Genesis 38:19

KJV

And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

KJV (with Strong's)

And she arose {H6965}, and went away {H3212}, and laid by {H5493} her vail {H6809} from her, and put on {H3847} the garments {H899} of her widowhood {H491}.

Complete Jewish Bible

She got up and went away, took off her veil and put on her widow's clothes.

Berean Standard Bible

Then Tamar got up and departed. And she removed her veil and put on her widow’s garments again.

American Standard Version

And she arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 38:19 meticulously records Tamar's decisive actions immediately following her encounter with Judah, where she had conceived through a calculated deception. Having secured the pledge and achieved her immediate objective of ensuring lineage, she purposefully discards the disguise of the harlot's veil and resumes the customary attire of her widowhood, meticulously preparing for the inevitable revelation of her pregnancy and Judah's compelled acknowledgment of his responsibility.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 38:19 is a pivotal moment within the broader narrative of Judah and Tamar, a chapter that serves as an interlude in the Joseph narrative (Genesis 37, 39-50). This verse marks the conclusion of Tamar's strategic deception and her return to her established identity, setting the stage for the dramatic confrontation in [Genesis 38:24-26](/genesis/38-24-26 "Tamar's Accusation and Judah's Confession"). The preceding verses detail Tamar's plight as a twice-widowed woman whose levirate rights were denied by Judah, leading her to adopt the disguise of a harlot to conceive by him. Her actions in this verse signify the end of her pretense and the beginning of the process by which Judah's culpability and her own righteousness would be revealed.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The narrative of Judah and Tamar is deeply embedded in the patriarchal society of ancient Israel, where the continuation of the family line and the preservation of inheritance were paramount. The custom of levirate marriage, later codified in [Deuteronomy 25:5-10](/deuteronomy/25-5-10 "The Law of Levirate Marriage"), obligated a deceased man's brother (or nearest male kin) to marry his widow to produce an heir for the deceased. Judah's failure to give Shelah to Tamar, fearing his death, left her in a precarious and dishonorable position. Clothing, particularly veils, held significant cultural meaning, often indicating status, modesty, or, in this case, a deliberate disguise. A "harlot's veil" was a specific garment used to conceal identity and signal availability, while "garments of widowhood" clearly communicated social status and mourning. Tamar's deliberate change of attire was a calculated move, leveraging cultural norms to achieve her objective and ensure justice.
* **Key Themes:** This verse, and indeed the entire chapter, contributes to several significant themes within Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights the theme of **divine providence** working through imperfect human actions and even deception to achieve God's sovereign purposes, particularly in preserving the messianic line. The story also powerfully explores themes of **justice** and **lineage**, as Tamar's desperate actions are driven by a profound desire to secure her rightful place and ensure the continuation of her deceased husband's name, which was crucial for the Abrahamic covenant. Furthermore, it underscores the theme of **identity**—how it can be concealed and revealed, and how external appearances (clothing) can signify or misrepresent one's true status or intent, as seen in Tamar's strategic use of the veil and her return to her widow's garments.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Genesis 38:19 states, "And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood." This verse describes Tamar's immediate and deliberate actions following her encounter with Judah, where she had successfully secured a pledge from him and conceived.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **arose (Hebrew, _qûwm'_):** This primitive root signifies "to rise" or "to get up." In this context, it denotes Tamar's immediate and decisive action of standing up and taking leave after the encounter. It implies a swift and intentional departure, marking the completion of the first phase of her plan.
* **laid by (Hebrew, _çûwr'_):** Meaning "to turn off," "to remove," or "to lay away." This verb emphasizes the deliberate act of discarding or taking off her disguise. It's not a casual removal but a purposeful act of shedding the temporary identity she had assumed.
* **put on (Hebrew, _lâbash'_):** This primitive root means "to put on a garment" or "to clothe oneself." It signifies the intentional act of donning specific attire. In this instance, it highlights Tamar's conscious decision to revert to her established social identity, making her actions clear and preparing for the subsequent revelation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And she arose, and went away":** This clause indicates Tamar's immediate and purposeful departure from the scene of her encounter with Judah. Her mission accomplished, she does not linger but swiftly moves to the next phase of her plan. The phrase implies a decisive and unhesitating action, reflecting her determination.
* **"and laid by her vail from her":** This is a crucial action. The "vail" (Hebrew, _tsâʻîyph_) was not a standard garment of modesty but a specific covering used for her disguise as a harlot, designed to obscure her true identity. By "laying it by," Tamar symbolically and literally sheds her temporary, deceptive persona, signaling the end of her pretense, having achieved her immediate goal of conception.
* **"and put on the garments of her widowhood":** This final action marks her return to her authentic, recognized social status. These garments were the customary attire for a widow, likely conveying a simpler, perhaps somber, appearance that signified her state of mourning and her lack of a male protector. This deliberate change of attire was critical: it marked her return to her true identity, preparing the way for the eventual confrontation with Judah and the public revelation of his transgression and her pregnancy. The stark contrast between the harlot's garb and her widow's attire underscores the calculated nature of her actions and her intent to reclaim her dignity and rightful place.

