Genesis 38:17

Genesis 38:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?
• New International Version (NIV)“I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,” he said. “Will you give me something as a pledge until you send it?” she asked.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He answered, "I will send you a young goat from the flock." And she said, "If you give me a pledge, until you send it—"
• New King James Version (NKJV)And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.” So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”

Context of Genesis 38:17

15Judah noticed her and thought she was a prostitute, since she had covered her face. 16So he stopped and propositioned her. “Let me have sex with you,” he said, not realizing that she was his own daughter-in-law. “How much will you pay to have sex with me?” Tamar asked. “I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,” Judah promised. “But what will you give me to guarantee that you will send the goat?” she asked. 18“What kind of guarantee do you want?” he replied. She answered, “Leave me your identification seal and its cord and the walking stick you are carrying.” So Judah gave them to her. Then he had intercourse with her, and she became pregnant. 19Afterward she went back home, took off her veil, and put on her widow’s clothing as usual.

Genesis 38:17 word by word

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָנֹכִ֛י אֲשַׁלַּ֥ח גְּדִֽי־עִזִּ֖ים מִן־הַצֹּ֑אן וַתֹּ֕אמֶר אִם־תִּתֵּ֥ן עֵרָב֖וֹן עַ֥ד שָׁלְחֶֽךָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• I will sendשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• a kidגְּדִיgedîy · kidH1423
• a kidעֵז‛êz · goatH5795
• from the flockצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
• Wilt thou giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• a pledgeעֵרָבוֹן‛ărâbôn · pledgeH6162

Cross-references for Genesis 38:17

• Ezekiel 16:33Prostitutes charge for their services—but not you! You give gifts to your lovers, bribing them to come and have sex with you.
• Genesis 38:20Later Judah asked his friend Hirah the Adullamite to take the young goat to the woman and to pick up the things he had given her as his guarantee. But Hirah couldn’t find her.
• Proverbs 20:16Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.
• Luke 16:8“The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.

Commentaries on Genesis 38:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Wilt thou give me a pledge till thou send it? - The word ערבון erabon signifies an earnest of something promised, a part of the price agreed for between a buyer and seller, by giving and receiving of which the bargain was ratified; or a deposit, which was to be restored when the thing promised should be given. St. Paul uses the same word in Greek letters, ̔, 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:14. From the use of the term in this history we may at once see…Read the comment
• 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. 17It would be normal for Tamar to ask for a pledge if the man did not have the money to pay. A woman in such a position would not trust anyone to send the money.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-301. at that time--a formula frequently used by the sacred writers, not to describe any precise period, but an interval near about it.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 38:17

• Adultery
• Incest
• Judah
• Pledge
• Sheep
• Tamar
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Earnest
• Goat
• Kid
• Lay
• Remain
• Abraham
• Archaeology; Archaeology and Criticism
• Ben-Ammi
• Genealogy
• Genesis

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