Bible Commentaries
Genesis 38

Introduction

Overview

Genesis 38:1, Judah begets Er, Onan, and Shelah; Genesis 38:6, Er’s marriage with Tamar, and death; Genesis 38:8, The trespass of Onan; Genesis 38:11, Tamar is reserved for Shelah; Genesis 38:12, Judah’s wife dies; Genesis 38:13, Tamar deceives Judah; Genesis 38:27, She bears twins, Pharez and Zarah.

Verse 1

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it came: As there cannot be above 23 years from the selling of Joseph, unto Israel's going down into Egypt; and as it is impossible that Judah should take a wife, and by her have three sons successively, and Shelah, the youngest, marriageable when Judah begat Pharez of Tamar, and Pharez be grown up, married, and have two sons, all within so short a period; Mr. Ainsworth conceives that the time here spoken of is soon after Jacob's coming to Shechem - Genesis 33:1. We have accordingly adapted the chronology to correspond with that time.

turned: Genesis 19:2, Genesis 19:3, Judges 4:18, 2 Kings 4:8, Proverbs 9:6, Proverbs 13:20

Adullamite: An inhabitant of Adullam, a city of Canaan, afterwards given to Judah, situated in the southern part of that tribe, west of Hebron. Joshua 12:15, Joshua 15:35, 1 Samuel 22:1, 2 Samuel 23:13, Micah 1:15

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:35 - called Genesis 38:12 - Timnath Genesis 46:12 - Judah Numbers 26:19 - Er and Onan 2 Samuel 13:3 - a friend

Verse 2

saw: Genesis 3:6, Genesis 6:2, Genesis 24:3, Genesis 34:2, Judges 14:2, Judges 16:1, 2 Samuel 11:2, 2 Corinthians 6:14

Shuah: Genesis 46:12, 1 Chronicles 2:3, Shua

took: Genesis 6:4, Genesis 24:3

Verse 3

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Er: Genesis 46:12, Numbers 26:19

Verse 4

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Onan: Genesis 46:12, Numbers 26:19

Verse 5

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Shelah: Genesis 38:11, Genesis 38:26, Genesis 46:12, Numbers 26:20, 1 Chronicles 4:21

Chezib: Chezib is said, by Eusebius and Jerome, to have been situated near Adullam, and to be then uninhabited.

Reciprocal: Joshua 15:44 - Achzib Joshua 19:29 - Achzib Nehemiah 11:5 - Shiloni

Verse 6

took: Genesis 21:21, Genesis 24:3

Tamar: Matthew 1:3

Reciprocal: Judges 14:2 - get her

Verse 7

Er: Genesis 46:12, Numbers 26:19

wicked: Genesis 6:8, Genesis 13:13, Genesis 19:13, 2 Chronicles 33:6

and the: 1 Chronicles 2:3, Psalms 55:23

Reciprocal: Judges 2:11 - did evil 2 Kings 14:24 - in the sight Job 36:14 - They die Psalms 51:4 - evil Ecclesiastes 7:17 - why Romans 5:13 - until

Verse 8

am 2282, bc 1722, Leviticus 18:16, Numbers 36:8, Numbers 36:9, Deuteronomy 25:5-10, Ruth 1:11, Ruth 4:5-11, Matthew 22:23-27

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:31 - to come Deuteronomy 25:9 - So shall Matthew 22:24 - Moses Mark 12:19 - If Luke 20:28 - General

Verse 9

he is, Deuteronomy 25:6, Ruth 1:11, Ruth 4:10

lest that: Job 5:2, Proverbs 27:4, Titus 3:3, James 3:14, James 3:16, James 4:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:31 - to come Deuteronomy 25:5 - husband's brother

Verse 10

displeased: Heb. was evil in the eyes of, Numbers 11:1, Numbers 22:34, 2 Samuel 11:27, 1 Chronicles 21:7, Proverbs 14:32, Proverbs 24:18, Jeremiah 44:4, Haggai 1:13

him also: Genesis 46:12, Numbers 26:19

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:17 - displeased him Isaiah 59:15 - displeased him Romans 5:13 - until

