New American Standard Bible 2020

Genesis 38

Judah and Tamar

1And it cameH1961aboutH1961at that timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256,that Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063departedוַיֵּ֥רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381from his brothersאֶחָ֑יו'e.ChavH251andvisitedוַיֵּ֛טvai.YetH5186a certainאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376Adullamiteעֲדֻלָּמִ֖י'a.du.la.MiH5726,whose nameוּשְׁמ֥וֹu.she.MoH8034was Hirahחִירָֽה׃chi.RahH2437.

2Judahיְהוּדָ֛הye.hu.DahH3063sawוַיַּרְא־vai.yar'-H7200thereשָׁ֧םshamH8033a daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of a certainאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376Canaaniteכְּנַעֲנִ֖יke.na.'a.NiH3669whose nameוּשְׁמ֣וֹu.she.MoH8034wasShuaשׁ֑וּעַShu.a'H7770;and he tookוַיִּקָּחֶ֖הָvai.yi.ka.Che.haH3947her as a wifeand hadH935relationsH935withH935her.

3And she conceivedוַתַּ֖הַרva.Ta.harH2029and gaveH3205birthH3205to a sonבֵּ֑ןBenH1121,and he namedוַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹvai.yik.Ra' she.MoH7121 H8034himErעֵֽר׃'ErH6147.

4Then she conceivedוַתַּ֥הַרva.Ta.harH2029againע֖וֹדodH5750and gaveH3205birthH3205to a sonבֵּ֑ןBenH1121,and she namedוַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹva.tik.Ra' she.MoH7121 H8034himOnanאוֹנָֽן׃'o.NanH209.

5She gaveH3205birthH3205to yetעוֹד֙'OdH5750anotherוַתֹּ֤סֶףva.To.sefH3254sonבֵּ֔ןBenH1121and namedוַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹva.tik.Ra' she.MoH7121 H8034himShelahשֵׁלָ֑הshe.LahH7956;and it was at Chezibבִכְזִ֖יבvikh.ZivH3580that she gaveH3205birthH3205to him.

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

7ButErעֵ֚ר'erH6147,Judah’sיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063firstbornבְּכ֣וֹרbe.KhorH1060,was evilרַ֖עra'H7451in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of the Lordיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,so the Lordיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068tookH4191his lifeH4191.

8Then Judahיְהוּדָה֙ye.hu.DahH3063saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Onanלְאוֹנָ֔ןle.'o.NanH209, “HaveH935relationsH935withH935your brother’sאָחִ֖יךָ'a.Chi.khaH251wifeאֵ֥שֶׁת'E.shetH802and performH2992your dutyH2992asH2992aH2992brother-in-lawH2992to her, and raiseוְהָקֵ֥םve.ha.KemH6965upH6965achildזֶ֖רַעZe.ra'H2233for your brotherלְאָחִֽיךָ׃le.'a.Chi.khaH251.”

9Now Onanאוֹנָ֔ן'o.NanH209knewוַיֵּ֣דַעvai.Ye.da'H3045that thechildהַזָּ֑רַעha.Za.ra'H2233would not be his; so whenאִם־'im-H518he hadH935relationsH935withH935his brother’sאָחִיו֙'a.ChivH251wifeאֵ֤שֶׁת'E.shetH802, hewastedוְשִׁחֵ֣תve.shi.ChetH7843his seed on the groundאַ֔רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776soH1115thatH1115he would notH1115giveנְתָן־ne.ton-H5414a childזֶ֖רַעZe.ra'H2233to his brotherלְאָחִֽיו׃le.'a.ChivH251.

10But whatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834he didעָשָׂ֑ה'a.SahH6213was displeasingוַיֵּ֛רַעvai.Ye.ra'H7489in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068; so HetookH4191his lifeH4191alsoגַּם־gam-H1571.

