Genesis 38:11
9 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 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.
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 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 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath 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 the priest’s daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and is returned unto her father’s house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father’s meat: but there shall no stranger eat thereof.
Read in contextRuth 1:11–13
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
Read in context