Scripture Reference Window
Browser "Back" or "Alt+Left_Arrow" to return.
Genesis 38:6-30 MWT For his first son Er, Judah got a wife whose name was Tamar. (7) Er's conduct was evil and displeased יהוה, so the LORD killed him. (8) Then Judah said to Er's brother Onan, "Go and sleep with your brother's widow. Fulfill your obligation to her as her husband's brother, so that your brother may have descendants." (9) But Onan knew that the children would not belong to him, so when he had intercourse with his brother's widow, he let the semen spill on the ground, so that there would be no children for his brother. (10) What he did was bad in disrespecting יהוה's arrangement so he was also killed. (11) Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Return to your father's house and remain a widow until my son Shelah grows up." He said this because he was afraid that Shelah would be killed, as his brothers had been. So Tamar went back home. (12) After some time Judah's wife died. When he had finished the time of mourning, he and his friend Hirah of Adullam went to Timnah, where his sheep were being sheared. (13) Someone told Tamar that her father-in-law was going to Timnah to shear his sheep. (14) So she changed from the widow's clothes she had been wearing, covered her face with a veil, and sat down at the entrance to Enaim, a town on the road to Timnah. As she well knew, Judah's youngest son Shelah was now grown up, and yet she had not been given to him in marriage. (15) When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, because she had her face covered. (16) He went over to her at the side of the road and said, "Come, let me lie down with you." (He did not know that she was his daughter-in-law.) She said, "What will you give me?" (17) He answered, "I will send you a young goat from my flock." She said, "All right, if you will give me something to keep as a pledge until you send the goat." (18) "What shall I give you as pledge?" he asked. She answered, "Your seal with its cord and the walking stick you are carrying." He gave them to her. Then they had intercourse, and she became pregnant. (19) Tamar went home, took off her veil, and put her widow's clothes back on. (20) Judah sent his friend Hirah to take the goat and get back from the woman the articles he had left, but Hirah could not find her. (21) He asked some men at Enaim, "Where is the prostitute who was here by the road?" "There has never been a prostitute here," they answered. (22) He returned to Judah and said, "I couldn't find her. The men of the place said that there had never been a prostitute there." (23) Judah said, "Let her keep the things to avoid my being put to shame. I did try to pay her, but you couldn't find her." (24) About three months later someone told Judah, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar has been acting the whore, and now she is pregnant." Judah ordered, "Take her out and kill and burn her." (25) As she was being taken out, she sent word to her father-in-law: "I am pregnant by the man who owns these things. Look at them and see whose they are---this seal with its cord and this walking stick." (26) Judah recognized them and said, "She is more righteous than I. I have failed in my obligation to her---I should have given her to my son Shelah in marriage." And Judah never had intercourse with her again. (27) When the time came for her to give birth, it was discovered that she was going to have twins. (28) While she was in labor, one of them put out an arm; the midwife caught it, tied a red thread around it, and said, "This one was firstborn." (29) But he pulled his arm back, and his brother was born first. Then the midwife said, "So this is how you break your way out!" So he was named Perez. (30) Then his brother was born with the red thread on his arm, and he was named Zerah. [Perez, who was firstborn, was an ancestor of Jesus. (Mat 1:3 of 1-6)]
Genesis 38:6-30 ESV And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. (7) But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD ( יהוה ), and the LORD ( יהוה ) put him to death. (8) Then Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law [marriage] to her, and raise up offspring for your brother." (9) But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. (10) And what he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD ( יהוה ), and he put him to death also. (11) Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in your father's house, till Shelah my son grows up"--for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father's house. (12) In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua's daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. (13) And when Tamar was told, "Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep," (14) she took off her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage. (15) When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. (16) He turned to her at the roadside and said, "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 answered, "I will send you a young goat from the flock." And she said, "If you give me a pledge, until you send it--" (18) He said, "What pledge shall I give you?" She replied, "Your signet [ring] and your cord and your staff that is in your hand." So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. (19) Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood. (20) When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman's hand, he did not find her. (21) And he asked the men of the place, "Where is the cult prostitute who was at Enaim at the roadside?" And they said, "No cult prostitute has been here." (22) So he returned to Judah and said, "I have not found her. Also, the men of the place said, 'No cult prostitute has been here.'" (23) And Judah replied, "Let her keep the things as her own, or we shall be laughed at. You see, I sent this young goat, and you did not find her." (24) About three months later Judah was told, "Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality." And Judah said, "Bring her out, and let her be burned." (25) As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, "By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant." And she said, "Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff." (26) Then Judah identified them and said, "She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah." And he did not know her again.
