Keraia
Genesis 38

Genesis 38:23

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

Translations

Modern
“Let her keep the items,” Judah replied. “Otherwise we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you could not find her.”
Traditional
And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
Literal
And Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we become despised. Behold, I sent this kid, and you have not found her.”
Latin
Ait Judas: Habeat sibi, certe mendacii arguere nos non potest, ego misi hædum quem promiseram: et tu non invenisti eam.

Original

Hebrew
English
“Let her keep the items,” Judah replied. “Otherwise we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you could not find her.”

Notes

Genesis 38:20–23

Judah had gone to Tamar as a regular prostitute (Hebrew zonah, 38:15), whereas Hirah was mistakenly looking for a shrine prostitute (Hebrew qedeshah), of which there were none.

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

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Genesis, Book of Jacob Judah (Person) Patriarchs, Period of the Tamar (Person)

Topics

Adultery: Judah Judah: Son of Jacob: His Incest with his Daughter-In-Law Tamar: Wife of the Sons of Judah Women: Tamar, in Her Adultery