Genesis 38 Commentary
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.
And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.
And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.
And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.
And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
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.
And the thing which he did displeased the Lord: wherefore he slew him also.
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.
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.
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
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.
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
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?
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?
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.
And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
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.
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.
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.
And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
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.
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.
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.
And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
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.
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.
And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.
Genesis 38, a seemingly jarring interruption in the Joseph narrative (Genesis 37:26–28), recounts a dark chapter in Judah’s life, a stark contrast to the unfolding story of his brother Joseph in Egypt. This chapter, set perhaps during Joseph's enslavement, reveals Judah's flawed character and God's sovereign hand in preserving the Messianic line, even amidst sin and dysfunction. After this interlude, the narrative will return to Joseph's journey (Genesis 39:1).
Judah's Canaanite Entanglements (Genesis 38:1-5)
Leaving his family in Hebron, Judah establishes himself near Adullam, forming a friendship with Hirah. He then marries a Canaanite woman, a decision that goes against the repeated warnings against marrying into Canaanite culture (Genesis 28:1). This union produces three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah’s impulsive decision to marry a Canaanite reflects a lack of thoughtful consideration, driven by immediate desire, foreshadowing the troubles to come.
Tragedy and Levirate Marriage (Genesis 38:6-10)
Judah arranges for his eldest son, Er, to marry Tamar, likely another Canaanite woman. Tragically, Er's wickedness leads to his death at the hand of the Lord (Genesis 38:7). The text notes that Er's name is the reverse of the Hebrew word for "evil." This leaves Tamar a childless widow, invoking the custom of levirate marriage. This custom, later formalized in Deuteronomy 25:5–6, required the deceased husband's brother to marry the widow, ensuring her security and continuing the deceased brother's lineage.
Onan, the second son, marries Tamar but refuses to fulfill the levirate duty. He selfishly enjoys the sexual intimacy with Tamar while deliberately preventing conception, knowing that any offspring would be considered Er's heir, not his. God, seeing Onan's deceitful and self-serving actions, judges him with death as well (Genesis 38:9-10).
Judah's Failure and Tamar's Scheme (Genesis 38:11-15)
With two sons dead, Judah becomes hesitant to give his youngest son, Shelah, to Tamar, fearing she is somehow responsible for the deaths of his older sons or simply brings bad luck. He tells Tamar to remain a widow in her father’s house until Shelah is old enough, but Judah has no intention of honoring this promise (Genesis 38:11).
Tamar, realizing her desperate situation with no prospect of marriage or security, devises a daring plan. Learning that Judah is traveling to Timnah for sheep-shearing, she removes her widow's garments, veils her face, and positions herself as a prostitute along the road to Enaim (Genesis 38:14). Tamar, knowing Judah's lustful inclinations, sets a trap to force him to fulfill his responsibility.
Deception and Pledge (Genesis 38:16-23)
Unaware of her identity, Judah seeks her services. As a pledge for payment, Judah gives Tamar his signet ring, cord, and staff, all unique and irreplaceable items that would identify him as their owner (Genesis 38:18). Tamar becomes pregnant from this encounter, gaining significant leverage over Judah.
Afterward, Judah sends his friend Hirah to pay the "prostitute" and retrieve his belongings, but she cannot be found. Rather than risk public humiliation, Judah abandons his possessions (Genesis 38:23), unaware of the consequences to come.
Exposure and Acknowledgment (Genesis 38:24-26)
Three months later, Tamar's pregnancy becomes evident. Judah, in self-righteous indignation, orders her to be burned to death for her supposed infidelity, forgetting his own role in the situation. Tamar then sends Judah's signet ring, cord, and staff to him, asking him to identify their owner (Genesis 38:25). This echoes the deception of Joseph's brothers, who presented his bloodied coat to Jacob, asking, "Do you recognize this?" (Genesis 37:32).
Judah is immediately confronted with his hypocrisy and acknowledges his guilt. He admits that Tamar is more righteous than he is, because he failed to give her to his son Shelah (Genesis 38:26). Judah, the deceiver, is deceived in kind, and he is forced to recognize his failure to fulfill his familial and moral obligations.
Birth of Twins and Preservation of the Line (Genesis 38:27-30)
Tamar gives birth to twins, Zerah and Perez (Genesis 38:27-30). During the birth, Zerah's hand emerges first, but it is quickly withdrawn, and Perez is born first. This unusual event mirrors the story of Jacob and Esau, where the younger brother takes precedence over the elder. Perez becomes the ancestor of David and, ultimately, Jesus, highlighting God's ability to work through flawed individuals and circumstances to fulfill His purposes. Even amidst sinful circumstances, God's plan for the lineage of the Messiah prevails. God’s program will not be thwarted. He never accepts or condones sin, but he can still use sin to sovereignly accomplish his kingdom plan.
This chapter serves as a reminder that God's plans often unfold in unexpected and even scandalous ways. While Judah's actions were deeply flawed, God used his encounter with Tamar to preserve the line of Judah, which was the covenant line. This demonstrates God's sovereignty and His ability to use even the most broken situations to accomplish His ultimate purposes. The story of Judah and Tamar is a testament to God's grace, mercy, and unwavering commitment to His promises.