Verse 11

till Shelah: Ruth 1:11, Ruth 1:13

in her: Leviticus 22:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 38:5 - Shelah Genesis 38:14 - that Shelah Exodus 21:9 - betrothed her unto Numbers 26:20 - Shelah Ezekiel 16:38 - as women Matthew 1:3 - Thamar Matthew 22:24 - Moses Luke 20:28 - General

Verse 12

in process of time: Heb. the days were multiplied, comforted. Genesis 24:67, 2 Samuel 13:39, sheep shearers, Genesis 31:19, 1 Samuel 25:4-8, 1 Samuel 25:36, 2 Samuel 13:23-29

Timnath: Timnath is, in all probability, that in the border of Judah, between Jerusalem and Diospolis, given to Dan, and mentioned in the history of Samson as belonging to the Philistines. Genesis 38:1, Joshua 15:10, Joshua 15:35, Joshua 15:37, Timnah, Joshua 19:43, Thimnathah, Judges 14:1

Reciprocal: Genesis 38:14 - Timnath Joshua 15:57 - Timnah

Verse 13

Reciprocal: Genesis 38:14 - Timnath Joshua 15:10 - Timnah Judges 14:1 - Timnath 1 Samuel 25:2 - shearing 1 Samuel 25:4 - did shear 2 Samuel 13:23 - sheepshearers 1 Chronicles 2:4 - Tamar

Verse 14

and sat: Proverbs 7:12, Jeremiah 3:2, Ezekiel 16:25

an open place: Heb. the door of eyes, or of Enajim, Some think ainayim means "the two fountains," or "double fountain;" while others regard it as a proper name, and the same as Enaim, a city of Judah - Joshua 15:34. So the LXX render it Enan.

Timnath: Genesis 38:12, Genesis 38:13

that Shelah: Genesis 38:11, Genesis 38:26

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:31 - to come Genesis 29:23 - brought her Genesis 38:19 - laid by her veil Genesis 38:21 - openly by the way side Numbers 26:20 - Shelah Judges 15:2 - I gave Job 24:15 - disguiseth his face Proverbs 7:10 - the attire

Verse 15

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:23 - brought her Job 24:15 - disguiseth his face Proverbs 7:10 - the attire 1 Corinthians 6:16 - an harlot

Verse 16

Go to: 2 Samuel 13:11

What wilt: Deuteronomy 23:18, Ezekiel 16:33, Matthew 26:15, 1 Timothy 6:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:21 - go in Genesis 44:7 - General Leviticus 20:12 - lie Judges 16:1 - and went 2 Samuel 16:21 - Go in

Verse 17

I will: Ezekiel 16:33

a kid: Heb. a kid of the goats

Wilt thou: Genesis 38:20, Genesis 38:24, Genesis 38:25, Proverbs 20:16, Luke 16:8

Reciprocal: Judges 15:1 - a kid

Verse 18

Thy signet: Chothem, or chothemeth, as in Genesis 38:25, is properly a ring-seal, with which impressions were made to ascertain property, etc. From Jeremiah 22:24, we find that it was worn on the hand; though it might also have been suspended from the neck by a ribband, as the Arabs still wear it. Genesis 38:25-26; Jeremiah 22:24; Luke 15:22

bracelets: Pathil, from pathal, to twist, wreathe, may denote either a wreath for the arm or neck, a twisted collar, or bracelet. In the former sense the LXX render it by ןסליףךןם, and Aquila and Symmachus by ףפסונפןם; and in the latter sense, the Vulgate renders it by armillam. It may have been a collar by which the signet was suspended; though its being used in the plural seems to favour the opinion of its being a bracelet.

gave it her: Genesis 38:25, Genesis 38:26, Hosea 4:11

Reciprocal: Leviticus 18:15 - General Leviticus 20:12 - lie 2 Samuel 11:6 - Send me Isaiah 3:19 - the bracelets

