Keraia
Genesis 38

Genesis 38:14

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

Translations

Modern
…she removed her widow’s garments, covered her face with a veil to disguise herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that although Shelah had grown up, she had not been given to him as a wife.
Traditional
And 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.
Literal
And she took off the garments of her widowhood from her, and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the entrance of Enaim which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah had grown, and she was not given to him for a wife.
Latin
Quæ, depositis viduitatis vestibus, assumpsit theristrum: et mutato habitu, sedit in bivio itineris, quod ducit Thamnam: eo quod crevisset Sela, et non eum accepisset maritum.

Original

Hebrew
English
…she removed her widow’s garments, covered her face with a veil to disguise herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that although Shelah had grown up, she had not been given to him as a wife.

Notes

Genesis 38:14–19

Tamar understood she needed to act to secure her family's future. Following the levirate custom (see study note on 38:8), she remained loyal to her dead husband. She had a legal right to have a child with Judah's son or Judah himself. So she tricked her father-in-law into having sexual relations with her. Again, Jacob’s family experiences deception, this time by a Canaanite daughter-in-law.

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

Shelah: Judah's youngest son and his descendants

Places

Enaim: Enaim, place where Tamar posed as a prostitute Timnah: Canaanite city associated with Judah and Dan

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 Prostitute, Prostitution Tamar (Person) Timnah (Place) Timnath

Topics

Adultery: 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 Given by some Authorities As Identical with Timnah, Number Two Vail or Veil was Worn for Concealment Vail or Veil: A Covering for the Head Usually Worn by Women Veil: Worn by Tamar Widows were Clothed in Mourning After the Decease of Husbands Women: Tamar, in Her Adultery