1It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. (Ge 19:3; Ge 38:16; 1Sa 22:1; 2Sa 23:13; 2Ki 4:8; 1Ch 11:15; Mic 1:15)2There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, (1Ch 2:3)3and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. (Ge 46:12; Nu 26:19)4She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. (Ge 38:3)5Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah[1] was in Chezib when she bore him. (Ge 38:3)6And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.7But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death. (1Ch 2:3)8Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” (De 25:5; Mt 22:24; Mr 12:19; Lu 20:28)9But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother’s wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother.10And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also.11Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, till Shelah my son grows up”—for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father’s house. (Le 22:13; Ru 1:12)12In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua’s daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. (Ge 24:67; Ge 37:35; Jud 14:1; 2Sa 13:39)13And when Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,”14she took off her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage. (Ge 24:65; Ge 38:19; Ge 38:21; Ge 38:26)15When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.16He turned to her at the roadside and said, “Come, let me come in to you,” for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”17He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—”18He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. (Ge 38:25)19Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood. (Ge 38:14)20When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her.21And he asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute[2] who was at Enaim at the roadside?” And they said, “No cult prostitute has been here.” (Ge 38:14)22So he returned to Judah and said, “I have not found her. Also, the men of the place said, ‘No cult prostitute has been here.’”23And Judah replied, “Let her keep the things as her own, or we shall be laughed at. You see, I sent this young goat, and you did not find her.”24About three months later Judah was told, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral.[3] Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality.”[4] And Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.” (Le 21:9; De 22:21; Jud 19:2; Joh 8:5)25As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.” (Ge 38:18)26Then Judah identified them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again. (Ge 38:14; 1Sa 24:17)27When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb.28And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.”29But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” Therefore his name was called Perez.[5] (Ge 46:12; Nu 26:20; 1Ch 2:4; Mt 1:3)30Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah. (Ge 38:29)
1At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah.2There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her and made love to her;3she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was named Er.4She conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan.5She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah. It was at Kezib that she gave birth to him.6Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.7But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death.8Then Judah said to Onan, ‘Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfil your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.’9But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to avoid providing offspring for his brother.10What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.11Judah then said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, ‘Live as a widow in your father’s household until my son Shelah grows up.’ For he thought, ‘He may die too, just like his brothers.’ So Tamar went to live in her father’s household.12After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah, to the men who were shearing his sheep, and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went with him.13When Tamar was told, ‘Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,’14she took off her widow’s clothes, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and then sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife.15When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.16Not realising that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her by the roadside and said, ‘Come now, let me sleep with you.’ ‘And what will you give me to sleep with you?’ she asked.17‘I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,’ he said. ‘Will you give me something as a pledge until you send it?’ she asked.18He said, ‘What pledge should I give you?’ ‘Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand,’ she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.19After she left, she took off her veil and put on her widow’s clothes again.20Meanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order to get his pledge back from the woman, but he did not find her.21He asked the men who lived there, ‘Where is the shrine-prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?’ ‘There hasn’t been any shrine-prostitute here,’ they said.22So he went back to Judah and said, ‘I didn’t find her. Besides, the men who lived there said, “There hasn’t been any shrine-prostitute here.” ’23Then Judah said, ‘Let her keep what she has, or we will become a laughing-stock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you didn’t find her.’24About three months later Judah was told, ‘Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.’ Judah said, ‘Bring her out and let her be burned to death!’25As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. ‘I am pregnant by the man who owns these,’ she said. And she added, ‘See if you recognise whose seal and cord and staff these are.’26Judah recognised them and said, ‘She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.’ And he did not sleep with her again.27When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.28As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, ‘This one came out first.’29But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, ‘So this is how you have broken out!’ And he was named Perez.[1]30Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah.[2]
Genesis 38
King James Version
1And 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' firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.8And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother' 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' 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' 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' house.12And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah' 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' 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' 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.24And 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.
1At that time, Judah left his brothers. He went down to stay with a man named Hirah from the town of Adullam.2There Judah met the daughter of a man from Canaan. His name was Shua. Judah married her and slept with her.3She became pregnant and had a son. They named him Er.4She became pregnant again and had another son. She named him Onan.5She had still another son. She named him Shelah. He was born at Kezib.6Judah got a wife for his eldest son Er. Her name was Tamar.7But Judah’s eldest son Er was evil in the LORD’s eyes. So the LORD put him to death.8Then Judah said to Onan, ‘Sleep with your brother’s wife. After all, you are her brother-in-law. So carry out your duty to her. Provide children for your brother.’9But Onan knew that the children wouldn’t belong to him. So every time he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground. He did it so he wouldn’t provide children for his brother.10What he did was evil in the LORD’s eyes. So the LORD put him to death also.11Then Judah spoke to his daughter-in-law Tamar. He said, ‘Live as a widow in your father’s home. Wait there until my son Shelah grows up.’ Judah was thinking, ‘Shelah might die too, just like his brothers.’ So Tamar went to live in her father’s home.12After a long time Judah’s wife died. She was the daughter of Shua. When Judah got over his sadness, he went up to Timnah. His friend Hirah from Adullam went with him. Men were clipping the wool from Judah’s sheep at Timnah.13Tamar was told, ‘Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to clip the wool from his sheep.’14So she took off her widow’s clothes. She covered her face with a veil so people wouldn’t know who she was. Then she sat down at the entrance to Enaim. Enaim is on the road to Timnah. Tamar knew that Shelah had grown up. But she hadn’t been given to him as his wife.15Judah saw her. He thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face with a veil.16He didn’t realise that she was his daughter-in-law. He went over to her by the side of the road. He said, ‘Come. Let me sleep with you.’ ‘What will you give me to sleep with you?’ she asked.17‘I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,’ he said. ‘Will you give me something that belongs to you?’ she asked. ‘I’ll keep it until you send the goat.’18He said, ‘What should I give you?’ ‘Give me your official seal and the string that it hangs from,’ she answered. ‘And give me your walking stick.’ So he gave them to her. Then he slept with her. And she became pregnant by him.19After she left, she took off her veil. She put on her widow’s clothes again.20Judah sent his friend Hirah with the young goat he had promised. He wanted to get back what he had given to the woman. But his friend Hirah couldn’t find her.21He asked the men who lived at Enaim, ‘Where’s the temple prostitute? She used to sit beside the road here.’ ‘There hasn’t been any temple prostitute here,’ they said.22So Hirah went back to Judah. He said, ‘I couldn’t find her. Besides, the men who lived there didn’t know anything about her. They said, “There hasn’t been any temple prostitute here.” ’23Then Judah said, ‘Let her keep what she has. I don’t want people making fun of us. After all, I did send her this young goat. We can’t help it if you couldn’t find her.’24About three months later people brought word to Judah. They said, ‘Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of being a prostitute. Now she’s pregnant.’ Judah said, ‘Bring her out! Have her burned to death!’25As Tamar was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. She said, ‘I am pregnant by the man who owns these.’ She continued, ‘Do you recognise this seal and string and walking stick? Do you know who they belong to?’26Judah recognised them. He said, ‘She’s a better person than I am. I should have given her to my son Shelah, but I didn’t.’ Judah never slept with Tamar again.27The time came for Tamar to have her baby. There were twin boys inside her.28As the babies were being born, one of them stuck out his hand. So the woman helping Tamar took a bright red thread. The woman tied it on the baby’s wrist. She said, ‘This one came out first.’29But he pulled his hand back, and his brother came out first instead. She said, ‘Just look at how you have forced your way out!’ So he was called Perez.30Then his brother, who had the red thread on his wrist, came out. So he was named Zerah.