Genesis Chapter 38
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
And Esau dwelt in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.
2
And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:
3
these are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau.
4
And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
5
And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these are the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife.
6
And these are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife.
7
And these were the sons of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jalam, and Korah.
8
These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the first-born of Esau: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz,
9
chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek: these are the chiefs that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Adah.
10
And these are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah: these are the chiefs that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife.
11
And these are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief Korah: these are the chiefs that came of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife.
12
These are the sons of Esau, and these are their chiefs: the same is Edom.
13
These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan and Shobal and Zibeon and Anah,
14
and Dishon and Ezer and Dishan: these are the chiefs that came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.
15
And the children of Lotan were Hori and Heman; and Lotan’s sister was Timna.
16
And these are the children of Shobal: Alvan and Manahath and Ebal, Shepho and Onam.
17
And these are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah; this is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.
18
And these are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah.
19
And these are the children of Dishon: Hemdan and Eshban and Ithran and Cheran.
20
These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan and Zaavan and Akan.
21
These are the children of Dishan: Uz and Aran.
22
These are the chiefs that came of the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah,
23
chief Dishon, chief Ezer, chief Dishan: these are the chiefs that came of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.
24
And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.
25
And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom; and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
26
And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.
27
And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead.
28
And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.
29
And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.
30
And Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his stead.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a man of Adullam whose name was Hirah.
2
And Judah saw there the daughter of a Canaanitish man whose name was Shua; and he took her, and went in to her.
3
And she conceived and bore a son; and he called his name Er.
4
And she again conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.
5
And again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah; and he was at Chezib when she bore him.
6
And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
7
And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Jehovah, and Jehovah slew him.
8
Then Judah said to Onan, Go in to thy brother's wife, and fulfil to her the brother-in-law's duty, and raise up seed to thy brother.
9
But when Onan knew that the seed should not be his own, it came to pass when he went in to his brother's wife, that he spilled [it] on the ground, in order to give no seed to his brother.
10
And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and he slew him also.
11
And Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow in thy father's house, until Shelah my son is grown; for he said, Lest he die also, as his brethren. And Tamar went and remained in her father's house.
12
And as the days were multiplied, Judah's wife, the daughter of Shua, died. And Judah was comforted, and he went up to his sheep-shearers, to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
13
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.
14
And she put the garments of her widowhood off from her, and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the entry of Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as wife.
15
And Judah saw her, and took her for a harlot; because she had covered her face.
16
And he turned aside to her by the way, and said, Come, I pray thee, let me go in to thee; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in to me?
17
And he said, I will send [thee] a kid of the goats from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give [me] a pledge, until thou send it?
18
And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy lace, and thy staff which is in thy hand. And he gave [it] her, and went in to her; and she conceived by him.
19
And she arose and went away; and she laid by her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
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; but he found her not.
21
And he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the prostitute that was at Enaim, by the way-side? And they said, There was no prostitute here.
22
And he returned to Judah, and said, I have not found her; and also the men of the place said, No prostitute has been here.
23
Then Judah said, Let her take [it] for herself, lest we be put to shame. Behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
24
And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law has committed fornication, and behold, she is also with child by fornication. And Judah said, Bring her forth, that she may be burned.
25
When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, By the man to whom these [belong] am I with child; and she said, Acknowledge, I pray thee, whose are this signet, and this lace, and this staff.
26
And Judah acknowledged [them], and said, She is more righteous than I, because I have not given her to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
27
And it came to pass at the time of her delivery, that behold, twins were in her womb.
28
And it came to pass when she brought forth, that one stretched out [his] hand, and the midwife took it and bound round his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
29
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! on thee be the breach! And they called his name Pherez.
30
And afterwards came out his brother, round whose hand was the scarlet thread; and they called his name Zerah.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
And it came to pass at that time that Judas went down from his brethren, and came as far as to a certain man of Odollam, whose name was Iras.
2
And Judas saw there the daughter of a Chananitish man, whose name was Sava; and he took her, and went in to her.
3
And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name, Er.
4
And she conceived and bore a son again; and called his name, Aunan.
5
And she again bore a son; and called his name, Selom: and she was in Chasbi when she bore them.
6
And Judas took a wife for Er his first-born, whose name was Thamar.
7
And Er, the first-born of Judas, was wicked before the Lord; and God killed him.
8
And Judas said to Aunan, Go in to thy brother's wife, and marry her as her brother-in-law, and raise up seed to thy brother.