(27) When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb. (28) And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This one came out first." (29) But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, "What a breach you have made for yourself!" Therefore his name was called Perez. (30) Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.
Genesis 38:6-30 LITV And Judah took a wife for his first-born, Er, and her name, Tamar. (7) And Er, Judah's first-born, was evil in the eyes of Jehovah ( יהוה ). And Jehovah ( יהוה ) killed him. (8) And Judah said to Onan, Go in to your brother's wife and marry her, and raise up seed to your brother. (9) And Onan knew that the seed would not be his. And it happened when he went in to his brother's wife, he wasted his semen to the ground, not giving seed to his brother. (10) And what he did was evil in the eyes of Jehovah ( יהוה ), and He also killed him. (11) And Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, Live as a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah is grown. For he said, Lest he also die like his brothers. And Tamar went and lived in her father's house. (12) And the days were many, and the wife of Judah, the daughter of Shuah, died. And Judah was comforted, and he went up to the shearers of his flocks, he and his friend Hirah of Adullam, to Timnah. (13) And Tamar was told, saying, Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his flocks. (14) And she took off her widow's robes from her, and veiled herself with a veil, and disguised herself. And she sat at the entrance of Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him for a wife. (15) And Judah saw her. And he thought her to be a harlot, because she had veiled her face. (16) And he turned aside to her by the roadway, and said, Come now, let me come in to you. For he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, What will you give me that you may come in to me? (17) And he said, I will send a kid of the goats from the flock. And she said, Will you give me a pledge until you send it? (18) And he said, What pledge shall I give to you? And she said, Your signet ring, and your bracelet and your staff in your hand. And he gave to her, and came in to her. And she conceived by him. (19) And she rose up and left, and took off her veil from her face. And she put on her widow's robes. (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. And he did not find her. (21) And he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the harlot that was at Enaim, by the roadway? And they said, There was no harlot here. (22) And he returned to Judah and said, I have not found her. And also the men of the place said, There was no harlot here. (23) And Judah said, Let her take them for herself, that we not become a laughing stock. See, I sent this kid, and you did not find her. (24) And after three months, it happened. It was told to Judah, saying, Your daughter-in-law Tamar has committed adultery, and also, behold, she is pregnant by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her out and let her be burned. (25) She was being brought out, and she sent to her father-in-law, saying, I am pregnant by a man to whom these belong. And she said, Note now whose are these, the signet ring, the bracelet, and the staff? (26) And Judah knew and said, She is more righteous than I, because I did not give her to my son Shelah. And he never knew her again.
(27) And in the time of her bearing, behold, it happened! Twins were in her womb. (28) And in her bearing, it happened that one put forth a hand, and the midwife took it and tied crimson on his hand, saying, This one came out first. (29) And it happened as he withdrew his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, How have you broken a break for yourself? And one called his name Pharez. (30) And then his brother came out, on whose hand was the crimson. And one called his name Zarah.
