Genesis 38 בְּרֵאשִׁית פרק ל״ח

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Genesis 38 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passבָּעֵתba/ETat the timeהַהִואha/HIVthatוַיֵּרֶדvay/YE/redand went downיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahמֵאֵתme/ETfromאֶחָיוe/CHAYVhis brethrenוַיֵּטvay/YETand turned inעַד־אִישׁad-ishto a manעֲדֻלָּמִיA/dul/la/MIan Adullamiteוּשְׁמוֹu/she/MOand his nameחִירָה׃Chi/RAHirah

   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־שָׁםvay/YAR-shamand saw thereיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahבַּת־אִישׁbat-ishthe daughter of a manכְּנַעֲנִיke/Na/a/NIa Canaaniteוּשְׁמוֹu/she/MOand his nameשׁוּעַSHU/aShuaוַיִּקָּחֶהָvay/yik/ka/CHE/haand he took herוַיָּבֹאvay/ya/VOand went inאֵלֶיהָ׃e/LE/hato 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

   וַתַּהַרvat/TA/harand she conceivedוַתֵּלֶדvat/TE/ledand boreבֵּןbena sonוַיִּקְרָאvay/yik/RAand he calledאֶת־שְׁמוֹet-she/MOhis nameעֵר׃ErEr

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

4. 4

   וַתַּהַרvat/TA/harand she conceivedעוֹדodagainוַתֵּלֶדvat/TE/ledand boreבֵּןbena sonוַתִּקְרָאvat/tik/RAand she calledאֶת־שְׁמוֹet-she/MOhis nameאוֹנָן׃O/NANOnan

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

5. 5

   וַתֹּסֶףvat/TO/sefand she addedעוֹדodagainוַתֵּלֶדvat/TE/ledand boreבֵּןbena sonוַתִּקְרָאvat/tik/RAand she calledאֶת־שְׁמוֹet-she/MOhis nameשֵׁלָהShe/LAShelahוְהָיָהve/ha/YAand he wasבִכְזִיבVikh/ZIVat Chezibבְּלִדְתָּהּbe/lid/TAwhen she boreאֹתוֹ׃o/TOhim

   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

   וַיִּקַּחvay/yik/KACHand tookיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahאִשָּׁהish/SHAa wifeלְעֵרle/ERfor Erבְּכוֹרוֹbe/kho/ROhis firstbornוּשְׁמָהּu/she/MAand her nameתָּמָר׃Ta/MARTamar

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

7. 7

   וַיְהִיvay/HIand wasעֵרErErבְּכוֹרbe/KHORthe firstborn ofיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahרַעraevilבְּעֵינֵיbe/e/NEin the eyes ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוַיְמִתֵהוּvay/mi/TE/huand slew himיְהֹוָה׃Adonaithe LORD

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

8. 8

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahלְאוֹנָןle/O/NANto Onanבֹּאbogo inאֶל־אֵשֶׁתel-E/shetto the wife ofאָחִיךָa/CHI/khayour brotherוְיַבֵּםve/yab/BEMand do the husband's brother's duty toאֹתָהּo/TAherוְהָקֵםve/ha/KEMand establishזֶרַעZE/raseedלְאָחִיךָ׃le/a/CHI/khato 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

   וַיֵּדַעvay/YE/daand knewאוֹנָןO/NANOnanכִּיkithatלֹּאlonotלוֹlohisיִהְיֶהyih/YEshould beהַזָּרַעhaz/ZA/rathe seedוְהָיָהve/ha/YAand it came to passאִם־בָּאim-bawhen he went inאֶל־אֵשֶׁתel-E/shetto the wife ofאָחִיוa/CHIVhis brotherוְשִׁחֵתve/shi/CHETthat he spilled itאַרְצָהAR/tsaon the groundלְבִלְתִּיle/vil/TIlestנְתׇן־זֶרַעne/TON-ZE/rahe should give seedלְאָחִיו׃le/a/CHIVto 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

    וַיֵּרַעvay/YE/raand it was evilבְּעֵינֵיbe/e/NEin the eyes ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthat whichעָשָׂהa/SAhe didוַיָּמֶתvay/YA/metand He slewגַּם־אֹתוֹ׃gam-o/TOalso him

