Genesis 38 בְּרֵאשִׁית פרק ל״ח

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Genesis 38 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיְהִיand it came to passבָּעֵתat the timeהַהִואthatוַיֵּרֶדand he descendedיְהוּדָהJudahמֵאֵתfromאֶחָיוhis brethrenוַיֵּטand he turnedעַד־אִישׁuntil man ofעֲדֻלָּמִיan Adullamiteוּשְׁמוֹand his nameחִירָה׃Hirah

   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. 2

   וַיַּרְא־שָׁםand saw thereיְהוּדָהJudahבַּת־אִישׁdaughter of man ofכְּנַעֲנִיa Canaaniteוּשְׁמוֹand his nameשׁוּעַShuaוַיִּקָּחֶהָand he took herוַיָּבֹאand cameאֵלֶיהָ׃to her

   And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.

3. 3

   וַתַּהַרand she conceivedוַתֵּלֶדand boreבֵּןa sonוַיִּקְרָאand calledאֶת־שְׁמוֹhis nameעֵר׃Er

   And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.

4. 4

   וַתַּהַרand she conceivedעוֹדagainוַתֵּלֶדand boreבֵּןa sonוַתִּקְרָאand she calledאֶת־שְׁמוֹhis nameאוֹנָן׃Onan

   And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.

5. 5

   וַתֹּסֶףand she addedעוֹדagainוַתֵּלֶדand boreבֵּןa sonוַתִּקְרָאand she calledאֶת־שְׁמוֹhis nameשֵׁלָהShelahוְהָיָהand he wasבִכְזִיבin Kezibבְּלִדְתָּהּwhen she gave birthאֹתוֹ׃him

   And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.

6. 6

   וַיִּקַּחand tookיְהוּדָהJudahאִשָּׁהa womanלְעֵרfor Erבְּכוֹרוֹhis firstbornוּשְׁמָהּand her nameתָּמָר׃Tamar

   And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.

7. 7

   וַיְהִיand it came to passעֵרErבְּכוֹרthe firstborn ofיְהוּדָהJudahרַעevilבְּעֵינֵיin the eyes ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDוַיְמִתֵהוּand put to death himיְהֹוָה׃the LORD

   And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.

8. 8

   וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיְהוּדָהJudahלְאוֹנָןto Onanבֹּאcomeאֶל־אֵשֶׁתto the wife ofאָחִיךָyour brotherוְיַבֵּםand act as a husband's brother forאֹתָהּitוְהָקֵםand establishזֶרַעseedלְאָחִיךָ׃to your brother

   And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

9. 9

   וַיֵּדַעand knewאוֹנָןOnanכִּיthatלֹּאnoלוֹto himיִהְיֶהshall beהַזָּרַעthe offspringוְהָיָהand beאִם־בָּאif cameאֶל־אֵשֶׁתto the wife ofאָחִיוhis brotherוְשִׁחֵתand he spilled itאַרְצָהon the groundלְבִלְתִּיto notנְתׇן־זֶרַעto give seedלְאָחִיו׃of his brother

   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. 10

    וַיֵּרַעand it was evilבְּעֵינֵיin the eyes ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֲשֶׁרwhichעָשָׂהhe madeוַיָּמֶתand he slewגַּם־אֹתוֹ׃also him

    And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

11. 11

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיְהוּדָהJudahלְתָמָרto Tamarכַּלָּתוֹhis daughter-in-lawשְׁבִיremainאַלְמָנָהa widowבֵית־אָבִיךְyour father's houseעַד־יִגְדַּלuntil shall growשֵׁלָהShelahבְנִיmy sonכִּיforאָמַרsaidפֶּן־יָמוּתlest shall he dieגַּם־הוּאalso heכְּאֶחָיוlike his brethrenוַתֵּלֶךְand wentתָּמָרTamarוַתֵּשֶׁבand she satבֵּיתthe house ofאָבִיהָ׃her father

