1 And it came about at that time, that Judah 1Lit went downdeparted from his brothers and 2Lit turned aside tovisited a certain AJosh 15:35; 1 Sam 22:1Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was A1 Chr 2:3Shua; and he took her and went in to her. 3 So she conceived and bore a son and he named him AGen 46:12; Num 26:19Er. 4 Then she conceived again and bore a son and named him AGen 46:12Onan. 5 She bore still another son and named him ANum 26:20Shelah; and it was at Chezib 1Lit whenthat she bore him.

6 Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But AGen 46:12; Num 26:19; 1 Chr 2:3Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Loʀᴅ, so the Loʀᴅ took his life. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, “ADeut 25:5, 6; Matt 22:24Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up 1Lit seedoffspring for your brother.” 9 Onan knew that the 1Lit seedADeut 25:6offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife, he 2Lit spilled on the groundwasted his seed on the ground in order not to give 1Lit seedoffspring to his brother. 10 But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Loʀᴅ; so He AGen 46:12; Num 26:19took his life also. 11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “ARuth 1:12, 13Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”; for he 1Lit saidthought, “I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

12 Now 1Lit the days became many andafter a considerable time Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when 2Lit Judah was comforted, hethe time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at AJosh 15:10, 57Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 It was told to Tamar, “1Lit saying, BeholdBehold, your father-in-law is going up to AJosh 15:10, 57; Judg 14:1Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 So she 1Lit removed from herselfremoved her widow’s garments and AGen 24:65covered herself with a 2Or shawlveil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of 3In Josh 15:34, EnamEnaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and BGen 38:11, 26she had not been given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, for she had covered her face. 16 So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, “1Or Come, nowHere now, let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” 17 He said, therefore, “I will send you a 1Lit kid of goatsyoung goat from the flock.” She said, moreover, “Will you give a pledge until you send it?” 18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, “AGen 38:25; 41:42Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 Then she arose and departed, and 1Lit removed from herselfremoved her 2Or shawlveil and put on her widow’s garments.

20 When Judah sent the 1Lit kid of goats by the hand ofyoung goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her. 21 He asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no temple prostitute here.” 22 So he returned to Judah, and said, “I did not find her; and furthermore, the men of the place said, ‘There has been no temple prostitute here.’ ” 23 Then Judah said, “Let her 1Lit take for herselfkeep them, otherwise we will become a laughingstock. 2Lit BeholdAfter all, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her.”

24 Now it was about three months later that Judah was informed, “1Lit saying, YourYour daughter-in-law Tamar has played the harlot, and behold, she is also with child by harlotry.” Then Judah said, “Bring her out and ALev 21:9let her be burned!” 25 It was while she was being brought out that she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “I am with child by the man to whom these things belong.” And she said, “AGen 37:32Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?” 26 Judah recognized them, and said, “A1 Sam 24:17She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as BGen 38:14I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not 1Lit know her yet againhave relations with her again.

27 It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were AGen 25:24-26twins in her womb. 28 Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named 1I.e. a breachAGen 46:12; Ruth 4:12Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named 1I.e. a dawning or brightnessA1 Chr 2:4Zerah.