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

11. 11

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahלְתָמָרle/Ta/MARto Tamarכַּלָּתוֹkal/la/TOhis daughter-in-lawשְׁבִיshe/VIremainאַלְמָנָהal/ma/NAa widowבֵית־אָבִיךְvet-a/VIKHat your father's houseעַד־יִגְדַּלad-yig/DALuntil be grownשֵׁלָהShe/LAShelahבְנִיve/NImy sonכִּיkiforאָמַרa/MARhe saidפֶּן־יָמוּתpen-ya/MUTlest he dieגַּם־הוּאgam-hualso heכְּאֶחָיוke/e/CHAYVas his brethrenוַתֵּלֶךְvat/TE/lekhand wentתָּמָרTa/MARTamarוַתֵּשֶׁבvat/TE/shevand dweltבֵּיתbetin the house ofאָבִיהָ׃a/VI/haher 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

    וַיִּרְבּוּvay/yir/BUand were multipliedהַיָּמִיםhay/ya/MIMthe daysוַתָּמׇתvat/TA/motand diedבַּת־שׁוּעַbat-SHU/athe daughter of Shuaאֵשֶׁת־יְהוּדָהE/shet-Ye/hu/DAthe wife of Judahוַיִּנָּחֶםvay/yin/NA/chemand was comfortedיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahוַיַּעַלvay/YA/aland went upעַל־גֹּזְזֵיal-goz/ZEto the shearers ofצֹאנוֹtso/NOhis sheepהוּאhuheוְחִירָהve/Chi/RAand Hirahרֵעֵהוּre/E/huhis friendהָעֲדֻלָּמִיha/A/dul/la/MIthe Adullamiteתִּמְנָתָה׃Tim/NA/tato 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

    וַיֻּגַּדvay/yug/GADand it was toldלְתָמָרle/Ta/MARto Tamarלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingהִנֵּהhin/NEbeholdחָמִיךְcha/MIKHyour father-in-lawעֹלֶהo/LEgoes upתִמְנָתָהTim/NA/tato Timnahלָגֹזla/GOZto shearצֹאנוֹ׃tso/NOhis sheep

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

14. 14

    וַתָּסַרvat/TA/sarand she put offבִּגְדֵיbig/DEthe garments ofאַלְמְנוּתָהּal/me/nu/TAher widowhoodמֵעָלֶיהָme/a/LE/hafrom herוַתְּכַסvat/te/KHASand covered herselfבַּצָּעִיףbats/tsa/IFwith a veilוַתִּתְעַלָּףvat/tit/al/LAFand wrapped herselfוַתֵּשֶׁבvat/TE/shevand satבְּפֶתַחbe/FE/tachat the entrance ofעֵינַיִםE/NA/yimEnaimאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhich isעַל־דֶּרֶךְal-DE/rekhby the way toתִּמְנָתָהTim/NA/taTimnahכִּיkiforרָאֲתָהra/a/TAshe sawכִּי־גָדַלki-ga/DALthat was grownשֵׁלָהShe/LAShelahוְהִואve/HIVand sheלֹא־נִתְּנָהlo-nit/te/NAwas not givenלוֹloto himלְאִשָּׁה׃le/ish/SHAto 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

    וַיִּרְאֶהָvay/yir/E/haand he saw herיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahוַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָvay/yach/she/VE/haand he took herלְזוֹנָהle/zo/NAfor a harlotכִּיkibecauseכִסְּתָהkhis/se/TAshe had coveredפָּנֶיהָ׃pa/NE/haher face

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

16. 16

    וַיֵּטvay/YETand he turnedאֵלֶיהָe/LE/hato herאֶל־הַדֶּרֶךְel-had/DE/rekhby the wayוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidהָבָה־נָּאHA/va-nacome I prayאָבוֹאa/VOlet me come inאֵלַיִךְe/LA/yikhto youכִּיkiforלֹאlonotיָדַעya/DAhe knewכִּיkithatכַלָּתוֹkhal/la/TOhis daughter-in-lawהִואhivwas sheוַתֹּאמֶרvat/TO/merand saidמַה־תִּתֶּן־לִיma-tit/TEN-liwhat will you give meכִּיkithatתָבוֹאta/VOyou may come inאֵלָי׃e/LAYto 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

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאָנֹכִיa/no/KHIIאֲשַׁלַּחa/shal/LACHwill sendגְּדִי־עִזִּיםge/DI-iz/ZIMa kid of goatsמִן־הַצֹּאןmin-hats/TSONfrom the flockוַתֹּאמֶרvat/TO/merand saidאִם־תִּתֵּןim-tit/TENif you giveעֵרָבוֹןe/ra/VONa pledgeעַדaduntilשׇׁלְחֶךָ׃shol/che/KHAyou 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

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidמָהmawhatהָעֵרָבוֹןha/e/ra/VONis the pledgeאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichאֶתֶּן־לָךְet/TEN-lakhshall I give youוַתֹּאמֶרvat/TO/merand saidחֹתָמְךָcho/ta/me/KHAyour sealוּפְתִילֶךָu/fe/ti/LE/khaand your cordוּמַטְּךָu/mat/te/KHAand your staffאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichבְּיָדֶךָbe/ya/DE/khain your handוַיִּתֶּן־לָהּvay/YIT/ten-laand he gave them to herוַיָּבֹאvay/ya/VOand went inאֵלֶיהָe/LE/hato herוַתַּהַרvat/TA/harand she conceivedלוֹ׃loby 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

    וַתָּקׇםvat/TA/komand she aroseוַתֵּלֶךְvat/TE/lekhand wentוַתָּסַרvat/TA/sarand put offצְעִיפָהּtse/i/FAher veilמֵעָלֶיהָme/a/LE/hafrom herוַתִּלְבַּשׁvat/til/BASHand she put onבִּגְדֵיbig/DEthe garments ofאַלְמְנוּתָהּ׃al/me/nu/TAher widowhood

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

20. 20

    וַיִּשְׁלַחvay/yish/LACHand sentיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahאֶת־גְּדִיet-ge/DIa kid ofהָעִזִּיםha/iz/ZIMthe goatsבְּיַדbe/YADby the hand ofרֵעֵהוּre/E/huhis friendהָעֲדֻלָּמִיha/A/dul/la/MIthe Adullamiteלָקַחַתla/KA/chatto takeהָעֵרָבוֹןha/e/ra/VONthe pledgeמִיַּדmiy/YADfrom the hand ofהָאִשָּׁהha/ish/SHAthe womanוְלֹאve/LObut notמְצָאָהּ׃me/tsa/Ahe 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

    וַיִּשְׁאַלvay/yish/ALand askedאֶת־אַנְשֵׁיet-an/SHEthe men ofמְקֹמָהּme/ko/MAher placeלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingאַיֵּהay/YEwhere isהַקְּדֵשָׁהhak/ke/de/SHAthe cult prostituteהִואhivthat wasבָעֵינַיִםVa/e/NA/yimat Enaimעַל־הַדָּרֶךְal-had/DA/rekhby the wayוַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidלֹא־הָיְתָהlo-ha/ye/TAthere was notבָזֶהva/ZEhereקְדֵשָׁה׃ke/de/SHAa 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

    וַיָּשׇׁבvay/YA/shovand he returnedאֶל־יְהוּדָהel-Ye/hu/DAto Judahוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלֹאlonotמְצָאתִיהָme/tsa/TI/haI have found herוְגַםve/GAMand alsoאַנְשֵׁיan/SHEthe men ofהַמָּקוֹםham/ma/KOMthe placeאָמְרוּa/me/RUsaidלֹא־הָיְתָהlo-ha/ye/TAthere was notבָזֶהva/ZEhereקְדֵשָׁה׃ke/de/SHAa 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

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahתִּקַּח־לָהּtik/KACH-lalet her take it to herפֶּןpenlestנִהְיֶהnih/YEwe beלָבוּזla/VUZshamedהִנֵּהhin/NEbeholdשָׁלַחְתִּיsha/LACH/tiI sentהַגְּדִיhag/ge/DIthe kidהַזֶּהhaz/ZEthisוְאַתָּהve/at/TAand youלֹאlonotמְצָאתָהּ׃me/tsa/TAhave 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

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passכְּמִשְׁלֹשׁke/mish/LOSHabout threeחֳדָשִׁיםcho/da/SHIMmonthsוַיֻּגַּדvay/yug/GADand it was toldלִיהוּדָהlI/hu/DAto Judahלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingזָנְתָהza/ne/TAhas played the harlotתָּמָרTa/MARTamarכַּלָּתֶךָkal/la/TE/khayour daughter-in-lawוְגַםve/GAMand alsoהִנֵּהhin/NEbeholdהָרָהha/RAshe is with childלִזְנוּנִיםliz/nu/NIMby harlotryוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahהוֹצִיאוּהָho/tsi/U/habring her outוְתִשָּׂרֵף׃ve/tis/sa/REFand let her 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

    הִואhivsheמוּצֵאתmu/TSETwas brought forthוְהִיאve/HIand sheשָׁלְחָהsha/le/CHAsentאֶל־חָמִיהָel-cha/MI/hato her father-in-lawלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingלְאִישׁle/ISHby the manאֲשֶׁר־אֵלֶּהa/SHER-EL/lewhose theseלּוֹloareאָנֹכִיa/no/KHIIהָרָהha/RAam with childוַתֹּאמֶרvat/TO/merand saidהַכֶּר־נָאhak/KER-nadiscern I prayלְמִיle/MIwhose areהַחֹתֶמֶתha/cho/TE/metthe sealוְהַפְּתִילִיםve/hap/pe/ti/LIMand the cordוְהַמַּטֶּהve/ham/mat/TEand the staffהָאֵלֶּה׃ha/EL/lethese

    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

    וַיַּכֵּרvay/yak/KERand acknowledged themיְהוּדָהYe/hu/DAJudahוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidצָדְקָהtsa/de/KAshe has been more righteousמִמֶּנִּיmim/MEN/nithan Iכִּי־עַל־כֵּןki-al-kenbecauseלֹא־נְתַתִּיהָlo-ne/tat/TI/haI did not give herלְשֵׁלָהle/She/LAto Shelahבְנִיve/NImy sonוְלֹא־יָסַףve/LO-ya/SAFand he did not againעוֹדodany moreלְדַעְתָּהּ׃le/da/TAknow her

    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

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passבְּעֵתbe/ETin the time ofלִדְתָּהּlid/TAher travailוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdתְאוֹמִיםte/o/MIMtwinsבְּבִטְנָהּ׃be/vit/NAin her womb

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

28. 28

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passבְלִדְתָּהּve/lid/TAwhen she travailedוַיִּתֶּן־יָדvay/YIT/ten-yadthat one put out a handוַתִּקַּחvat/tik/KACHand tookהַמְיַלֶּדֶתham/yal/LE/detthe midwifeוַתִּקְשֹׁרvat/tik/SHORand boundעַל־יָדוֹal-ya/DOupon his handשָׁנִיsha/NIscarletלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingזֶהzethisיָצָאya/TSAcame outרִאשֹׁנָה׃ri/sho/NAfirst

    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

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passכְּמֵשִׁיבke/me/SHIVas he drew backיָדוֹya/DOhis handוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdיָצָאya/TSAcame outאָחִיוa/CHIVhis brotherוַתֹּאמֶרvat/TO/merand saidמַה־פָּרַצְתָּma-pa/RATS/tahow have you broken forthעָלֶיךָa/LE/khaupon youפָּרֶץPA/retsa breachוַיִּקְרָאvay/yik/RAand calledשְׁמוֹshe/MOhis nameפָּרֶץ׃PA/retsPerez

    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

    וְאַחַרve/a/CHARand afterwardיָצָאya/TSAcame outאָחִיוa/CHIVhis brotherאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthat hadעַל־יָדוֹal-ya/DOupon his handהַשָּׁנִיhash/sha/NIthe scarletוַיִּקְרָאvay/yik/RAand calledשְׁמוֹshe/MOhis nameזָרַח׃Za/RACHZerah

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