    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. 12

    וַיִּרְבּוּand they did multiplyהַיָּמִיםthe daysוַתָּמׇתand it will dieבַּת־שׁוּעַthe daughter of Shuaאֵשֶׁת־יְהוּדָהthe wife of Judahוַיִּנָּחֶםand was comfortedיְהוּדָהJudahוַיַּעַלand he ascendedעַל־גֹּזְזֵיupon the shearers ofצֹאנוֹhis sheepהוּאheוְחִירָהand Hirahרֵעֵהוּhis neighborהָעֲדֻלָּמִיthe Adullamiteתִּמְנָתָה׃to Timnah

    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. 13

    וַיֻּגַּדand it was toldלְתָמָרto Tamarלֵאמֹרsayingהִנֵּהbeholdחָמִיךְyour father-in-lawעֹלֶהgoes upתִמְנָתָהto Timnahלָגֹזto shearצֹאנוֹ׃his sheep

    And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

14. 14

    וַתָּסַרand she removedבִּגְדֵיgarments ofאַלְמְנוּתָהּher widowhoodמֵעָלֶיהָfrom on herוַתְּכַסand she coveredבַּצָּעִיףwith the veilוַתִּתְעַלָּףand she wrapped herself upוַתֵּשֶׁבand she satבְּפֶתַחat the entrance ofעֵינַיִםEnaimאֲשֶׁרwhichעַל־דֶּרֶךְon the wayתִּמְנָתָהto Timnahכִּיforרָאֲתָהshe sawכִּי־גָדַלbecause grewשֵׁלָהShelahוְהִואand sheלֹא־נִתְּנָהwas not givenלוֹto himלְאִשָּׁה׃as a wife

    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. 15

    וַיִּרְאֶהָand he saw herיְהוּדָהJudahוַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָand he thought herלְזוֹנָהto a prostituteכִּיbecauseכִסְּתָהshe had coveredפָּנֶיהָ׃her face

    When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.

16. 16

    וַיֵּטand he turnedאֵלֶיהָto herאֶל־הַדֶּרֶךְto the wayוַיֹּאמֶרand saidהָבָה־נָּאcome nowאָבוֹאI will comeאֵלַיִךְunto youכִּיbecauseלֹאnotיָדַעhe knewכִּיbecauseכַלָּתוֹhis daughter-in-lawהִואsheוַתֹּאמֶרand saidמַה־תִּתֶּן־לִיwhat will you give meכִּיbecauseתָבוֹאyou comeאֵלָי׃unto me

    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. 17

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאָנֹכִיIאֲשַׁלַּחI shall sendגְּדִי־עִזִּיםa kid of goatsמִן־הַצֹּאןfrom the flockוַתֹּאמֶרand saidאִם־תִּתֵּןif you giveעֵרָבוֹןa pledgeעַדuntilשׇׁלְחֶךָ׃you send it

    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. 18

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidמָהwhatהָעֵרָבוֹןis the pledgeאֲשֶׁרwhichאֶתֶּן־לָךְshall I give youוַתֹּאמֶרand saidחֹתָמְךָyour sealוּפְתִילֶךָand your cordוּמַטְּךָand your staffאֲשֶׁרwhichבְּיָדֶךָin your handוַיִּתֶּן־לָהּand he gave to herוַיָּבֹאand cameאֵלֶיהָto herוַתַּהַרand she conceivedלוֹ׃by him

    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. 19

    וַתָּקׇםand she aroseוַתֵּלֶךְand wentוַתָּסַרand she removedצְעִיפָהּher veilמֵעָלֶיהָfrom on herוַתִּלְבַּשׁand she put onבִּגְדֵיgarments ofאַלְמְנוּתָהּ׃her widowhood

    And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

20. 20

    וַיִּשְׁלַחand sentיְהוּדָהJudahאֶת־גְּדִיa kid ofהָעִזִּיםthe goatsבְּיַדin the hand ofרֵעֵהוּhis neighborהָעֲדֻלָּמִיthe Adullamiteלָקַחַתto takeהָעֵרָבוֹןthe pledgeמִיַּדfrom the hand ofהָאִשָּׁהthe womanוְלֹאand notמְצָאָהּ׃he found her

