Updated on September 23, 2026

Tamar Judah's Daughter-in-Law, Ancestress of David

Q: Why is Tamar in the genealogy of Jesus?

Matthew names four women before Mary: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and the wife of Uriah. Each stands outside what a respectable line would advertise, by birth or by circumstance. Naming them is the point: the line that leads to Christ is not a record of blameless people.

Old Testamentc. 1885 BC View journey on map

About Tamar

Tamar married Judah's eldest son Er, then his second, Onan, and both died. Left a widow without the child the law owed her, she disguised herself and obtained from Judah himself the twins Perez and Zerah. Judah's verdict on her was that she had been more righteous than he.

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Tamar's Character Traits

WrongedResoluteNamed in the genealogy

Tamar's Life Timeline

View journey on map

Married to Erc. 1885 BC
Judah takes Tamar as a wife for his firstborn, Er.
GEN 38:6
Twice a widowc. 1883 BC
Er dies, then Onan; Tamar is sent back to her father's house.
GEN 38:10
At the gate of Enaimc. 1876 BC
Seeing Shelah withheld from her, Tamar veils herself on the road to Timnah.
GEN 38:14
The pledgec. 1876 BC
She takes Judah's signet, bracelets and staff as his pledge.
GEN 38:18
More righteous than Ic. 1875 BC
Judah recognises his pledge and says she has been more righteous than he.
GEN 38:26

Who is linked to Tamar

parent of
sibling of
spouse of
covenant with
master of
in conflict with

Tamar's Key Relationships

JudahFamily

Father-in-law - and, by her own design, the father of her sons.

ErFamily

Husband - Judah's firstborn, who died without leaving her a child.

OnanFamily

Husband - who refused her the child the custom owed her.

PerezFamily

Son - the elder twin, through whom David and Christ descend.

ZerahFamily

Son - the twin whose hand came first.

Tamar's Key Locations

Canaan

Where she was married into Judah's house and widowed twice.

Timnah

The road where she waited for Judah, veiled.

Spiritual Lessons from Tamar

Justice Taken, Not Given

Tamar was owed a husband and a child by the custom of her house, and Judah quietly withheld both. What she did to obtain them would convict her in any court. Judah's own verdict was that she had been more righteous than he, and Matthew's genealogy names her without apology.

Key Verses about Tamar

Genesis 38:6-26 Ruth 4:12 Matthew 1:3

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Tamar in the genealogy of Jesus?+