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Genesis 38

Gen 38, Ge 38, Gn 38


Genesis 38

1 And 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.

2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.

3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.

4 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.

5 And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.

6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.

7 And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.

8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.

10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

11 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.

12 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

14 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.

15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.



16 And 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?

17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?

18 And 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.

19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not.

21 Then 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.

22 And 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.

23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.

24 And 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.

25 When 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.

26 And 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.

27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.

28 And 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.

29 And 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.

30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

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Summary and the Meaning of Chapter 38 of the Book of Genesis in the KJV Holy Bible

The book of Genesis is the first book of the Bible and is considered to be the foundation of the Christian faith. It is a historical account of the creation of the world and the beginning of humanity. Chapter 38 of Genesis is a significant chapter in the book as it focuses on the story of Judah and Tamar, two of the sons of Jacob. This chapter is filled with themes of deception, betrayal, and redemption, and it holds a powerful message for us today.

The Story of Judah and Tamar

The chapter begins with Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, leaving his brothers and settling in Adullam. There, he marries a Canaanite woman named Shua and has three sons with her: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah then arranges for his firstborn son, Er, to marry a woman named Tamar.

However, Er was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and God put him to death. According to the law of levirate marriage, it was the duty of the brother of a deceased man to marry his widow and raise up offspring for him. So, Judah instructed his second son, Onan, to fulfill this duty. But Onan refused to impregnate Tamar and spilled his seed on the ground, which was also considered wicked in the eyes of the Lord. As a result, God put him to death as well.

Judah then promised Tamar that his youngest son, Shelah, would marry her when he was of age. However, Judah did not keep his promise and sent Tamar back to her father's house, leaving her a widow and without any children.

Tamar's Deception

After some time, Judah's wife, Shua, died, and he was comforted by his friend Hirah. Tamar, realizing that Judah had no intention of fulfilling his promise, took matters into her own hands. She disguised herself as a prostitute and waited for Judah on the road to Timnah. When Judah saw her, he mistook her for a prostitute and slept with her, not realizing that it was his daughter-in-law, Tamar.

As a pledge for payment, Tamar took Judah's signet, cord, and staff. When Judah sent his friend Hirah to pay the prostitute, she was nowhere to be found. Three months later, Judah was informed that Tamar was pregnant, and he ordered her to be burned for her supposed adultery. However, Tamar revealed that the father of her child was the man who owned the signet, cord, and staff. Judah recognized these items as his own and realized that he had been deceived by Tamar.

Judah's Redemption

In a moment of humility, Judah admitted that Tamar was more righteous than him and that he had not fulfilled his promise to her. He did not have any further relations with Tamar, and she gave birth to twin boys, Perez and Zerah. The chapter ends with the birth of these twins, who would become ancestors of King David and ultimately, Jesus Christ.

The Meaning of Chapter 38

At first glance, chapter 38 of Genesis may seem like a detour from the main storyline of the book. However, this chapter holds significant meaning and lessons for us today.

The Consequences of Sin

The story of Judah and Tamar is a prime example of the consequences of sin. Judah's sons, Er and Onan, were both put to death by God because of their wickedness. Judah himself was not without fault, as he did not fulfill his promise to Tamar and also slept with her, mistaking her for a prostitute. This resulted in the birth of Perez and Zerah, who were born out of deception and sin. The consequences of sin can be far-reaching and affect not only the sinner but also those around them.

The Power of Deception

Tamar's deception of Judah highlights the power of deception and how it can lead to disastrous consequences. Tamar's actions were driven by her desire for justice and to fulfill her duty as a widow. However, her methods were deceitful and ultimately led to the birth of Perez and Zerah. This serves as a cautionary tale for us to be mindful of our actions and the potential consequences they may have.

The Importance of Keeping Promises

Judah's failure to keep his promise to Tamar resulted in her taking matters into her own hands. This serves as a reminder of the importance of keeping our promises and fulfilling our obligations. When we fail to do so, it can have a ripple effect and cause harm to others. It is essential to be people of integrity and honor our commitments.

The Theme of Redemption

Despite the sins and mistakes of Judah and Tamar, God's plan for redemption was still at work. The birth of Perez and Zerah may have been the result of deception and sin, but they would become ancestors of King David and ultimately, Jesus Christ. This shows that God can use even the most broken and imperfect situations for His greater purpose. It is a reminder of His grace and mercy, and how He can redeem even the most hopeless of situations.

The Importance of Repentance

Judah's admission of his wrongdoing and his recognition of Tamar's righteousness is a powerful example of repentance. He acknowledged his sin and sought forgiveness, which ultimately led to his redemption. This serves as a reminder for us to humble ourselves and seek forgiveness when we have wronged others. It is through repentance that we can find true redemption and restoration.

In Conclusion

Chapter 38 of Genesis may seem like a side story in the grand scheme of the book, but it holds significant meaning and lessons for us today. It highlights the consequences of sin, the power of deception, the importance of keeping promises, and the themes of redemption and repentance. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and how He can use even the most broken situations for His greater purpose. As we reflect on the story of Judah and Tamar, may we be reminded of the importance of living a life of integrity and seeking forgiveness when we fall short.



This article is informed by the King James Version of the Holy Bible, the authors' personal knowledge, considerations and experience, and additional materials and resources available in internet.

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