Genesis 38:24

Translations

Modern

About three months later, Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has prostituted herself, and now she is pregnant.” “Bring her out!” Judah replied. “Let her be burned to death!”

Traditional

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.

Literal

And it came to pass about three months later, that it was told to Judah, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the prostitute, and also behold, she is pregnant by prostitution.” And Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned.”

Latin

Ecce autem post tres menses nuntiaverunt Judæ, dicentes: Fornicata est Thamar nurus tua, et videtur uterus illius intumescere. Dixitque Judas: Producite eam ut comburatur.

Original

Hebrew

English

About three months later, Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has prostituted herself, and now she is pregnant.” “Bring her out!” Judah replied. “Let her be burned to death!”

Notes

Genesis 38:24–26

Judah acted hypocritically by condemning Tamar to death for adultery. When Tamar showed his seal, cord, and walking stick, it proved Judah was the father. He then withdrew the condemnation.

Genesis 38:1–30

The story of Judah and Tamar is a carefully placed break in the larger story. It shows what was happening in Judah’s family. Judah would later become an important leader. The story also shows the early stages of the family mixing with the people of the land. This helps explain why God sent the family to Egypt (chapters 39–47).

The Egyptians kept themselves separate from other peoples (43:32). Because of that, the Israelites were more likely to keep their own identity in Egypt than in Canaan.

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt Judah Human Sexuality Symbolic Numbers

Related verses

Leviticus 21:9
If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by prostituting herself, she profanes her father; she must be burned in the fire.
Ezekiel 23:5
Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors
Ezekiel 23:44
And they slept with her as with a prostitute; they slept with Oholah and Oholibah, those lewd women.
Judges 19:2
But she was unfaithful to him and left him to return to her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah. After she had been there four months,
Hosea 2:5
For their mother has played the harlot and has conceived them in disgrace. For she thought, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and linen, oil and drink.’
Ezekiel 23:19
Yet she multiplied her promiscuity, remembering the days of her youth, when she had prostituted herself in the land of Egypt
2 Samuel 12:5
David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!
Genesis 20:9
Then Abimelech called Abraham and asked, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such tremendous guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done.”
Genesis 20:7
Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”
Deuteronomy 24:16
Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.
Genesis 20:3
One night, however, God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is a married woman.”
Ezekiel 16:15
But because of your fame, you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot. You lavished your favors on everyone who passed by, and your beauty was theirs for the asking.

Parallels

1 Chronicles 2:3–4

People

Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province Tamar: Judah's daughter-in-law who bore Perez and Zerah

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Criminal Law and Punishment Genesis, Book of Jacob Judah (Person) Patriarchs, Period of the Tamar (Person)

Topics

Abortion Adultery: Judah Adultery: Penalties For Children: Power of Parents Over, During the Patriarchal Age Judah: Son of Jacob: His Incest with his Daughter-In-Law Patriarchal Government: Exercised in Acting As Judges Punishment: Death Penalty: Burning Punishments: Capital Kinds of Burning Rulers: Judah Tamar: Wife of the Sons of Judah Women: Tamar, in Her Adultery

Genesis 38:24

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