Keraia
Genesis 38

Genesis 38:11

Judah and Tamar · Genesis 38:1–26
Read Genesis 38

Translations

Modern
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.
Traditional
Then 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.
Literal
And Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in the house of your father until Shelah my son is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in the house of her father.
Latin
Quam ob rem dixit Judas Thamar nurui suæ: Esto vidua in domo patris tui, donec crescat Sela filius meus: timebat enim ne et ipse moreretur, sicut fratres ejus. Quæ abiit, et habitavit in domo patris sui.

Original

Hebrew
English
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.

Notes

Genesis 38:11

Judah is now shown as the example for his sons' behavior. He also failed in his duty under levirate marriage toward Tamar, even though he was the next kinsman (see study note on 38:8). Judah and his sons acted too much like the Canaanites (see study note on 38:27–30; this contrasts with Boaz, who acted rightly in Ruth 3–4).

Genesis 38:1–30

The story of Judah and Tamar is a carefully placed break in the larger story. It shows what was happening in Judah’s family. Judah would later become an important leader. The story also shows the early stages of the family mixing with the people of the land. This helps explain why God sent the family to Egypt (chapters 39–47).

The Egyptians kept themselves separate from other peoples (43:32). Because of that, the Israelites were more likely to keep their own identity in Egypt than in Canaan.

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt Judah Human Sexuality Symbolic Numbers

Parallels

1 Chronicles 2:3–4

People

Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province Shelah: Judah's youngest son and his descendants Tamar: Judah's daughter-in-law who bore Perez and Zerah

Glossary

Adullam, Adullamite Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Family Life and Relations Genesis, Book of Jacob Judah (Person) Patriarchs, Period of the Shua Shuah Tamar (Person)

Topics

Adultery: Judah Inheritance: Provisions for Inheritance Under Levirate Marriages Marriage: Levirate (The Brother Required to Marry a Brother's Widow) Shelah: Son of Judah Tamar: Wife of the Sons of Judah