Genesis 38:11
9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not belong to him; so whenever he would sleep with his brother’s wife, he would spill his seed on the ground so that he would not produce offspring for his brother.
10 What he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, so He put Onan to death as well.
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.
12 After 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.
13 When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,”
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- 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.
- ASV
- Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow in thy father`s house, till Shelah my son be grown up; for he said, Lest he also die, like his brethren. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father`s house.
- DARBY
- 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.
- BLB
- And Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in the house of your father until Shelah my son is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in the house of her father.
- ÅB
- Da sa Juda til Tamar, sin sønnekone: Bo som enke i din fars hus, til Sela, min sønn, er blitt voksen! For han tenkte: Ellers kommer også han til å dø, som hans brødre. Så dro Tamar hjem og bodde i sin fars hus.
- OTB
- Da sa Juda til sin svigerdatter Tamar: "Bli boende som enke i din fars hus til min sønn Sela vokser opp." For han tenkte: "Han kan også dø, som sine brødre." Så Tamar dro og bodde i sin fars hus.
- B1930
- Da sa Juda til Tamar, sin sønnekone: Bo som enke i din fars hus, til Sela, min sønn, er blitt voksen! For han tenkte: Ellers kommer også han til å dø, som hans brødre. Så drog Tamar hjem og bodde i sin fars hus.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Leviticus 22:13
But if a priest’s daughter with no children becomes widowed or divorced and returns to her father’s house, she may share her father’s food as in her youth. But no outsider may share it.
Read in contextRuth 1:11–13
But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?
Read in context