Genesis 38: Judah, Tamar, and a Surprising Mercy
Judah wrongs his widowed daughter-in-law Tamar, who exposes his failure and is declared more righteous than he.
Genesis 38 (WEB)
1 At that time, Judah went down from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
2 Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her, and went in to her.
3 She conceived, and bore a son; and he named him Er.
4 She conceived again, and bore a son; and she named him Onan.
5 She yet again bore a son, and named him Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bore him.
6 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.
8 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 seed to your brother.”
9 Onan knew that the seed wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother.
10 The thing which he did was evil in the sight of Yahweh, 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, is grown up”; for he said, “Lest he also die, like his brothers.” Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.
12 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 It was told Tamar, saying, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”
14 She took off of her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is by the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she wasn’t given to him as a wife.
15 When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
16 He turned to her by the way, and said, “Please come, let me come in to you,” for he didn’t 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?”
18 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 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 the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, but he didn’t find her.
21 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 haven’t found her; and also the men of the place said, ‘There has been no prostitute here.’”
23 Judah said, “Let her keep it, lest we be shamed. Behold, I sent this young goat, and you haven’t found her.”
24 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 burnt.”
25 When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man, whose these are, I am with child.” She also said, “Please discern whose are these—the signet, and the cords, and the staff.”
26 Judah acknowledged them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, because I didn’t give her to Shelah, my son.” He knew her again no more.
27 In the time of her travail, behold, twins were in her womb.
28 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 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 Afterward his brother came out, that had the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.
Genesis 38 (KJV)
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.
Genesis 38 (ASV)
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 Shua; 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 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 first-born, and her name was Tamar.
7 And Er, Judah’s first-born, was wicked in the sight of Jehovah; and Jehovah slew him.
8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
9 And Onan knew that the seed would 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 he should give seed to his brother.
10 And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and he slew him also.
11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow in thy father’s house, till Shelah my son be grown up; for he said, Lest he also die, like his brethren. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.
12 And in process of time Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheep-shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnah to shear his sheep.
14 And she put off from her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is by the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she was not given unto him to wife.
15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she had covered her face.
16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Come, 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 of the goats 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 cord, and thy staff that is in thy hand. And he gave them to her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
19 And she arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
20 And Judah sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand: but he found her not.
21 Then he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the wayside? And they said, There hath been no prostitute here.
22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I have not found her; and also the men of the place said, There hath been no prostitute here.
23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be put to shame: 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 moreover, 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 the cords, and the staff.
26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She is more righteous than I, forasmuch as 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 one put out a 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, Wherefore hast thou made a breach for thyself? therefore his name was called Perez.
30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zerah.
Summary
Judah leaves his brothers and marries a Canaanite woman who bears him Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er is wicked and Yahweh puts him to death; Onan refuses to raise up offspring for his brother and is also struck down. Judah sends Tamar, Er's widow, back to her father's house, promising Shelah when he grows up, but he never gives her to him. After Judah's wife dies, Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute and, sitting by the road, conceives by Judah, taking his signet, cord, and staff as a pledge. When Judah hears she is pregnant he condemns her to be burned, until she produces his own pledge. Judah confesses, 'She is more righteous than I.' Tamar bears twins, Perez and Zerah, continuing the family line.
Main Characters
- Judah — Jacob's son who fails to keep his promise to Tamar, then acknowledges her righteousness and his own wrong.
- Tamar — The wronged widow who acts boldly to claim what was owed her and is declared more righteous than Judah.
- Er — Judah's wicked firstborn whom Yahweh puts to death.
- Onan — Judah's second son who refuses to raise up offspring for his brother and dies for his sin.
Key Verse
Genesis 38:26 (WEB)
Judah acknowledged them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, because I didn’t give her to Shelah, my son.” He knew her again no more.
Lessons Learned
- God sees and judges wickedness even when it is hidden from human eyes.
- Failing to keep our promises leaves others vulnerable and exposed.
- Honest confession of wrong is the beginning of restoration.
- God can weave even broken and shameful situations into his redemptive purposes.
- God judges what people cannot see. Er was wicked in the sight of Yahweh, and Yahweh dealt with his sin directly (Genesis 38:7, WEB).
- Broken promises leave others stranded. Judah withholds Shelah from Tamar, leaving her trapped as a widow with no future in the family (Genesis 38:11, WEB).
- Hidden sin is brought to light. The signet, cord, and staff confront Judah with undeniable evidence of his own actions (Genesis 38:25, WEB).
- Confession requires owning our wrong honestly. Judah does not excuse himself but says plainly, 'She is more righteous than I' (Genesis 38:26, WEB).
- We tend to condemn in others what we excuse in ourselves. Judah is ready to have Tamar burned even as he overlooks his own failure to keep his word (Genesis 38:24-26, WEB).
- God carries his purposes through imperfect people. Out of this troubled account comes Perez, through whom the family line continues (Genesis 38:29, WEB).
- Why does Tamar take such drastic action to secure her place in the family (Genesis 38:14)?
- What does Judah's reaction to Tamar's pregnancy reveal about him before he learns the truth (Genesis 38:24)?
- What is significant about Judah's words, 'She is more righteous than I' (Genesis 38:26)?
- When have you been quick to condemn another before knowing your own part in the wrong?
- How does this chapter encourage you that God can bring good out of messy and shameful situations?
- Tamar sees that Shelah is grown but she has not been given to him as promised (38:14); with no rightful place secured, she takes bold action to claim the offspring owed to Er's line.
- Judah swiftly demands she be brought out and burned (38:24), showing how readily he judges Tamar harshly while remaining blind to his own broken promise and his part in her predicament.
- It marks a turning point of honest confession; Judah owns his failure rather than hiding behind his authority, acknowledging that Tamar's claim was just and his neglect was wrong (38:26).
- Personal: invite quiet self-examination. Encourage members to consider where they have rushed to condemn others while overlooking their own faults, and to seek the humility Judah finally shows.
- Personal: highlight that God continues the family line through Perez despite the chapter's failures; encourage the group that no situation is too tangled for God's redeeming work.