.harH2029by him.

19And she aroseוַתָּ֣קָםva.Ta.komH6965,and went awayH3212,and laid byוַתָּ֥סַרva.Ta.sarH5493her vailצְעִיפָ֖הּtze.'i.FahH6809from her, and put onוַתִּלְבַּ֖שׁva.til.BashH3847the garmentsבִּגְדֵ֥יbig.DeiH899of her widowhoodאַלְמְנוּתָֽהּ׃'al.me.nu.TahH491.

20And Judahיְהוּדָ֜הye.hu.DahH3063sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֨חvai.yish.LachH7971the kidגְּדִ֣י הָֽעִזִּ֗יםge.Di ha.'i.ZimH5795 H1423by the handבְּיַד֙be.YadH3027of his friendרֵעֵ֣הוּre.'E.huH7453the Adullamiteהָֽעֲדֻלָּמִ֔יha.'a.du.la.MiH5726,to receiveלָקַ֥חַתla.Ka.chatH3947hispledgeהָעֵרָב֖וֹןha.'e.ra.VonH6162from the woman’sהָאִשָּׁ֑הha.'i.ShahH802handמִיַּ֣דmi.YadH3027:but he found herמְצָאָֽהּ׃me.tza.'AhH4672not.

21Then he askedוַיִּשְׁאַ֞לvai.yish.'AlH7592the menאַנְשֵׁ֤י'an.SheiH582of that placeמְקֹמָהּ֙me.ko.MahH4725,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, Where isthe harlotהַקְּדֵשָׁ֛הha.ke.de.ShahH6948, that wasopenlyH5869by the way sideהַדָּ֑רֶךְha.Da.rekhH1870?And they saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559,There was no harlotקְדֵשָֽׁה׃ke.de.ShahH6948in thisבָזֶ֖הva.ZehH2088place.

22And he returnedוַיָּ֙שָׁב֙vai.Ya.shovH7725to Judahיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063,and saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I cannotH3808findמְצָאתִ֑יהָme.tza.Ti.haH4672her; and also the menאַנְשֵׁ֤י'an.SheiH582of the placeהַמָּקוֹם֙ha.ma.kOmH4725saidאָֽמְר֔וּ'a.me.RuH559, thatthere was no harlotקְדֵשָֽׁה׃ke.de.ShahH6948in this place.

23And Judahיְהוּדָה֙ye.hu.DahH3063saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Let her takeתִּֽקַּֽח־ti.kach-H3947itto her, lest we be shamedלָב֑וּזla.VuzH937:behold, I sentשָׁלַ֙חְתִּי֙sha.Lach.tiH7971this kidהַגְּדִ֣יha.ge.DiH1423,and thou hast not foundמְצָאתָֽהּ׃me.tza.TahH4672her.

24And it came to pass about threeכְּמִשְׁלֹ֣שׁke.mish.LoshH7969monthsחֳדָשִׁ֗יםcho.da.ShimH2320after, that it was toldוַיֻּגַּ֨דvai.yu.GadH5046Judahלִֽיהוּדָ֤הli.hu.DahH3063,sayingלֵֽאמֹר֙le.MorH559,Tamarתָּמָ֣רta.MarH8559thy daughter in lawכַּלָּתֶ֔ךָka.la.Te.khaH3618hath played the harlotזָֽנְתָה֙za.ne.TahH2181; and also, behold, she iswith childהָרָ֖הha.RahH2030by whoredomלִזְנוּנִ֑יםliz.nu.NimH2183.And Judahיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Bring her forthהוֹצִיא֖וּהָho.tzi.'U.haH3318,and let her be burntוְתִשָּׂרֵֽף׃ve.ti.sa.RefH8313.

25When she wasbrought forthמוּצֵ֗אתmu.TzetH3318,she sentשָׁלְחָ֤הshal.ChahH7971to her father in lawחָמִ֙יהָ֙cha.Mi.haH2524,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,By the manלְאִישׁ֙le.'IshH376, whose these are, amI with childהָרָ֑הha.RahH2030:and she saidוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.To.merH559,Discernהַכֶּר־ha.ker-H5234, I pray thee, whose arethese, the signetהַחֹתֶ֧מֶתha.cho.Te.metH2858,and braceletsוְהַפְּתִילִ֛יםve.ha.pe.ti.LimH6616,and staffוְהַמַּטֶּ֖הve.ham.ma.TehH4294.

26And Judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063acknowledgedוַיַּכֵּ֣רvai.ya.KerH5234them,and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,She hath been more righteousצָֽדְקָ֣הtza.de.KahH6663than I; because that I gaveנְתַתִּ֖יהָne.ta.Ti.haH5414her not to Shelahלְשֵׁלָ֣הle.she.LahH7956my sonבְנִ֑יve.NiH1121.And he knew herלְדַעְתָּֽה׃le.da'.TahH3045againיָסַ֥ףya.SafH3254no more.

27And it came to pass in the timeבְּעֵ֣תbe.'EtH6256of her travailלִדְתָּ֑הּlid.TahH3205,that, behold, twinsתְאוֹמִ֖יםte.'o.MimH8380werein her wombבְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃be.vit.NahH990.

28And it came to pass, when she travailedבְלִדְתָּ֖הּve.lid.TahH3205, that the oneput outוַיִּתֶּן־vai.yi.ten-H5414hishandיָ֑דYadH3027:and the midwifeהַמְיַלֶּ֗דֶתham.ya.Le.detH3205tookוַתִּקַּ֣חva.ti.KachH3947and boundוַתִּקְשֹׁ֨רva.tik.ShorH7194upon his handיָד֤וֹya.DoH3027a scarlet threadשָׁנִי֙sha.NiH8144,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,This came outיָצָ֥אya.Tza'H3318firstרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃ri.sho.NahH7223.

29And it came to pass, as he drew backכְּמֵשִׁ֣יבke.me.ShivH7725his handיָד֗וֹya.DoH3027,that, behold, his brotherאָחִ֔יו'a.ChivH251came outיָצָ֣אya.Tza'H3318:and she saidוַתֹּ֕אמֶרva.To.merH559,How hast thou broken forthפָּרַ֖צְתָּpa.Ratz.taH6555? thisbreachפָּ֑רֶץPa.retzH6556beupon thee: therefore his nameשְׁמ֖וֹshe.MoH8034was calledוַיִּקְרָ֥אvai.yik.Ra'H7121Pharezפָּֽרֶץ׃Pa.retzH6557.

30And afterwardוְאַחַר֙ve.'a.CharH310came outיָצָ֣אya.Tza'H3318his brotherאָחִ֔יו'a.ChivH251,that had the scarlet threadהַשָּׁנִ֑יha.sha.NiH8144upon his handיָד֖וֹya.DoH3027:and his nameשְׁמ֖וֹshe.MoH8034was calledוַיִּקְרָ֥אvai.yik.Ra'H7121Zarahזָֽרַח׃ סZa.rachH2226.

Commentaries on Genesis 38

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