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Genesis 38:18

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.

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.”

“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.

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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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
“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.
KJV
And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
WEB
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.
ASV
And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet and thy cord, and thy staff that is in thy hand. And he gave them to her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
DARBY
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.
BLB
And he said, “What [is] the pledge that I shall give to you?” And she said, “Your seal, and your cord, and your staff that [is] in your hand.” And he gave [them] to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.
ÅB
Han sa: Hva skal jeg gi deg til pant? Hun svarte: Ditt signet og din snor og staven som du har i hånden. Det gav han henne og gikk så inn til henne, og hun ble fruktsommelig med ham.
OTB
Han sa: "Hva pant skal jeg gi deg?" Hun svarte: "Din signetring og dens snor, og staven i din hånd." Så ga han dem til henne og hadde samkvem med henne, og hun ble gravid med ham.
B1930
Han sa: Hvad skal jeg gi dig til pant? Hun svarte: Ditt signet og din snor og staven som du har i hånden. Det gav han henne og gikk så inn til henne, og hun blev fruktsommelig med ham.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 38:25–26

    As she was being brought out, Tamar sent a message to her father-in-law: “I am pregnant by the man to whom these items belong.” And she added, “Please examine them. Whose seal and cord and staff are these?”

    Read in context

  • Luke 15:22

    But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 22:24

    “As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “even if you, Coniah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on My right hand, I would pull you off.

    Read in context

  • Hosea 4:11

    Promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away understanding.

    Read in context