Genesis 38
1 It came about at that time that Judah left his brothers and stayed with a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
At that time, Judah went down from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
2 He met there a daughter of a Canaanite man whose name was Shua. He married her and slept with her.
There, Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite man named Shua. He took her, and went in to her.
3 She became pregnant and had a son. He was named Er.
She conceived, and bore a son; and he named him Er.
4 She became pregnant again and had a son. She called his name Onan.
She conceived again, and bore a son; and she named him Onan.
5 She again had a son and called his name Shelah. It was at Kezib where she gave birth to him.
She yet again bore a son, and named him Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.
6 Judah found a wife for Er, his firstborn. Her name was Tamar.
Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
7 Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Yahweh. Yahweh killed him.
Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight. So the LORD killed him.
8 Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother's wife. Do the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up a child for your brother.”
Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”
9 Onan knew that the child would not be his. Whenever he slept with his brother's wife, he spilled the semen on the ground so he would not have a child for his brother.
Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother.
10 What he did was evil in the sight of Yahweh. Yahweh killed him also.
The thing which he did was evil in the LORD’s sight, and he killed him also.
11 Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father's house until Shelah, my son, grows up.” For he feared, “He might also die, just like his brothers.” Tamar left and lived in her father's house.
Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up;” for he said, “Lest he also die, like his brothers.” Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.
12 After a long time, Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
After many days, Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah, the Adullamite.
13 Tamar was told, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”
Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”
14 She took off the clothing of her widowhood and covered herself with her veil and wrapped herself. She sat in the gate of Enaim, which is by the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah had grown up but she had not been given to him as a wife.
She took off the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she was not given to him as a wife.
15 When Judah saw her he thought that she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.
When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
16 He went to her by the road and said, “Come, please let me sleep with you”—for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law—and she said, “What will you give me so you can sleep with me?”
He turned to her by the way, and said, “Please 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?”
17 He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge until you send it?”
He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?”
18 He said, “What pledge can I give you?” She replied, “Your seal and cord, and the staff that is in your hand.” He gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.
He said, “What pledge will I give you?” She said, “Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” He gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.
19 She got up and went away. She took off her veil and put on the clothing of her widowhood.
She arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
20 Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order that he might receive the pledge back from the woman's hand, but he did not find her.
Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her.
21 Then the Adullamite asked the men of the place, “Where is the cultic prostitute who was at Enaim by the road?” They said, “There has not been a cultic prostitute here.”
Then he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the road?” They said, “There has been no prostitute here.”
22 He returned to Judah and said, “I did not find her. Also, the men of the place said, 'There has not been a cultic prostitute here.'”
He returned to Judah, and said, “I have not found her; and also the men of the place said, ‘There has been no prostitute here.’”
23 Judah said, “Let her keep the things, that we not be put to shame. Indeed, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her.”
Judah said, “Let her keep it, lest we be shamed. Behold, I sent this young goat, and you have not found her.”
24 It came about after about three months that it was told to Judah, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has committed prostitution, and indeed, she is pregnant by it.” Judah said, “Bring her here and let her be burned.”
About three months later, Judah was told, “Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute. Moreover, behold, she is with child by prostitution.” Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.”
25 When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law a message, “By the man who owns these I am pregnant.” She said, “Determine please whose these are, the seal and cords and staff.”
When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “I am with child by the man who owns these.” She also said, “Please discern whose these are—the signet, and the cords, and the staff.”
26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I am, since I did not give her as a wife to Shelah, my son.” He did not sleep with her again.
Judah acknowledged them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah, my son.” He knew her again no more.
27 It came about at the time for her to give birth that, behold, twins were in her womb.
In the time of her travail, behold, twins were in her womb.
28 It came about as she was giving birth one put out a hand, and the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his hand and said, “This one came out first.”
When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This came out first.”
29 But then he drew back his hand, and, behold, his brother came out first. The midwife said, “How you have broken out!” So he was named Perez.
As he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out, and she said, “Why have you made a breach for yourself?” Therefore his name was called Perez.
30 Then his brother came out, who had the scarlet thread upon his hand, and he was named Zerah.
Afterward his brother came out, who had the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.