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.
And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.
And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.
And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.
And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
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.
And the thing which he did displeased the Lord: wherefore he slew him also.
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.
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.
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
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.
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
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?
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?
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.
And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
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.
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.
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.
And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
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.
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.
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.
And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
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.
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.
And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.
Genesis 38, a seemingly jarring interruption in the Joseph narrative (Genesis 37:26–28), recounts a dark chapter in Judah’s life, a stark contrast to the unfolding story of his brother Joseph in Egypt. This chapter, set perhaps during Joseph's enslavement, reveals Judah's flawed character and God's sovereign hand in preserving the Messianic line, even amidst sin and dysfunction. After this interlude, the narrative will return to Joseph's journey (Genesis 39:1).
Judah's Canaanite Entanglements (Genesis 38:1-5)
Leaving his family in Hebron, Judah establishes himself near Adullam, forming a friendship with Hirah. He then marries a Canaanite woman, a decision that goes against the repeated warnings against marrying into Canaanite culture (Genesis 28:1). This union produces three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah’s impulsive decision to marry a Canaanite reflects a lack of thoughtful consideration, driven by immediate desire, foreshadowing the troubles to come.
Tragedy and Levirate Marriage (Genesis 38:6-10)
Judah arranges for his eldest son, Er, to marry Tamar, likely another Canaanite woman. Tragically, Er's wickedness leads to his death at the hand of the Lord (Genesis 38:7). The text notes that Er's name is the reverse of the Hebrew word for "evil." This leaves Tamar a childless widow, invoking the custom of levirate marriage. This custom, later formalized in Deuteronomy 25:5–6, required the deceased husband's brother to marry the widow, ensuring her security and continuing the deceased brother's lineage.
Onan, the second son, marries Tamar but refuses to fulfill the levirate duty. He selfishly enjoys the sexual intimacy with Tamar while deliberately preventing conception, knowing that any offspring would be considered Er's heir, not his. God, seeing Onan's deceitful and self-serving actions, judges him with death as well (Genesis 38:9-10).
Judah's Failure and Tamar's Scheme (Genesis 38:11-15)
With two sons dead, Judah becomes hesitant to give his youngest son, Shelah, to Tamar, fearing she is somehow responsible for the deaths of his older sons or simply brings bad luck. He tells Tamar to remain a widow in her father’s house until Shelah is old enough, but Judah has no intention of honoring this promise (Genesis 38:11).
Tamar, realizing her desperate situation with no prospect of marriage or security, devises a daring plan. Learning that Judah is traveling to Timnah for sheep-shearing, she removes her widow's garments, veils her face, and positions herself as a prostitute along the road to Enaim (Genesis 38:14). Tamar, knowing Judah's lustful inclinations, sets a trap to force him to fulfill his responsibility.
Deception and Pledge (Genesis 38:16-23)
Unaware of her identity, Judah seeks her services. As a pledge for payment, Judah gives Tamar his signet ring, cord, and staff, all unique and irreplaceable items that would identify him as their owner (Genesis 38:18). Tamar becomes pregnant from this encounter, gaining significant leverage over Judah.
Afterward, Judah sends his friend Hirah to pay the "prostitute" and retrieve his belongings, but she cannot be found. Rather than risk public humiliation, Judah abandons his possessions (Genesis 38:23), unaware of the consequences to come.
Exposure and Acknowledgment (Genesis 38:24-26)
Three months later, Tamar's pregnancy becomes evident. Judah, in self-righteous indignation, orders her to be burned to death for her supposed infidelity, forgetting his own role in the situation. Tamar then sends Judah's signet ring, cord, and staff to him, asking him to identify their owner (Genesis 38:25). This echoes the deception of Joseph's brothers, who presented his bloodied coat to Jacob, asking, "Do you recognize this?" (Genesis 37:32).
Judah is immediately confronted with his hypocrisy and acknowledges his guilt. He admits that Tamar is more righteous than he is, because he failed to give her to his son Shelah (Genesis 38:26). Judah, the deceiver, is deceived in kind, and he is forced to recognize his failure to fulfill his familial and moral obligations.
Birth of Twins and Preservation of the Line (Genesis 38:27-30)
Tamar gives birth to twins, Zerah and Perez (Genesis 38:27-30). During the birth, Zerah's hand emerges first, but it is quickly withdrawn, and Perez is born first. This unusual event mirrors the story of Jacob and Esau, where the younger brother takes precedence over the elder. Perez becomes the ancestor of David and, ultimately, Jesus, highlighting God's ability to work through flawed individuals and circumstances to fulfill His purposes. Even amidst sinful circumstances, God's plan for the lineage of the Messiah prevails. God’s program will not be thwarted. He never accepts or condones sin, but he can still use sin to sovereignly accomplish his kingdom plan.
This chapter serves as a reminder that God's plans often unfold in unexpected and even scandalous ways. While Judah's actions were deeply flawed, God used his encounter with Tamar to preserve the line of Judah, which was the covenant line. This demonstrates God's sovereignty and His ability to use even the most broken situations to accomplish His ultimate purposes. The story of Judah and Tamar is a testament to God's grace, mercy, and unwavering commitment to His promises.