Verse 19

laid by her veil: Genesis 38:14, 2 Samuel 14:2, 2 Samuel 14:5

Reciprocal: Leviticus 18:15 - General

Verse 20

his friend: Genesis 20:9, Leviticus 19:17, Judges 14:20, 2 Samuel 13:3, Luke 23:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 38:17 - Wilt thou

Verse 21

openly by the way side: or, in Enajim, Genesis 38:14

Reciprocal: Ezekiel 16:25 - at every

Verse 23

lest we: 2 Samuel 12:9, Proverbs 6:33, Romans 6:21, 2 Corinthians 4:2, Ephesians 5:12, Revelation 16:15

be shamed: Heb. become a contempt

Reciprocal: Proverbs 5:9 - General

Verse 24

played the harlot: Genesis 34:31, Judges 19:2, Ecclesiastes 7:26, Jeremiah 2:20, Jeremiah 3:1, Jeremiah 3:6, Jeremiah 3:8, Ezekiel 16:15, Ezekiel 16:28, Ezekiel 16:41, Ezekiel 23:5, Ezekiel 23:19, Ezekiel 23:44, Hosea 2:5, Hosea 3:3, Hosea 4:15

let her: Genesis 20:3, Genesis 20:7, Genesis 20:9, Leviticus 20:10, Leviticus 21:9, Deuteronomy 22:21-27, Deuteronomy 24:16, 2 Samuel 12:5, 2 Samuel 12:7, Jeremiah 29:22, Jeremiah 29:23, Matthew 7:1-5, Romans 2:1, Romans 2:2, Romans 14:22

Reciprocal: Genesis 38:17 - Wilt thou Genesis 46:12 - Judah Joshua 2:3 - Bring Joshua 7:25 - burned 1 Samuel 14:44 - thou shalt Job 31:11 - an iniquity Ezekiel 16:38 - as women Matthew 1:3 - Thamar Matthew 1:19 - a public 1 Corinthians 6:16 - an harlot

Verse 25

Discern: Genesis 38:18, Genesis 37:32, Psalms 50:21, Jeremiah 2:26, Romans 2:16, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Revelation 20:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 38:17 - Wilt thou Isaiah 3:19 - the bracelets

Verse 26

acknowledged: Genesis 37:33

She hath: 1 Samuel 24:17, 2 Samuel 24:17, Ezekiel 16:52, Habakkuk 1:13, John 8:9, Romans 3:19

more righteous: Not less to blame, but more righteous, because. Genesis 38:14

And he knew: Genesis 4:1, 2 Samuel 16:22, 2 Samuel 20:3, Job 4:5, Job 34:31, Job 34:32, Job 40:5, Matthew 3:8, Romans 13:12, Titus 2:11, Titus 2:12, 1 Peter 4:2, 1 Peter 4:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 38:5 - Shelah Genesis 38:18 - Thy signet Leviticus 13:23 - General Leviticus 18:15 - General Numbers 26:20 - Shelah Luke 20:28 - General

Verse 27

Reciprocal: Numbers 26:20 - Pharez Matthew 1:3 - Judas

Verse 28

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:26 - And after

Verse 29

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How hast: etc. or, Wherefore hast thou made this breach against thee

his name: Genesis 46:12, Numbers 26:20, 1 Chronicles 2:4, 1 Chronicles 9:4, Nehemiah 11:4, Nehemiah 11:6, Perez, Matthew 1:3, Luke 3:33, Phares

Pharez: i.e. a breach.

Reciprocal: Ruth 4:12 - whom 1 Chronicles 4:1 - Pharez 1 Chronicles 27:3 - Perez

Verse 30

Zarah: 1 Chronicles 9:6, Zerah, Matthew 1:3, Zara

Reciprocal: Numbers 26:20 - Zerah Joshua 7:17 - General Nehemiah 11:24 - Zerah