11Then Judahיְהוּדָה֩ye.hu.DahH3063saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his daughter-in-lawכַּלָּת֜וֹka.la.ToH3618Tamarלְתָמָ֨רle.ta.MarH8559, “Remainשְׁבִ֧יshe.ViH3427a widowאַלְמָנָ֣ה'al.ma.NahH490in your father’sאָבִ֗יךְ'a.VikhH1houseבֵית־veit-H1004untilעַד־'ad-H5704my sonבְנִ֔יve.NiH1121Shelahשֵׁלָ֣הshe.LahH7956growsיִגְדַּל֙yig.DalH1431up”; for hethoughtאָמַ֔ר'a.MarH559, “I am afraidthat he tooגַּם־gam-H1571may dieיָמ֥וּתya.MutH4191like his brothersכְּאֶחָ֑יוke.'e.ChavH251.”So Tamarתָּמָ֔רta.MarH8559wentוַתֵּ֣לֶךְva.Te.lekhH1980and livedוַתֵּ֖שֶׁבva.Te.shevH3427in her father’sאָבִֽיהָ׃'a.Vi.haH1houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004.

12Nowafter a considerableוַיִּרְבּוּ֙vai.yir.BuH7235timeהַיָּמִ֔יםhai.ya.MimH3117Shua’sשׁ֣וּעַShu.a'H7770daughterבַּת־bat-H1323,the wifeאֵֽשֶׁת־'e.shet-H802of Judahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063,diedוַתָּ֖מָתva.Ta.motH4191; and whenthe timeH5162ofH5162mourningH5162was endedH5162,Judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063wentH5927upH5927to his sheepshearersגֹּֽזֲזֵ֤י צֹאנוֹ֙go.za.Zei tzo.NoH6629 H1494atTimnahתִּמְנָֽתָה׃tim.Na.tahH8553,he and his friendרֵעֵ֥הוּre.'E.huH7453Hirahוְחִירָ֛הve.chi.RahH2437the Adullamiteהָעֲדֻלָּמִ֖יha.'a.du.la.MiH5726.

13And Tamarלְתָמָ֖רle.ta.MarH8559was toldוַיֻּגַּ֥דvai.yu.GadH5046, “Beholdהִנֵּ֥הhi.NehH2009,your father-in-lawחָמִ֛יךְcha.MikhH2524is goingH5927upH5927toTimnahתִמְנָ֖תָהtim.Na.tahH8553to shearלָגֹ֥זla.GozH1494his sheepצֹאנֽוֹ׃tzo.NoH6629.”

14So sheremovedוַתָּסַר֩va.ta.SarH5493her widow’sאַלְמְנוּתָ֜הּ'al.me.nu.TahH491garmentsבִּגְדֵ֨יbig.DeiH899andcoveredוַתְּכַ֤סva.te.KhasH3680herself with aveilבַּצָּעִיף֙ba.tza.'IfH6809,and wrappedוַתִּתְעַלָּ֔ףva.tit.'a.LafH5968herself, and satוַתֵּ֙שֶׁב֙va.Te.shevH3427in the gatewayבְּפֶ֣תַחbe.Fe.tachH6607ofEnaimעֵינַ֔יִם'ei.Na.yimH5879,whichאֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834is on the roadדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870to Timnahתִּמְנָ֑תָהtim.Na.tahH8553;for she sawרָאֲתָה֙ra.'a.TahH7200that Shelahשֵׁלָ֔הshe.LahH7956had grownH1431upH1431, andshe had not been givenנִתְּנָ֥הni.te.NahH5414to him as a wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802.

15When Judahיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063sawוַיִּרְאֶ֣הָvai.yir.'E.haH7200her, he assumedוַֽיַּחְשְׁבֶ֖הָvai.yach.she.Ve.haH2803she wasa prostituteלְזוֹנָ֑הle.zo.NahH2181,for she had coveredכִסְּתָ֖הkhi.se.TahH3680her faceפָּנֶֽיהָ׃pa.Nei.haH6440.

16So he turnedH5186asideוַיֵּ֨טvai.YetH5186to her by the roadהַדֶּ֗רֶךְha.De.rekhH1870,and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “Hereהָֽבָה־ha.vah-H3051nowנָּא֙na'H4994,let me haveH935relationsH935withH935you”; for he did not knowיָדַ֔עya.Da'H3045that she was his daughter-in-lawכַלָּת֖וֹkha.la.ToH3618.And she saidוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.To.merH559, “Whatמַה־mah-H4100will you giveתִּתֶּן־ti.ten-H5414me, that you may haveH935relationsH935withH935me?”