    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. 21

    וַיִּשְׁאַלand askedאֶת־אַנְשֵׁיthe men ofמְקֹמָהּher placeלֵאמֹרsayingאַיֵּהwhere isהַקְּדֵשָׁהthe cult prostituteהִואthatבָעֵינַיִםat Enaimעַל־הַדָּרֶךְupon the roadוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidלֹא־הָיְתָהthere was notבָזֶהin this placeקְדֵשָׁה׃a cult prostitute

    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. 22

    וַיָּשׇׁבand he returnedאֶל־יְהוּדָהto Judahוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלֹאnotמְצָאתִיהָI found herוְגַםand alsoאַנְשֵׁיthe men ofהַמָּקוֹםthe placeאָמְרוּthey saidלֹא־הָיְתָהthere was notבָזֶהin this placeקְדֵשָׁה׃a cult prostitute

    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. 23

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיְהוּדָהJudahתִּקַּח־לָהּlet her take itפֶּןlestנִהְיֶהwe beלָבוּזshamedהִנֵּהbeholdשָׁלַחְתִּיI sentהַגְּדִיthe kidהַזֶּהthisוְאַתָּהand youלֹאnotמְצָאתָהּ׃you found her

    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. 24

    וַיְהִיand it came to passכְּמִשְׁלֹשׁabout threeחֳדָשִׁיםmonthsוַיֻּגַּדand it was toldלִיהוּדָהto Judahלֵאמֹרsayingזָנְתָהshe has acted as a prostituteתָּמָרTamarכַּלָּתֶךָyour daughter-in-lawוְגַםand alsoהִנֵּהbeholdהָרָהshe is with childלִזְנוּנִיםto harlotryוַיֹּאמֶרand saidיְהוּדָהJudahהוֹצִיאוּהָbring her outוְתִשָּׂרֵף׃so she may be burned

    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. 25

    הִואit isמוּצֵאתwas being brought outוְהִיאand sheשָׁלְחָהsentאֶל־חָמִיהָto her father-in-lawלֵאמֹרsayingלְאִישׁby the manאֲשֶׁר־אֵלֶּהwhich these areלּוֹhisאָנֹכִיIהָרָהam with childוַתֹּאמֶרand saidהַכֶּר־נָאdiscern nowלְמִיto whomהַחֹתֶמֶתthe sealוְהַפְּתִילִיםand the cordוְהַמַּטֶּהand the staffהָאֵלֶּה׃these

    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. 26

    וַיַּכֵּרand acknowledgedיְהוּדָהJudahוַיֹּאמֶרand saidצָדְקָהshe is righteousמִמֶּנִּיfrom meכִּי־עַל־כֵּןbecause thereforeלֹא־נְתַתִּיהָI gave her notלְשֵׁלָהto Shelahבְנִיmy sonוְלֹא־יָסַףand he did not addעוֹדyetלְדַעְתָּהּ׃to her know

    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. 27

    וַיְהִיand it came to passבְּעֵתin timeלִדְתָּהּof her travailוְהִנֵּהand beholdתְאוֹמִיםtwinsבְּבִטְנָהּ׃in her womb

    And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.

28. 28

    וַיְהִיand it came to passבְלִדְתָּהּwhen she gave birthוַיִּתֶּן־יָדand one put out a handוַתִּקַּחand she tookהַמְיַלֶּדֶתthe midwifeוַתִּקְשֹׁרand she tiedעַל־יָדוֹupon his handשָׁנִיa scarlet threadלֵאמֹרsayingזֶהthisיָצָאhe went forthרִאשֹׁנָה׃first

    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. 29

    וַיְהִיand it came to passכְּמֵשִׁיבwhen he was withdrawingיָדוֹhis handוְהִנֵּהand beholdיָצָאhe went forthאָחִיוhis brotherוַתֹּאמֶרand saidמַה־פָּרַצְתָּhow have you broken forthעָלֶיךָupon youפָּרֶץa breachוַיִּקְרָאand calledשְׁמוֹhis nameפָּרֶץ׃Perez

    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. 30

    וְאַחַרand thenיָצָאhe went forthאָחִיוhis brotherאֲשֶׁרwhichעַל־יָדוֹupon his handהַשָּׁנִיthe scarlet threadוַיִּקְרָאand calledשְׁמוֹhis nameזָרַח׃Zerah

    And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.