Genesis 38

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 38

1¶ And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name [was] Hirah.

2And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name [was] Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.

3And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.

4And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.

5And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.

6And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name [was] Tamar.

7And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.

8And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

9And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled [it] on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.

10And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

11Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren [did]. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

12¶ And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

13And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

14And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which [is] by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

15When Judah saw her, he thought her [to be] an harlot; because she had covered her face.

16And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she [was] his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?

17And he said, I will send [thee] a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give [me] a pledge, till thou send [it]?

18And 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.

19And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

20And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive [his] pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not.

21Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where [is] the harlot, that [was] openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this [place].

22And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, [that] there was no harlot in this [place].

23And Judah said, Let her take [it] to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.

24¶ And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she [is] with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.

25When she [was] brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these [are, am] I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose [are] these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.

26And Judah acknowledged [them], and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.

27And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins [were] in her womb.

28And it came to pass, when she travailed, that [the one] put out [his] hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.

29And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? [this] breach [be] upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.

30And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Genesis chapter 38 recounts Judah's departure from his brethren and his family's lineage. His first two sons, Er and Onan, are slain by the LORD due to their wickedness and refusal to fulfill the levirate marriage custom with Tamar, Er's widow. Judah delays giving his third son, Shelah, to Tamar, leading her to disguise herself as a harlot and conceive by Judah himself. When her pregnancy is discovered, Tamar reveals Judah's signet, bracelets, and staff as proof, leading Judah to acknowledge her righteousness, and she gives birth to twins, Pharez and Zarah.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with Judah separating from his brethren and marrying a Canaanite woman, by whom he has three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er, Judah's firstborn, is wicked and slain by the LORD, prompting Judah to instruct Onan to marry Tamar, his brother's widow, to raise up seed. Onan, knowing the seed would not be his, spills it on the ground, displeasing the LORD, who also slays him. Judah then promises Tamar his youngest son, Shelah, when he is grown, but delays fulfilling this promise. Observing Shelah's maturity and Judah's inaction, Tamar disguises herself as a harlot and sits by the wayside, where Judah encounters her. Unknowing it is his daughter-in-law, Judah lies with her, giving his signet, bracelets, and staff as a pledge for a kid from the flock. When Tamar's pregnancy is discovered, Judah orders her to be burned, but she sends his pledges, proving his paternity. Judah acknowledges her righteousness, admitting his failure to give her Shelah, and Tamar subsequently bears twins, Pharez and Zarah.

Long Summary

Genesis chapter 38 details events in the life of Judah, separate from the main narrative of Joseph. Judah leaves his brethren and settles among the Adullamites, where he marries a Canaanite woman named Shuah. She bears him three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah arranges a marriage for his firstborn, Er, with a woman named Tamar. However, Er is wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD slays him. Following custom, Judah instructs Onan to marry Tamar and raise up offspring for his deceased brother. Onan, unwilling to father a child that would not be considered his own, spills his seed on the ground, an act that displeases the LORD, who then slays him as well. Fearing that Shelah, his youngest son, might also die, Judah tells Tamar to remain a widow in her father's house until Shelah is grown, though he secretly intends not to give her to him. After Judah's wife dies and he is comforted, he goes to Timnath for sheep-shearing. Tamar, realizing Judah's broken promise, removes her widow's garments, covers herself with a veil, and sits by the wayside disguised as a harlot. Judah, not recognizing her, approaches her and requests to lie with her. She demands a pledge, and he gives her his signet, bracelets, and staff in exchange for a promised kid from the flock. After their encounter, Tamar returns home, resuming her widow's attire. Judah sends his friend Hirah to retrieve the pledges, but the disguised woman cannot be found, and the local men deny any harlot was present. About three months later, Judah is informed that Tamar has played the harlot and is with child. He commands her to be brought forth and burned. As she is led out, Tamar sends the signet, bracelets, and staff to Judah, declaring that she is with child by the man to whom these items belong. Judah recognizes them and humbly admits, 'She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son.' He has no further intimate relations with her. In due time, Tamar gives birth to twins, Pharez and Zarah, with Pharez emerging first, marked by a scarlet thread on his hand, establishing a significant lineage.

Core Concepts

  • Levirate MarriageThis custom, also known as 'raising up seed to thy brother,' required a man to marry his deceased brother's widow to ensure the continuation of the brother's lineage. It is central to the narrative as Judah instructs Onan to fulfill this duty, and Onan's refusal leads to divine judgment.
  • Divine JudgmentThe LORD directly intervenes by slaying both Er and Onan. Er is slain for his unspecified wickedness, while Onan is slain because his act of spilling his seed on the ground displeased the LORD, as it was a deliberate refusal to fulfill his duty in the levirate marriage.
  • Tamar's RighteousnessDespite her deceptive actions, Judah himself declares Tamar 'more righteous than I.' This acknowledgment stems from Judah's failure to uphold his promise to give Shelah to Tamar, thereby denying her the right to bear children and continue the family line.
  • Pledges and ProofJudah's signet, bracelets, and staff serve as crucial pledges given to Tamar. These items later become undeniable proof of Judah's paternity, preventing Tamar's execution and revealing the truth of the situation.
  • Lineage and SuccessionThe chapter is vital for establishing the lineage of Judah, from whom the Messiah would eventually come. The births of Pharez and Zarah, particularly Pharez, ensure the continuation of Judah's family line despite the earlier deaths of his first two sons and Judah's own moral failings.
  • Deception and JusticeTamar employs deception by disguising herself as a harlot to secure her right to bear children within Judah's family. Her actions, though unconventional, are ultimately vindicated by Judah's own admission of his failure to provide her with Shelah, highlighting a pursuit of justice within the societal norms of the time.