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Genesis 38:17

15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.

16 Not 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.

“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.”

18 “What pledge should I give you?” he asked. She answered, “Your seal and your cord, and the staff in your hand.” So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.

19 Then Tamar got up and departed. And she removed her veil and put on her widow’s garments again.

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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
“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.”
KJV
And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?
WEB
He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?”
ASV
And he said, I will send thee a kid of the goats from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?
DARBY
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?
BLB
And he said, “I—I will send a kid of the goats from the flock.” And she said, “Only if you will give [me] a pledge until you send it.”
ÅB
Han svarte: Jeg vil sende deg et kje av min buskap. Da sa hun: Ja, dersom du vil gi meg et pant, til du sender meg det.
OTB
Han svarte: "Jeg vil sende deg en ung geit fra min flokk." Hun spurte: "Vil du gi meg et pant til du sender den?"
B1930
Han svarte: Jeg vil sende dig et kje av min buskap. Da sa hun: Ja, dersom du vil gi mig et pant, til du sender mig det.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 38:20

    Now when Judah sent his friend Hirah the Adullamite with the young goat to collect the items he had left with the woman, he could not find her.

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  • Ezekiel 16:33

    Men give gifts to all their prostitutes, but you gave gifts to all your lovers. You bribed them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors.

    Read in context

  • Luke 16:8

    The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light.

    Read in context

  • Proverbs 20:16

    Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 38:24–25

    About three months later, Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has prostituted herself, and now she is pregnant.” “Bring her out!” Judah replied. “Let her be burned to death!”

    Read in context