Genesis

Genesis 38:12–17

¹²After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah. ¹³When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,” ¹⁴she removed her widow’s garments, covered her face with a veil to disguise herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that although Shelah had grown up, she had not been given to him as a wife.

¹⁵When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face. ¹⁶Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.”

“What will you give me for sleeping with you?” she inquired.

¹⁷“I will send you a young goat from my flock,” Judah answered.

But she replied, “Only if you leave me something as a pledge until you send it.”

Read all of Genesis 38

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Genesis 38:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
After a long	וַיִּרְבּוּ֙	way·yir·bū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7235 be, or become, much, many, great
time	הַיָּמִ֔ים	hay·yā·mîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day
Judah’s	יְהוּדָ֑ה	yə·hū·ḏāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
wife	אֵֽשֶׁת־	’ê·šeṯ-	Noun - feminine singular construct	H802 woman, wife, female
the daughter	בַּת־	baṯ-	Noun - feminine singular construct	H1323 daughter
of Shua	שׁ֣וּעַ	šū·a‘	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H7770 Shua
died	וַתָּ֖מָת	wat·tā·māṯ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H4191 die
When Judah	יְהוּדָ֗ה	yə·hū·ḏāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
had finished mourning	וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם	way·yin·nā·ḥem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5162 be sorry, console
he	ה֗וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
and his friend	רֵעֵ֥הוּ	rê·‘ê·hū	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H7453 shouting, roar
Hirah	וְחִירָ֛ה	wə·ḥî·rāh	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H2437 Chirah
the Adullamite	הָעֲדֻלָּמִ֖י	hā·‘ă·ḏul·lā·mî	Article; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H5726 Adullamite
went up	וַיַּ֜עַל	way·ya·‘al	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
to	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
his sheepshearers	גֹּֽזֲזֵ֤י	gō·ză·zê	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct	H1494 shear
at Timnah	תִּמְנָֽתָה׃	tim·nā·ṯāh	Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H8553 Timnah

Genesis 38:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When Tamar	לְתָמָ֖ר	lə·ṯā·mār	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H8559 Tamar
was told	וַיֻּגַּ֥ד	way·yug·gaḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hofal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5046 be conspicuous
Your father-in-law	חָמִ֛יךְ	ḥā·mîḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person feminine singular	H2524 husband's father
is going up	עֹלֶ֥ה	‘ō·leh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
to Timnah	תִמְנָ֖תָה	ṯim·nā·ṯāh	Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H8553 Timnah
to shear	לָגֹ֥ז	lā·ḡōz	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H1494 shear
his sheep	צֹאנֽוֹ׃	ṣō·nōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks

Genesis 38:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
she removed	וַתָּסַר֩	wat·tā·sar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H5493 turn aside
her	מֵֽעָלֶ֗יהָ	mê·‘ā·le·hā	Preposition-m; third person feminine singular	H5921 height
widow’s	אַלְמְנוּתָ֜הּ	’al·mə·nū·ṯāh	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H491 widowhood
garments	בִּגְדֵ֨י	biḡ·ḏê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H899 treachery
covered her face	וַתִּתְעַלָּ֔ף	wat·tiṯ·‘al·lāp̄	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H5968 cover
with a veil	בַּצָּעִיף֙	baṣ·ṣā·‘îp̄	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6809 wrapper, shawl, or veil
to disguise herself	וַתְּכַ֤ס	wat·tə·ḵas	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3680 cover
and sat	וַתֵּ֙שֶׁב֙	wat·tê·šeḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
at the entrance	בְּפֶ֣תַח	bə·p̄e·ṯaḥ	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H6607 opening, doorway, entrance
to Enaim	עֵינַ֔יִם	‘ê·na·yim	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H5879 Enajim, Enam
which	אֲשֶׁ֖ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
is on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the way	דֶּ֣רֶךְ	de·reḵ	Noun - common singular construct	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
to Timnah	תִּמְנָ֑תָה	tim·nā·ṯāh	Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H8553 Timnah
For	כִּ֤י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
she saw	רָאֲתָה֙	rā·’ă·ṯāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H7200 see
that	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
although Shelah	שֵׁלָ֔ה	šê·lāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7956 Shelah
had grown up	גָדַ֣ל	ḡā·ḏal	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1431 grow up, become great
she	וְהִ֕וא	wə·hi·w	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
had not	לֹֽא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
been given	נִתְּנָ֥ה	nit·tə·nāh	Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H5414 give, put, set
to him	ל֖וֹ	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
as a wife	לְאִשָּֽׁה׃	lə·’iš·šāh	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female

Genesis 38:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When Judah	יְהוּדָ֔ה	yə·hū·ḏāh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3063 Judah
saw her	וַיִּרְאֶ֣הָ	way·yir·’e·hā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H7200 see
he thought	וַֽיַּחְשְׁבֶ֖הָ	way·yaḥ·šə·ḇe·hā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H2803 think, account
she was a prostitute	לְזוֹנָ֑ה	lə·zō·w·nāh	Preposition-l; Noun - feminine singular	H2181 commit fornication, be a harlot
because	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
she had covered	כִסְּתָ֖ה	ḵis·sə·ṯāh	Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H3680 cover
her face	פָּנֶֽיהָ׃	pā·ne·hā	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person feminine singular	H6440 face, before

Genesis 38:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Not	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
realizing	יָדַ֔ע	yā·ḏa‘	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3045 know
that	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
she	הִ֑וא	hî	Pronoun - third person feminine singular	H1931 he, she
was his daughter-in-law	כַלָּת֖וֹ	ḵal·lā·ṯōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3618 daughter-in-law, bride
he went over	וַיֵּ֨ט	way·yêṭ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5186 stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
to her	אֵלֶ֜יהָ	’ê·le·hā	Preposition; third person feminine singular	H413 motion to
and said	וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Come	הָֽבָה־	hā·ḇāh-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H3051 give
now	נָּא֙	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
let me sleep with	אָב֣וֹא	’ā·ḇō·w	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
you	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
What	מַה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
will you give	תִּתֶּן־	tit·ten-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
me	לִּ֔י	lī	Preposition; first person common singular
for	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
sleeping with	תָב֖וֹא	ṯā·ḇō·w	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
you	אֵלַ֔יִךְ	’ê·la·yiḵ	Preposition; second person feminine singular	H413 motion to
she inquired	וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say

Genesis 38:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
I	אָנֹכִ֛י	’ā·nō·ḵî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H595 I
will send you	אֲשַׁלַּ֥ח	’ă·šal·laḥ	Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular	H7971 send
a young goat	גְּדִֽי־	gə·ḏî-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1423 kid
from	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
my flock	הַצֹּ֑אן	haṣ·ṣōn	Article; Noun - common singular	H6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
answered	וַיֹּ֕אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
But she replied	וַתֹּ֕אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
Only if	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
you leave me	תִּתֵּ֥ן	tit·tên	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H5414 give, put, set
something as a pledge	עֵרָב֖וֹן	‘ê·rā·ḇō·wn	Noun - masculine singular	H6162 pledge
until	עַ֥ד	‘aḏ	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
you send it	שָׁלְחֶֽךָ׃	šā·lə·ḥe·ḵā	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singular	H7971 send

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Genesis 38:12 Joshua 15:10 · 2 Samuel 13:39 · Judges 14:1 · Genesis 24:67

Genesis 38:14 Genesis 38:26

Genesis 38:17 Genesis 38:20 · Ezekiel 16:33

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.