Genesis Chapter 38 in Simple English

Read Genesis Chapter 38

1At that time Judah went down away from his brothers. He turned in to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah.

2There Judah saw the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shuah. He took her as his wife and slept with her.

3She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and he named him Er.

4She became pregnant again and gave birth to a son, and she named him Onan.

5She gave birth to yet another son, and she named him Shelah. Judah was at Chezib when she gave birth to him.

6Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn son. Her name was Tamar.

7But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him.

8Then Judah said to Onan, "Go to your brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up children for your brother."

9But Onan knew that the children would not be counted as his. So whenever he slept with his brother's wife, he spilled his seed on the ground, so that he would not give children to his brother.

10What he did displeased the LORD, so the LORD killed him too.

11Then Judah said to Tamar, his son's wife, "Stay as a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah is grown up." For he said to himself, "He may die as well, like his brothers." So Tamar went and lived in her father's house.

12After some time Judah's wife, the daughter of Shuah, died. When Judah had been comforted, he went up to Timnath to the men who were shearing his sheep. His friend Hirah the Adullamite went with him.

13Tamar was told, "Look, your husband's father is going up to Timnath to shear his sheep."

14So she took off her widow's clothes, covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself up. Then she sat in an open place beside the road to Timnath. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him as his wife.

15When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, because she had covered her face.

16He turned aside to her by the road and said, "Come now, let me sleep with you." For he did not know that she was the wife of his son. She said, "What will you give me for sleeping with me?"

17He said, "I will send you a young goat from the flock." She said, "Will you give me something to hold until you send it?"

18He said, "What shall I give you to hold?" She said, "Your seal, and your cord, and the staff in your hand." So he gave them to her, and he slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.

19Then she got up and went away. She took off her veil and put on her widow's clothes again.

20Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to get back what he had left with the woman. But he could not find her.

21Then he asked the men of that place, "Where is the prostitute who sat openly by the road?" They said, "There has been no prostitute in this place."

22So he went back to Judah and said, "I cannot find her. And the men of the place said there was no prostitute there."

23Judah said, "Let her keep it, or we will be shamed. Look, I sent this young goat, and you could not find her."

24About three months later Judah was told, "Tamar, your son's wife, has acted like a prostitute. And look, she is pregnant by her whoring." Judah said, "Bring her out, and let her be burned."

25When she was brought out, she sent a message to her husband's father: "I am pregnant by the man who owns these." And she said, "See if you know whose these are: the seal, the cord, and the staff."

26Judah recognized them and said, "She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to my son Shelah." And he never slept with her again.

27When the time came for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb.

28While she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand. The midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his hand, saying, "This one came out first."

29But he drew back his hand, and his brother came out. And she said, "How have you broken out? This breaking out is upon you." So he was named Pharez.

30Afterward his brother came out, the one with the scarlet thread on his hand, and he was named Zarah.

Explanation

Genesis 38

In short

Judah separates from his brothers, marries a Canaanite woman, and fathers three sons. When his first two sons die, he fails to give his widow Tamar to his third son as custom required. Tamar then deceives Judah into fathering twins with her, and he acknowledges she acted more rightly than he did.

Context

This chapter interrupts the story of Joseph, Judah's brother. Judah has left his family and settled with a man named Hirah. He marries a Canaanite woman and has three sons. The passage shows what Judah does while his brothers are dealing with Joseph elsewhere. Understanding what happens here matters for Judah's character and his place in the family line.

What the text says

Judah marries Shuah, a Canaanite woman, and they have three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah (verses 1-5). Judah arranges for Er to marry Tamar, but Er dies because the Lord finds him wicked (verses 6-7). Judah tells Onan to marry Tamar and father children for his dead brother, but Onan refuses by refusing to give her seed, and the Lord kills him too (verses 8-10). Judah tells Tamar to wait as a widow until Shelah grows up, but he does not actually give Shelah to her (verses 11-14).

Later, Judah's wife dies. When Tamar learns Judah is going to Timnath for shearing, she removes her widow's clothes, covers her face, and sits by the road (verses 12-14). Judah mistakes her for a prostitute and asks to lie with her (verses 15-16). She asks what payment he will give, and he promises a young goat. She demands his signet, bracelets, and staff as a pledge (verses 17-18). He gives them and she becomes pregnant (verse 18).

When Judah sends his friend to retrieve the items and pay the woman, she cannot be found (verses 19-23). About three months later, Judah hears that Tamar is pregnant by whoredom and orders her burnt (verse 24). She sends word to him: by the man whose signet, bracelets, and staff these are, she is with child (verse 25). Judah recognizes the items and says Tamar is more righteous than he is, because he did not give her to Shelah (verse 26). She bears twins, Perez and Zerah (verses 27-30).

Takeaways

Judah's failure to honor his obligation to Tamar through his son makes him guilty before her.
Tamar's actions, though deceptive, are judged by Judah himself as more righteous than his own conduct.
The chapter establishes Perez in the family line, with significance beyond this story.

Genesis 38 - Simple English