17He saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,therefore, “I will sendאֲשַׁלַּ֥ח'a.sha.LachH7971you ayoungH1423 H5795goatעִזִּ֖ים'i.ZimH1423 H5795from the flockהַצֹּ֑אןha.TzonH6629.”She then saidוַתֹּ֕אמֶרva.To.merH559, “Will you giveתִּתֵּ֥ןti.TenH5414a pledgeעֵרָב֖וֹןe.ra.VonH6162untilעַ֥ד'adH5704you sendשָׁלְחֶֽךָ׃shal.Che.khaH7971it?”

18He saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whatמָ֣הmahH4100pledgeהָֽעֵרָבוֹן֮ha.'e.ra.VonH6162shall I giveאֶתֶּן־'e.ten-H5414you?” And she saidוַתֹּ֗אמֶרva.To.merH559, “Your sealחֹתָֽמְךָ֙cho.ta.me.KhaH2368and your cordוּפְתִילֶ֔ךָu.fe.ti.Le.khaH6616,and your staffוּמַטְּךָ֖u.ma.te.KhaH4294that is in your handבְּיָדֶ֑ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027.”So he gaveוַיִּתֶּן־vai.yi.ten-H5414themto her and hadH935relationsH935withH935her, and she conceivedוַתַּ֥הַרva.Ta.harH2029by him.

19Then she gotH6965upH6965and departedוַתֵּ֔לֶךְva.Te.lekhH1980, andremovedוַתָּ֥סַרva.Ta.sarH5493herveilצְעִיפָ֖הּtze.'i.FahH6809and putוַתִּלְבַּ֖שׁva.til.BashH3847onH3847her widow’sאַלְמְנוּתָֽהּ׃'al.me.nu.TahH491garmentsבִּגְדֵ֥יbig.DeiH899.

20When Judahיְהוּדָ֜הye.hu.DahH3063sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֨חvai.yish.LachH7971theyoungH1423 H5795goatהָֽעִזִּ֗יםha.'i.ZimH1423 H5795by his friendרֵעֵ֣הוּre.'E.huH7453the Adullamiteהָֽעֲדֻלָּמִ֔יha.'a.du.la.MiH5726,to receiveלָקַ֥חַתla.Ka.chatH3947the pledgeהָעֵרָב֖וֹןha.'e.ra.VonH6162from the woman’sהָאִשָּׁ֑הha.'i.ShahH802handH3027,he did not findמְצָאָֽהּ׃me.tza.'AhH4672her.

21He askedוַיִּשְׁאַ֞לvai.yish.'AlH7592the peopleH376of her placeמְקֹמָהּ֙me.ko.MahH4725,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “Whereאַיֵּ֧ה'ai.YehH346is the templeH6945prostituteH6945whoהִ֥ואhi'H1931was by the roadהַדָּ֑רֶךְha.Da.rekhH1870at Enaimבָעֵינַ֖יִםva.'ei.Na.yimH5879?”But they saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, “There has beenהָיְתָ֥הha.ye.TahH1961noלֹא־lo'-H3808templeH6945prostituteH6945hereבָזֶ֖הva.ZehH2088.”

22So he returnedוַיָּ֙שָׁב֙vai.Ya.shovH7725to Judahיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063,and saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “I did not findמְצָאתִ֑יהָme.tza.Ti.haH4672her; and furthermoreוְגַ֨םve.GamH1571,the peopleH376of the placeהַמָּקוֹם֙ha.ma.kOmH4725saidאָֽמְר֔וּ'a.me.RuH559, ‘There has beenהָיְתָ֥הha.ye.TahH1961noH3808templeH6945prostituteH6945hereבָזֶ֖הva.ZehH2088.’”

23Then Judahיְהוּדָה֙ye.hu.DahH3063saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Let herkeepתִּֽקַּֽח־ti.kach-H3947them, otherwiseפֶּ֖ןpenH6435we will becomeנִהְיֶ֣הnih.YehH1961a laughingstockלָב֑וּזla.VuzH937.AfterH2009allH2009,I sentשָׁלַ֙חְתִּי֙sha.Lach.tiH7971thisהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088youngH1423goatH1423,but you did not findמְצָאתָֽהּ׃me.tza.TahH4672her.”

