King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Tamar was told, "Your father-in-law has gone up to Timnah to shear his sheep."
Berean Standard Bible:
When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,”
American Standard Version:
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnah to shear his sheep.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And it was told{H5046} Tamar{H8559}, saying{H559}, Behold thy father in law{H2524} goeth up{H5927} to Timnath{H8553} to shear{H1494} his sheep{H6629}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 38:13
1. **Themes:**
- **Deception and Moral Complexity:** Genesis 38:13 is part of the story of Tamar, which is inserted into the larger narrative of Joseph's life. Tamar's father-in-law, Judah, fails to provide her with a levirate marriage (a custom where a widow is married to her brother-in-law to bear children for the deceased husband), leading Tamar to disguise herself as a prostitute to conceive a child with Judah. This verse highlights the deceptive actions Tamar must take due to the broken promises of her father-in-law.
- **Providence and God's Plan:** Despite the human intrigue and moral ambiguity, the story of Tamar ultimately serves a larger purpose in God's plan, as Tamar's actions lead to the birth of Perez, an ancestor of King David and, eventually, of Jesus (as mentioned in the genealogies of Matthew 1 and Luke 3).
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Cultural Practices:** The verse reflects the ancient Near Eastern customs of sheep shearing, a time of feasting and celebration, and also the practice of levirate marriage, which was intended to ensure the continuation of a man's lineage.
- **The Patriarchal Period:** This event likely takes place during the patriarchal period, when the ancestors of the Israelite nation were living as semi-nomadic herders in Canaan. This period is characterized by the lives of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob's sons, including Judah.
- **Moral Accountability:** The narrative shows that even within the lineage of the patriarchs, individuals were subject to moral failures and personal tragedies, yet God's purposes continued to unfold.
In summary, Genesis 38:13 is situated within a complex narrative that deals with themes of familial obligation, moral ambiguity, and divine providence, set against the backdrop of ancient Near Eastern cultural practices during the patriarchal period.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5046
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָגַד
Transliteration: nâgad
Pronunciation: naw-gad'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise; bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter. - Strong's Number: H8559
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תָּמָר
Transliteration: Tâmâr
Pronunciation: taw-mawr'
Description: the same as תָּמָר; Tamar, the name of three women and a place; Tamar. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H2524
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָם
Transliteration: châm
Pronunciation: khawm
Description: from the same as חוֹמָה; a father-in-law (as in affinity); father in law. - Strong's Number: H5927
There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָלָה
Transliteration: ʻâlâh
Pronunciation: aw-law'
Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. - Strong's Number: H8553
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תִּמְנָה
Transliteration: Timnâh
Pronunciation: tim-naw'
Description: from מָנָה; a portion assigned; Timnah, the name of two places in Palestine; Timnah, Timnath, Thimnathah. - Strong's Number: H1494
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גַּזָז
Transliteration: gazâz
Pronunciation: gaw-zaz'
Description: a primitive root (akin to גּוּז); to cut off; specifically to shear aflock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an enemy; cut off (down), poll, shave, (sheep-) shear(-er). - Strong's Number: H6629
There are 247 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צֹאן
Transliteration: tsôʼn
Pronunciation: tsone
Description: or צאוֹן; (Psalm 144:13), from an unused root meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men); (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds).