The Law · Chapter 38 of 50

Genesis 38

Judah leaves his brothers, marries a Canaanite, and fathers three sons. His firstborn Er dies for wickedness, and Onan dies for refusing to raise offspring for his brother. Judah withholds his third son from the widow Tamar, who then disguises herself, secures Judah's pledge, and conceives by him. When accused, she reveals the truth, and Judah confesses she is more righteous than he. She bears twins, Pharez and Zarah.

What happens in Genesis 38

Judah moves away and marries the daughter of a Canaanite named Shuah. She bears three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah gives Tamar to Er, but Er is wicked and the LORD slays him. Following custom, Onan is to raise up seed for his brother, but he refuses and is also slain. Fearing for Shelah, Judah sends Tamar back to her father's house as a widow, promising Shelah when he is grown, but he never gives him. After Judah's wife dies, Tamar, seeing she has been denied, disguises herself as a veiled woman by the road.

Judah, not recognizing her, propositions her and leaves his signet, bracelets, and staff as pledge. She conceives. Months later, told Tamar is pregnant by harlotry, Judah orders her burned, but she produces his pledge. He acknowledges the tokens and confesses she is more righteous than he. She bears twins, and Pharez breaks forth ahead of Zarah.

Genesis 38 in context

This chapter interrupts the Joseph story just after Judah helped sell his brother into slavery, turning the spotlight on Judah himself. It reflects the ancient custom of levirate marriage, by which a brother raised offspring for a dead man to preserve his name and line.

Set among the Canaanites Judah has chosen to live near, the account exposes his failures yet quietly preserves the family line from which kings and the Messiah will one day come.

Main themes of Genesis 38

Genesis 38 (KJV)

1And 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. 2And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her. 3And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er. 4And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan. 5And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him. 6And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar. 7And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him. 8And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. 9And 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. 10And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also. 11Then 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. 12And 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. 13And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep. 14And 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. 15When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face. 16And 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? 17And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it? 18And 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. 19And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood. 20And 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. 21Then 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. 22And 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. 23And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her. 24And 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. 25When 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. 26And 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. 27And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. 28And 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. 29And 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. 30And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

Verses to carry from Genesis 38

“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.”Genesis 38:18

“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.”Genesis 38:26

“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.”Genesis 38:29

Reflection

This uncomfortable chapter reminds us that God works through flawed people and messy stories, not only tidy ones. Judah's honest confession, she is more righteous than I, is the turning point, the moment a proud man tells the truth about himself.

Where have you neglected a duty or blamed another for a wrong that is partly your own? Honesty opens the door to grace.

A prayer from Genesis 38