9
And Aunan, knowing that the seed should not be his—it came to pass when he went in to his brother's wife, that he spilled [it] upon the ground, so that he should not give seed to his brother's wife.
10
And his doing this appeared evil before God; and he slew him also.
11
And Judas said to Thamar, his daughter-in-law, Sit thou a widow in the house of thy father-in-law, until Selom my son be grown; for he said, Lest he also die as his brethren; and Thamar departed, and sat in the house of her father.
12
And the days were fulfilled, and Sava the wife of Judas died; and Judas, being comforted, went to them that sheared his sheep, himself and Iras his shepherd the Odollamite, to Thamna.
13
And it was told Thamar his daughter-in-law, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Thamna, to shear his sheep.
14
And having taken off the garments of her widowhood from her, she put on a veil, and ornamented her face, and sat by the gates of Ænan, which is in the way to Thamna, for she saw that Selom was grown; but he gave her not to him for a wife.
15
And when Judas saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she covered her face, and he knew her not.
16
And he went out of his way to her, and said to her, Let me come in to thee; for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law; and she said, What wilt thou give me if thou shouldest come in to me?
17
And he said, I will send thee a kid of the goats from my flock; and she said, [Well], if thou wilt give me an earnest, until thou send it.
18
And he said, What is the earnest that I shall give thee? and she said, Thy ring, and thy bracelet, and the staff in thy hand; and he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.
19
And she arose and departed, and took her veil from off her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
20
And Judas sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his shepherd the Odollamite, to receive the pledge from the woman; and he found her not.
21
And he asked the men of the place, Where is the harlot who was in Ænan by the way-side? and they said, There was no harlot here.
22
And he returned to Judas, and said, I have not found her; and the men of the place say, There is no harlot here.
23
And Judas said, Let her have them, but let us not be ridiculed; I sent this kid, but thou hast not found her.
24
And it came to pass after three months, that it was told Judas, saying, Thamar thy daughter-in-law has grievously played the harlot, and behold she is with child by whoredom; and Judas said, Bring her out, and let her be burnt.
25
And as they were bringing her, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, I am with child by the man whose these things are; and she said, See whose is this ring and bracelet and staff.
26
And Judas knew [them], and said, Thamar is cleared rather than I, forasmuch as I gave her not to Selom my son: and he knew her not again.
27
And it came to pass when she was in labour, that she also had twins in her womb.
28
And it came to pass as she was bringing forth, one thrust forth his hand, and the midwife having taken hold of it, bound upon his hand a scarlet [thread], saying, This one shall come out first.
29
And when he drew back his hand, then immediately came forth his brother; and she said, Why has the barrier been cut through because of thee? and she called his name, Phares.
30
And after this came forth his brother, on whose hand was the scarlet thread; and she called his name, Zara.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Eodem tempore descendens Iudas a fratribus suis, divertit ad Virum Odollamitem, nomine Hiram.
2
Viditque ibi filiam hominis Chananæi, vocabulo Sue: et accepta uxore, ingressus est ad eam.
3
Quæ concepit, et peperit filium, et vocavit nomen eius Her.
4
Rursumque concepto fœtu, natum filium vocavit Onan.
5
Tertium quoque peperit: quem appellavit Sela. quo nato, parere ultra cessavit.
6
Dedit autem Iudas uxorem primogenito suo Her, nomine Thamar.
7
Fuit quoque Her primogenitus Iudæ, nequam in conspectu Domini: et ab eo occisus est.
8
Dixit ergo Iudas ad Onan filium suum: Ingredere uxorem fratris tui, et sociare illi, ut suscites semen fratri tuo.
9
Ille sciens non sibi nasci filios, introiens ad uxorem fratris sui, semen fundebat in terram, ne liberi fratris nomine nascerentur.
10
Et idcirco percussit eum Dominus, quod rem detestabilem faceret.
11
Quam ob rem dixit Iudas Thamar nurui suæ: Esto vidua in domo patris tui, donec crescat Sela filius meus: timebat enim ne et ipse moreretur, sicut fratres eius. Quæ abiit, et habitavit in domo patris sui.
12
Evolutis autem multis diebus, mortua est filia Sue uxor Iudæ: qui post luctum consolatione suscepta, ascendebat ad tonsores ovium suarum, ipse et Hiras opilio gregis Odollamites, in Thamnas.
