Genesis 38:18

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

He answered, "What should I give you as a guarantee?" She said, "Your seal, with its cord, and the staff you're carrying in your hand." So he gave them to her, then went and slept with her; and she conceived by him.

Berean Standard Bible:

“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.

American Standard Version:

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.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he said^{H559}, What^{H834} pledge^{H6162} shall I give^{H5414} thee? And she said^{H559}, Thy signet^{H2368}, and thy bracelets^{H6616}, and thy staff^{H4294} that is in thine hand^{H3027}. And he gave^{H5414} it her, and came in^{H935} unto her, and she conceived^{H2029} by him.

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Commentary for Genesis 38:18

1. **Themes:**
- **Deception and Consequences:** The verse reflects the theme of deception, as Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute to engage with Judah, who does not recognize her as his daughter-in-law. The act of deception leads to consequences that are significant within the family line.
- **Righteousness and Justice:** Tamar's actions can be seen as a means to achieve justice and fulfillment of the levirate marriage obligation, which was a cultural norm to ensure the continuation of a deceased brother's lineage.
- **Family Dynamics and Responsibility:** The narrative highlights the complexities of family relationships and the importance of fulfilling family responsibilities, even when it requires unconventional actions.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Levirate Marriage:** The practice of levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) was a custom where a widow could bear children with her deceased husband's brother to continue the family line. Judah's sons had died, and he had not given his third son, Shelah, to Tamar in marriage as promised.
- **Cultural Artifacts:** The signet, bracelets, and staff were personal items of significant value and identification in ancient Near Eastern culture. They served as a form of security or collateral in transactions and could be used to identify the owner's authority and personal guarantee.
- **The Patriarchal Period:** Genesis 38 is set during the patriarchal period, when the ancestors of the Israelite people were establishing family lines and customs that would shape their societal norms and religious practices.

In summary, Genesis 38:18 is part of a narrative that deals with themes of deception, justice, and family duty within the context of ancient Near Eastern customs, specifically the practice of levirate marriage. Tamar's interaction with Judah, where she requests his signet, bracelets, and staff as pledges, underscores the importance of these cultural items and sets the stage for the resolution of the story, which has implications for the lineage of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H834
   There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲשֶׁר
   Transliteration: ʼăsher
   Pronunciation: ash-er'
   Description: a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.; [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6162
   There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֲרָבוֹן
   Transliteration: ʻărâbôwn
   Pronunciation: ar-aw-bone'
   Description: from עָרַב (in the sense of exchange); a pawn (given as security); pledge.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2368
   There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חוֹתָם
   Transliteration: chôwthâm
   Pronunciation: kho-thawm'
   Description: or חֹתָם; from חָתַם; a signature-ring; seal, signet.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6616
   There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּתִיל
   Transliteration: pâthîyl
   Pronunciation: paw-theel'
   Description: from פָּתַל; twine; bound, bracelet, lace, line, ribband, thread, wire.
   
7. Strong's Number: H4294
   There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַטֶּה
   Transliteration: maṭṭeh
   Pronunciation: mat-teh'
   Description: or (feminine) מַטָּה; from נָטָה; a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread); rod, staff, tribe.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
9. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
10. Strong's Number: H2029
    There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: הָרָה
    Transliteration: hârâh
    Pronunciation: haw-raw'
    Description: a primitive root; to be (or become) pregnant, conceive (literally or figuratively); been, be with child, conceive, progenitor.