King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ 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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
About three months later Y'hudah was told, "Tamar your daughter-in-law has been acting like a whore; moreover, she is pregnant as a result of her prostitution."Y'hudah said, "Bring her out, and let her be burned alive!"
Berean Standard Bible:
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!”
American Standard Version:
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.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And it came to pass about three{H7969} months{H2320} after, that it was told{H5046} Judah{H3063}, saying{H559}, Tamar{H8559} thy daughter in law{H3618} hath played the harlot{H2181}; and also, behold, she is with child{H2030} by whoredom{H2183}. And Judah{H3063} said{H559}, Bring her forth{H3318}, and let her be burnt{H8313}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 21:9
- And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.
Ezekiel 23:5
- And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians [her] neighbours,
Judges 19:2
- And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.
Ezekiel 23:44
- Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.
Hosea 2:5
- For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give [me] my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.
Ezekiel 23:19
- Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
Jeremiah 3:6
- ¶ The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen [that] which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 38:24
1. Themes:
- Morality and Justice: The verse reflects the ancient societal norms and harsh penalties for sexual immorality, particularly adultery.
- Family Dynamics: The narrative involves complex family relationships, highlighting the tension between Judah's role as a patriarch and Tamar's actions.
- Providence and Redemption: Despite the seemingly dire circumstances, the story of Tamar and Judah ultimately leads to a significant lineage, as their union results in the birth of Perez, an ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ.
2. Historical Context:
- The setting is within the period of the patriarchs, where family lines and inheritance were of utmost importance.
- The law at the time dictated that a woman caught in adultery could be punished by death, often by stoning or burning.
- Judah's reaction is consistent with the legal and moral standards of the era, which demanded strict punishment for such transgressions to maintain social order and family honor.
- This narrative occurs during the time when the tribes of Israel were being established, and the incident leads to a turning point in Judah's life, marking his moral growth and foreshadowing his future leadership among his brothers.
In summary, Genesis 38:24 captures a moment of moral crisis within the family of Judah, reflecting the cultural and legal standards of the time regarding sexual conduct and family honor. It is part of a larger narrative that underscores themes of justice, redemption, and the providential guidance of the patriarchal lineage.
*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: H7969
There are 381 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלוֹשׁ
Transliteration: shâlôwsh
Pronunciation: shaw-loshe'
Description: or שָׁלֹשׁ; masculine שְׁלוֹשָׁה; or שְׁלֹשָׁה; a primitive number; three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice; [phrase] fork, [phrase] often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, [phrase] thrice. Compare שָׁלִישׁ. - Strong's Number: H2320
There are 224 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֹדֶשׁ
Transliteration: chôdesh
Pronunciation: kho'-desh
Description: from חָדַשׁ; the new moon; by implication, a month; month(-ly), new moon. - 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: H3063
There are 754 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהוּדָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhûwdâh
Pronunciation: yeh-hoo-daw'
Description: from יָדָה; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory; Judah. - 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: 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: H3618
There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כַּלָּה
Transliteration: kallâh
Pronunciation: kal-law'
Description: lemma כַּלָה missing dagesh, corrected to כַּלָּה; from כָּלַל; a bride (as if perfect); hence, a son's wife; bride, daughter-in-law, spouse. - Strong's Number: H2181
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָנָה
Transliteration: zânâh
Pronunciation: zaw-naw'
Description: a primitive root (highly-fed and therefore wanton); to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (the Jewish people being regarded as the spouse of Jehovah); (cause to) commit fornication, [idiom] continually, [idiom] great, (be an, play the) harlot, (cause to be, play the) whore, (commit, fall to) whoredom, (cause to) go a-whoring, whorish. - Strong's Number: H2030
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָרֶה
Transliteration: hâreh
Pronunciation: haw-reh'
Description: or הָרִי; (Hosea 14:1), from הָרָה; pregnant; (be, woman) with child, conceive, [idiom] great. - Strong's Number: H2183
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָנוּן
Transliteration: zânûwn
Pronunciation: zaw-noon'
Description: from זָנָה; adultery; figuratively, idolatry; whoredom. - Strong's Number: H3318
There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצָא
Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. - Strong's Number: H8313
There are 107 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂרַף
Transliteration: sâraph
Pronunciation: saw-raf'
Description: a primitive root; to be (causatively, set) on fire; (cause to, make a) burn((-ing), up) kindle, [idiom] utterly.