Thematic Bible
Genesis 38:1 (show verse)
Right about then, Judah left his brothers and went to live with an Adullamite man named Hirah.
Genesis 38:2 (show verse)
There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her, had sexual relations with her,
Genesis 38:3 (show verse)
and she conceived, bore a son, and named him Er.
Genesis 38:4 (show verse)
Later, she conceived again, bore another son, and named him Onan.
Genesis 38:5 (show verse)
Then she bore yet another son and named him Shelah. Judah was living in Kezib when she bore him.
Genesis 38:6 (show verse)
Judah found a wife for his oldest son Er. Her name was Tamar.
Genesis 38:7 (show verse)
But the LORD considered Er, Judah's oldest son, to be wicked so he put him to death.
Genesis 38:8 (show verse)
So Judah instructed Onan, "You are to have sexual relations with your dead brother's wife, performing the duty of a brother-in-law with her, and have offspring for your brother."
Genesis 38:9 (show verse)
But Onan knew that the offspring wouldn't be his own heir, so whenever he had sexual relations with his brother's wife, he would spill his semen on the ground to avoid fathering offspring for his brother.
Genesis 38:10 (show verse)
The LORD considered what Onan was doing to be evil, so he put him to death, too.
Genesis 38:11 (show verse)
After this, Judah told his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Go live as a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up." But he was really thinking, ""otherwise, Shelah might die like his brothers." So Tamar left and lived in her father's house.
Genesis 38:12 (show verse)
Some years later, Shua's daughter (that is, Judah's wife) died. As Judah was grieving, he visited the shearers of his flock in Timnah, accompanied by his Adullamite friend Hirah.
Genesis 38:13 (show verse)
"Look!" somebody reported to Tamar, "Your father-in-law is going to Timnah to shear his sheep."
Genesis 38:14 (show verse)
So she took off her mourning apparel, covered herself with a shawl, and concealed her outward appearance. Then she went out and sat at the entrance of Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah, because she knew that even though Shelah had grown up, she wasn't being given to him as his wife.
Adultery » Instances of » Judah
Judah » Son of jacob » His incest with his daughter-in-law
Masking » By tamar
Mourning » Wearing mourning clothes
Sheep » Shearing of
Shelah » Son of judah
Tamar » Wife of the sons of judah
Timnath » A city
Veil » A covering for the face
Veil » Worn » By tamar
Veil or veil » Was worn » For concealment
Veil or veil » A covering for the head usually worn by women
Widow's » Were clothed in mourning after the decease of husbands
Women » Instances of » Tamar, in her adultery
Judah » Son of jacob » His incest with his daughter-in-law
Masking » By tamar
Mourning » Wearing mourning clothes
Sheep » Shearing of
Shelah » Son of judah
Tamar » Wife of the sons of judah
Timnath » A city
Veil » A covering for the face
Veil » Worn » By tamar
Veil or veil » Was worn » For concealment
Veil or veil » A covering for the head usually worn by women
Widow's » Were clothed in mourning after the decease of husbands
Women » Instances of » Tamar, in her adultery
Genesis 38:15 (show verse)
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, since she had concealed her face.
Genesis 38:16 (show verse)
So on the way, he turned aside, approached her, and said, "Come on! Let's have some sex!" But he didn't realize that he was talking to his own daughter-in-law. "What will you give me," she asked, "in order to have sex with me?"
Genesis 38:17 (show verse)
"I'll send you a young goat from the flock," he responded. But she pressed him, asking, "What security will you put up until you've sent it?"
Genesis 38:18 (show verse)
Then he asked, "What pledge do you want me to give you?"
Adorning » Rich apparel » Bracelets
Adultery » Instances of » Judah
Bracelet » By men
Incest » Instances of » Judah
Judah » Son of jacob » His incest with his daughter-in-law
Ornaments » Rich apparel » Bracelets
Rings » Antiquity of
Seal » A stamp used for signifying documents » Given as a pledge
Seals » Called signets
Tamar » Wife of the sons of judah
Women » Instances of » Tamar, in her adultery
Adultery » Instances of » Judah
Bracelet » By men
Incest » Instances of » Judah
Judah » Son of jacob » His incest with his daughter-in-law
Ornaments » Rich apparel » Bracelets
Rings » Antiquity of
Seal » A stamp used for signifying documents » Given as a pledge
Seals » Called signets
Tamar » Wife of the sons of judah
Women » Instances of » Tamar, in her adultery
Genesis 38:19 (show verse)
"Your signet ring, cord, and the staff in your hand," she suggested. So he gave them to her, had sex with her, and she became pregnant by him. Then she got up and left. Later, she took off her shawl and put on her mourning clothes.
Genesis 38:20 (show verse)
Later on, Judah sent his Adullamite friend to take her a young goat, intending to retrieve what he had put up as security from the woman, but he could not find her.
Genesis 38:21 (show verse)
He asked the men who lived in that area, "Where's that temple prostitute who was sitting alongside the road at Enaim?" But they replied, "There's been no temple prostitute here."
Genesis 38:22 (show verse)
So he returned to Judah and said, "I haven't found her. Also, the men who are from there said, "There's been no prostitute here.'"
Genesis 38:23 (show verse)
Then Judah said, "Let her have those things. Otherwise, we'll become contemptible. I sent this young goat, but you didn't find her."
Genesis 38:24 (show verse)
Three months later, it was reported to Judah, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar has turned to prostitution! And look! She's pregnant because of it!" "Bring her out," Judah responded. "Let's burn her to death!"
Adultery » Instances of » Judah
Children » Power of parents over, during the patriarchal age
Judah » Son of jacob » His incest with his daughter-in-law
Patriarchal government » Exercised in » Acting as judges
Punishment » Death penalty » Modes of execution » Burning
Punishments » Burning
Punishments » Capital kinds of » Burning
Rulers' » Instances of » Judah
Tamar » Wife of the sons of judah
The Nation » Punishment » Burning
Women » Instances of » Tamar, in her adultery
Children » Power of parents over, during the patriarchal age
Judah » Son of jacob » His incest with his daughter-in-law
Patriarchal government » Exercised in » Acting as judges
Punishment » Death penalty » Modes of execution » Burning
Punishments » Burning
Punishments » Capital kinds of » Burning
Rulers' » Instances of » Judah
Tamar » Wife of the sons of judah
The Nation » Punishment » Burning
Women » Instances of » Tamar, in her adultery
Genesis 38:25 (show verse)
While they were bringing her out, she sent this message to her father-in-law: "I am pregnant by the man to whom these things belong. Furthermore," she added, "tell me to whom this signet ring, cord, and staff belongs."
Genesis 38:26 (show verse)
When Judah recognized them, he admitted, "She is more upright than I, because I never did give her my son Shelah." And he never had sex with her again.
Genesis 38:27 (show verse)
Later, when it was time for Tamar to give birth, she was carrying twins in her womb!
Genesis 38:28 (show verse)
While she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand, so the midwife grabbed it and tied something scarlet around his hand, observing, "This one came out first."
Genesis 38:29 (show verse)
As it was, he withdrew his hand, and then his brother was born. Amazed, the midwife cried out loud, "What's this? A breach birth?" So that boy was named Perez.
Genesis 38:30 (show verse)
Afterwards, his brother came out, and around his hand was the scarlet. So they named him Zerah.