24Now it was about threeכְּמִשְׁלֹ֣שׁke.mish.LoshH7969monthsחֳדָשִׁ֗יםcho.da.ShimH2320laterH4480that Judahלִֽיהוּדָ֤הli.hu.DahH3063wasinformedוַיֻּגַּ֨דvai.yu.GadH5046, “Your daughter-in-lawכַּלָּתֶ֔ךָka.la.Te.khaH3618Tamarתָּמָ֣רta.MarH8559has prostitutedזָֽנְתָה֙za.ne.TahH2181herself, and beholdהִנֵּ֥הhi.NehH2009,she is alsoוְגַ֛םve.GamH1571pregnantהָרָ֖הha.RahH2030by prostitutionלִזְנוּנִ֑יםliz.nu.NimH2183.”Then Judahיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063saidH559, “Bringהוֹצִיא֖וּהָho.tzi.'U.haH3318her outH3318andhave her burnedוְתִשָּׂרֵֽף׃ve.ti.sa.RefH8313!”

25It was while she was being broughtH3318outH3318that she sentשָׁלְחָ֤הshal.ChahH7971wordto her father-in-lawחָמִ֙יהָ֙cha.Mi.haH2524,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “I am pregnantהָרָ֑הha.RahH2030by the manלְאִישׁ֙le.'IshH376to whomאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834theseH428thingsH428belong.” She also saidוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.To.merH559, “Pleaseנָ֔אNa'H4994examineH5234andH5234seeH5234,whoseלְמִ֞יle.MiH4310signetH2368ringהַחֹתֶ֧מֶתha.cho.Te.metH2858and cordsוְהַפְּתִילִ֛יםve.ha.pe.ti.LimH6616and staffוְהַמַּטֶּ֖הve.ham.ma.TehH4294are theseH428?”

26And Judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063recognizedוַיַּכֵּ֣רvai.ya.KerH5234them,and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “She isH6663moreמִמֶּ֔נִּיmi.Me.niH4480righteousצָֽדְקָ֣הtza.de.KahH6663thanH4480I, sinceכִּֽי־ עַל־ כֵּ֥ןki- 'al- kenH3588 H5921 H3651I did not giveנְתַתִּ֖יהָne.ta.Ti.haH5414her to my sonבְנִ֑יve.NiH1121Shelahלְשֵׁלָ֣הle.she.LahH7956.” And he did nothaveH3045relationsH3045with her againיָסַ֥ף ע֖וֹדya.Saf odH3254 H5750.

27It cameH1961aboutH1961at the timeבְּעֵ֣תbe.'EtH6256she was givingH3205birthלִדְתָּ֑הּlid.TahH3205,that beholdוְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.NehH2009, there weretwinsH8420in her wombבְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃be.vit.NahH990.

28Moreover, it tookH1961placeH1961while she was givingH3205birthH3205, that one babyputוַיִּתֶּן־vai.yi.ten-H5414out a handיָ֑דYadH3027,and the midwifeH3205tookוַתִּקַּ֣חva.ti.KachH3947and tiedוַתִּקְשֹׁ֨רva.tik.ShorH7194a scarletשָׁנִי֙sha.NiH8144threadon his handיָד֤וֹya.DoH3027,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “ThisH2088oneזֶ֖הzehH2088cameH3318outH3318firstרִאשֹׁנָֽה׃ri.sho.NahH7223.”

29But it cameH1961aboutH1961as he drewH7725backH7725his handיָד֗וֹya.DoH3027that beholdוְהִנֵּה֙ve.hi.NehH2009,his brotherאָחִ֔יו'a.ChivH251cameH3318outH3318.Then she saidוַתֹּ֕אמֶרva.To.merH559, “Whatמַה־mah-H4100a breachפָּ֑רֶץPa.retzH6556you have madeפָּרַ֖צְתָּpa.Ratz.taH6555for yourself!” So he was namedוַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹvai.yik.Ra' she.MoH7121 H8034Perezפָּֽרֶץ׃Pa.retzH6557.

30Afterwardוְאַחַר֙ve.'a.CharH310his brotherאָחִ֔יו'a.ChivH251cameH3318outH3318whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834had the scarletהַשָּׁנִ֑יha.sha.NiH8144threadon his handיָד֖וֹya.DoH3027;and he was namedוַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹvai.yik.Ra' she.MoH7121 H8034Zerahזָֽרַח׃ סZa.rachH2226.

Judah and Tamar

Commentaries on Genesis 38