13
Nunciatumque est Thamar quod socer illius ascenderet in Thamnas ad tondendas oves.
14
Quæ, depositis viduitatis vestibus, assumpsit theristrum: et mutato habitu, sedit in bivio itineris, quod ducit Thamnam: eo quod crevisset Sela, et non eum accepisset maritum.
15
Quam cum vidisset Iudas, suspicatus est esse meretricem: operuerat enim vultum suum, ne agnosceretur.
16
Ingrediensque ad eam, ait: Dimitte me ut coeam tecum: nesciebat enim quod nurus sua esset. Qua respondente: Quid dabis mihi ut fruaris concubitu meo?
17
dixit: Mittam tibi hœdam de gregibus. Rursumque illa dicente: Patiar quod vis, si dederis mihi arrhabonem, donec mittas quod polliceris.
18
Ait Iudas: Quid tibi vis pro arrhabone dari? Respondit: Annulum tuum, et armillam, et baculum quem manu tenes. Ad unum igitur coitum mulier concepit,
19
et surgens abiit: depositoque habitu, quem sumpserat, induta est viduitatis vestibus.
20
Misit autem Iudas hœdum per pastorem suum Odollamitem, ut reciperet pignus quod dederat mulieri: qui cum non invenisset eam,
21
interrogavit homines loci illius: Ubi est mulier quæ sedebat in bivio? Respondentibus cunctis: Non fuit in loco ista meretrix.
22
Reversus est ad Iudam, et dixit ei: Non inveni eam: sed et homines loci illius dixerunt mihi, numquam sedisse ibi scortum.
23
Ait Iudas: Habeat sibi, certe mendacii arguere nos non potest, ego misi hœdum quem promiseram: et tu non invenisti eam.
24
Ecce autem post tres menses nunciaverunt Iudæ, dicentes: Fornicata est Thamar nurus tua, et videtur uterus illius intumescere. Dixitque Iudas: Producite eam ut comburatur.
25
Quæ cum duceretur ad pœnam, misit ad socerum suum, dicens: De viro, cuius hæc sunt, concepi: cognosce cuius sit annulus, et armilla, et baculus.
26
Qui, agnitis muneribus, ait: Iustior me est: quia non tradidi eam Sela filio meo. Attamen ultra non cognovit eam.
27
Instante autem partu, apparuerunt gemini in utero: atque in ipsa effusione infantium unus protulit manum, in qua obstetrix ligavit coccinum, dicens:
28
Iste egredietur prior.
29
Illo vero retrahente manum, egressus est alter: dixitque mulier: Quare divisa est propter te maceria? et ob hanc causam vocavit nomen eius Phares.
30
Postea egressus est frater eius, in cuius manu erat coccinum: quem appellavit Zara.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
At that time, Judah went down from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
2
There, Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite man named Shua. He took her, and went in to her.
3
She conceived, and bore a son; and he named him Er.
4
She conceived again, and bore a son; and she named him Onan.
5
She yet again bore a son, and named him Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.
6
Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
7
Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight. So the LORD killed him.
8
Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”
9
Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother.
10
The thing which he did was evil in the LORD’s sight, and he killed him also.
11
Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up;” for he said, “Lest he also die, like his brothers.” Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.
12
After many days, Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah, the Adullamite.
13
Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”
14
She took off the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she wasn’t given to him as a wife.
15
When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
16
He turned to her by the way, and said, “Please come, let me come in to you,” for he didn’t know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”
17
He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?”
18
He said, “What pledge will I give you?” She said, “Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” He gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.
19
She arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
20
Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, but he didn’t find her.
21
Then he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the road?” They said, “There has been no prostitute here.”
22
He returned to Judah, and said, “I haven’t found her; and also the men of the place said, ‘There has been no prostitute here.’”
23
Judah said, “Let her keep it, lest we be shamed. Behold, I sent this young goat, and you haven’t found her.”
24
About three months later, Judah was told, “Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute. Moreover, behold, she is with child by prostitution.” Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.”
25
When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “I am with child by the man who owns these.” She also said, “Please discern whose these are—the signet, and the cords, and the staff.”
26
Judah acknowledged them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, because I didn’t give her to Shelah, my son.” He knew her again no more.
27
In the time of her travail, behold, twins were in her womb.
28
When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This came out first.”
29
As he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out, and she said, “Why have you made a breach for yourself?” Therefore his name was called Perez.
