Genesis 38:24

²² So Hirah returned to Judah and said, “I could not find her, and furthermore, the men of that place said, ‘No shrine prostitute has been here.’”

²³ “Let her keep the items,” Judah replied. “Otherwise we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you could not find her.”

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!”

²⁵ 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?”

²⁶ Judah recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again.

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: 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!”
KJV: And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
WEB: About three months later, Judah was told, “Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute. Moreover, behold, she is with child by prostitution.” Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.”
ASV: And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath played the harlot; and moreover, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
DARBY: And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law has committed fornication, and behold, she is also with child by fornication. And Judah said, Bring her forth, that she may be burned.
BLB: And it came to pass about three months [later], that it was told to Judah, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the prostitute, and also behold, she [is] pregnant by prostitution.” And Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned.”

ÅB: Så gikk det omkring tre måneder; da kom folk og sa til Juda: Tamar, din sønnekone, har drevet hor, og nå er hun også blitt fruktsommelig i hor. Og Juda sa: Før henne ut, hun skal brennes!
OTB: Omtrent tre måneder senere ble Juda informert: "Din svigerdatter Tamar har prostituert seg, og nå er hun gravid." Juda sa: "Før henne ut og la henne bli brent!"
B1930: Så gikk det omkring tre måneder; da kom folk og sa til Juda: Tamar, din sønnekone, har drevet hor, og nu er hun også blitt fruktsommelig i hor. Og Juda sa: Før henne ut, hun skal brennes!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Leviticus 21:9
If a priest’s daughter defiles herself by prostituting herself, she profanes her father; she must be burned in the fire.
Read in context
Judges 19:2
But she was unfaithful to him and left him to return to her father’s house in Bethlehem in Judah. After she had been there four months,
Read in context
Ezekiel 23:44
And they slept with her as with a prostitute; they slept with Oholah and Oholibah, those lewd women.
Read in context
Hosea 2:5
For their mother has played the harlot and has conceived them in disgrace. For she thought, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and linen, oil and drink.’
Read in context
Ezekiel 23:19
Yet she multiplied her promiscuity, remembering the days of her youth, when she had prostituted herself in the land of Egypt
Read in context
Ezekiel 23:5
Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors
Read in context
Ezekiel 16:28
Then you prostituted yourself with the Assyrians, because you were not yet satisfied. Even after that, you were still not satisfied.
Read in context
Jeremiah 3:6
Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there.
Read in context