Genesis 38:6-30 GW Judah chose a wife for his firstborn son Er. Her name was Tamar. (7) Er angered the LORD ( יהוה ). So the LORD ( יהוה ) took away his life. (8) Then Judah said to Onan, "Go sleep with your brother's widow. Do your duty for her as a brother-in-law, and produce a descendant for your brother." (9) But Onan knew that the descendant wouldn't belong to him, so whenever he slept with his brother's widow, he wasted his semen on the ground to avoid giving his brother a descendant. (10) What Onan did angered the LORD ( יהוה ) so much that the LORD ( יהוה ) took away Onan's life too. (11) Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Return to your father's home. Live as a widow until my son Shelah grows up." He thought that this son, too, might die like his brothers. So Tamar went to live in her father's home. (12) After a long time Judah's wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah from Adullam went to Timnah where the men were shearing Judah's sheep. (13) As soon as Tamar was told that her father-in-law was on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep, (14) she took off her widow's clothes, covered her face with a veil, and disguised herself. Then she sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. (She did this because she realized that Shelah was grown up now, and she hadn't been given to him in marriage.) (15) When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face. (16) Since he didn't know she was his daughter-in-law, he approached her by the roadside and said, "Come on, let's sleep together!" She asked, "What will you pay to sleep with me?" (17) "I'll send you a young goat from the flock," he answered. She said, "First give me something as a deposit until you send it." (18) "What should I give you as a deposit?" he asked. "Your signet ring, its cord, and the shepherd's staff that's in your hand," she answered. So he gave them to her. Then he slept with her, and she became pregnant. (19) After she got up and left, she took off her veil and put her widow's clothes back on. (20) Judah sent his friend Hirah to deliver the young goat so that he could get back his deposit from the woman, but his friend couldn't find her. (21) He asked the men of that area, "Where's that prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?" "There's no prostitute here," they answered. (22) So he went back to Judah and said, "I couldn't find her. Even the men of that area said, 'There's no prostitute here.'" (23) Then Judah said, "Let her keep what I gave her, or we'll become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you couldn't find her." (24) About three months later Judah was told, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar has been acting like a prostitute. What's more, because of it she's pregnant." Judah ordered, "Bring her out to be burned." (25) As she was brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law, "I'm pregnant by the man who owns these things. See if you recognize whose signet ring, cord, and shepherd's staff these are." (26) Judah recognized them and said, "She's not guilty. I am! She did this because I haven't given her my son Shelah." Judah never made love to her again.
(27) The time came for Tamar to give birth, and she had twin boys. (28) When she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand. The midwife took a piece of red yarn, tied it on his wrist, and said, "This one came out first." (29) As he pulled back his hand, his brother was born. So she said, "Is this how you burst into the world!" He was named Perez [Bursting Into]. (30) After that his brother was born with the red yarn on his hand. He was named Zerah [Sunrise].
Use browser "Back Arrow" or "Alt + Left_Arrow" keys to previous page. | Home
You will note the reference windows often include more than one translation of the Bible. The reason is to strive to gain the best possible understanding of the original Hebrew and Greek. Since we don't speak those languages, we rely on those who have come before and made the effort to translate those texts into English for us. Considering several translations gives the benefit of the understanding of several translation committees or individuals.
The Translations we quote are:
ALT - Analytical Literal Translation
ASV - American Standard Version (by the American revision committee in 1897).
BBE - 1965 Bible in Basic English
Bishops - 1568 Bishop's Bible
Calvin - 1856 by Calvin Translation Society
CEV - Contemporary English Version
Coverdale - 1535 Miles Coverdale Bible
Darby - 1889 Darby Bible
DRB - 1899 Douay-Rheims Bible
ESV - English Standard Version
GNB - Good News Bible
GW - God's Word Bible
ISV - International Standard Version
KJV - 1769 King James Version
KJV-1611 - Old King James Version from 1611
LitNT - Literal New Testament
LITV - Literal Translation of the Holy Bible
MKJV - 1962 Modern King James Version
Murdock - 1851 James Murdock New Testament
MWT - Modern World Translation
NWT - New World Translation
RV - Revised Version
Webster - 1833 Webster Bible
WTNT - 1525-26 William Tyndale New Testament
Wycliffe - 1394 Wycliffe Bible
YLT - 1862/1898 Young's Literal Translation
Scripture Reference Window
Browser "Back" or "Alt+Left_Arrow" to return.