30
Afterward his brother came out, who had the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And it cometh to pass, at that time, that Judah goeth down from his brethren, and turneth aside unto a man, an Adullamite, whose name <FI>is<Fi> Hirah;
2
and Judah seeth there the daughter of a man, a Canaanite, whose name <FI>is<Fi> Shuah, and taketh her, and goeth in unto her.
3
And she conceiveth, and beareth a son, and he calleth his name Er;
4
and she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Onan;
5
and she addeth again, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Shelah; and he was in Chezib in her bearing him.
6
And Judah taketh a wife for Er, his first-born, and her name <FI>is<Fi> Tamar;
7
and Er, Judah's first-born, is evil in the eyes of Jehovah, and Jehovah doth put him to death.
8
And Judah saith to Onan, `Go in unto the wife of thy brother, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother;'
9
and Onan knoweth that the seed is not <FI>reckoned<Fi> his; and it hath come to pass, if he hath gone in unto his brother's wife, that he hath destroyed <FI>it<Fi> to the earth, so as not to give seed to his brother;
10
and that which he hath done is evil in the eyes of Jehovah, and He putteth him also to death.
11
And Judah saith to Tamar his daughter-in-law, `Abide a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son groweth up;' for he said, `Lest he die--even he--like his brethren;' and Tamar goeth and dwelleth at her father's house.
12
And the days are multiplied, and the daughter of Shuah, Judah's wife, dieth; and Judah is comforted, and goeth up unto his sheep-shearers, he and Hirah his friend the Adullamite, to Timnath.
13
And it is declared to Tamar, saying, `Lo, thy husband's father is going up to Timnath to shear his flock;'
14
and she turneth aside the garments of her widowhood from off her, and covereth herself with a vail, and wrappeth herself up, and sitteth in the opening of Enayim, which <FI>is<Fi> by the way to Timnath, for she hath seen that Shelah hath grown up, and she hath not been given to him for a wife.
15
And Judah seeth her, and reckoneth her for a harlot, for she hath covered her face,
16
and he turneth aside unto her by the way, and saith, `Come, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee,' (for he hath not known that she <FI>is<Fi> his daughter-in-law); and she saith, `What dost thou give to me, that thou mayest come in unto me?'
17
and he saith, `I--I send a kid of the goats from the flock.' And she saith, `Dost thou give a pledge till thou send <FI>it<Fi> ?'
18
and he saith, `What <FI>is<Fi> the pledge that I give to thee?' and she saith, `Thy seal, and thy ribbon, and thy staff which <FI>is<Fi> in thy hand;' and he giveth to her, and goeth in unto her, and she conceiveth to him;
19
and she riseth, and goeth, and turneth aside her vail from off her, and putteth on the garments of her widowhood.
20
And Judah sendeth the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the hand of the woman, and he hath not found her.
21
And he asketh the men of her place, saying, `Where <FI>is<Fi> the separated one--she in Enayim, by the way?' and they say, `There hath not been in this <FI>place<Fi> a separated one.'
22
And he turneth back unto Judah, and saith, `I have not found her; and the men of the place also have said, There hath not been in this <FI>place<Fi> a separated one,'
23
and Judah saith, `Let her take to herself, lest we become despised; lo, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.'
24
And it cometh to pass about three months <FI>after<Fi> , that it is declared to Judah, saying, `Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath committed fornication; and also, lo, she hath conceived by fornication:' and Judah saith, `Bring her out--and she is burnt.'
25
She is brought out, and she hath sent unto her husband's father, saying, `To a man whose these <FI>are<Fi> , I <FI>am<Fi> pregnant;' and she saith, `Discern, I pray thee, whose <FI>are<Fi> these--the seal, and the ribbons, and the staff.'
26
And Judah discerneth and saith, `She hath been more righteous than I, because that I did not give her to Shelah my son;' and he hath not added to know her again.
27
And it cometh to pass in the time of her bearing, that lo, twins <FI>are<Fi> in her womb;
28
and it cometh to pass in her bearing, that <FI>one<Fi> giveth out a hand, and the midwife taketh and bindeth on his hand a scarlet thread, saying, `This hath come out first.'
29
And it cometh to pass as he draweth back his hand, that lo, his brother hath come out, and she saith, `What! thou hast broken forth--on thee <FI>is<Fi> the breach;' and he calleth his name Pharez;
30
and afterwards hath his brother come out, on whose hand <FI>is<Fi> the scarlet thread, and he calleth his name Zarah.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).