#### Literary Devices
The verse makes effective use of **Symbolism** and **Contrast**. The "vail" **symbolizes** Tamar's temporary, deceptive identity as a harlot, a means to an end. Its removal **symbolizes** the end of her disguise and the beginning of her return to her true self and purpose. Conversely, the "garments of her widowhood" **symbolize** her rightful, if unfortunate, social status and her claim to justice within the family structure. The entire verse is built on a powerful **Contrast** between the two types of attire and the identities they represent: the harlot's disguise versus the widow's true status. This contrast highlights the calculated nature of Tamar's plan and the dramatic shift in her public presentation, which will ultimately lead to Judah's recognition of her righteousness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 38:19 is a profound moment in the unfolding drama of Judah and Tamar, highlighting God's sovereign hand at work even amidst human sin, deception, and moral ambiguity. Tamar's actions, though unconventional and morally complex, were driven by a deep-seated desire for justice and the continuation of the family line, a concern paramount in ancient Israelite society and central to the Abrahamic covenant. Her strategic change of attire signifies her transition from a state of hidden identity and calculated deception to a public declaration of her true status and the impending revelation of Judah's failure. This narrative powerfully demonstrates that God's overarching plan for the messianic lineage is not thwarted by human failings but can even incorporate them, ultimately ensuring the preservation of the covenant promises.

* [Deuteronomy 25:5-10](/deuteronomy/25-5-10 "The Law of Levirate Marriage") - This passage outlines the levirate marriage law, which Judah failed to uphold, providing the legal and cultural backdrop for Tamar's desperate actions.
* [Matthew 1:3](/matthew/1-3 "Tamar in the Genealogy of Jesus") - This New Testament verse explicitly includes Tamar in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, underscoring the divine purpose and significance of her actions in preserving the messianic line.
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "God Works for Good") - While not directly about Tamar, this verse reflects the broader theological principle that God works all things, even complex and challenging human circumstances, for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of Judah and Tamar, particularly Tamar's deliberate actions in [Genesis 38:19](/genesis/38-19 "Tamar's return to widowhood"), offers profound lessons on divine sovereignty, human responsibility, and the pursuit of justice. It reminds us that God's ultimate purposes can prevail even amidst human imperfections, deceptions, and challenging circumstances. The narrative underscores the critical importance of upholding one's responsibilities and promises, as Judah initially failed to do. While Tamar's methods were extreme and morally complex, her underlying pursuit was for justice and the continuation of a rightful lineage—a principle deeply valued within the covenant community. This story challenges readers to grapple with the complexities of justice, identity, and the mysterious ways God works within the messy realities of human history to fulfill His redemptive plan, prompting us to consider our own integrity and reliance on God's ultimate plan.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Tamar's determination to secure her lineage, despite extreme measures, challenge our understanding of justice and faithfulness in difficult circumstances?**
* **In what ways does this story demonstrate God's ability to work through flawed individuals and unconventional situations to achieve His purposes?**
* **How do the themes of identity and appearance in this verse relate to our own lives and how we present ourselves to the world?**
* **What responsibilities or promises might we be neglecting, and how does Judah's eventual acknowledgment of Tamar's righteousness challenge us to act with integrity?**

### FAQ
**What was the significance of Tamar's change of clothes in Genesis 38:19?**

Answer: Tamar's change of attire in [Genesis 38:19](/genesis/38-19 "Tamar's change of clothes") was profoundly significant, serving both practical and symbolic purposes within her meticulously planned strategy. Removing her "vail" (Hebrew, _tsâʻîyph_), which was specifically used for her disguise as a harlot, marked the definitive end of her pretense. This action signaled that she had successfully achieved her immediate goal of conceiving by Judah and no longer needed to conceal her true identity. By subsequently "put[ting] on the garments of her widowhood," Tamar deliberately returned to her recognized social status. This was a crucial step in her plan to expose Judah's neglect of his levirate duty and to claim her rightful place and lineage within the family. The stark contrast between the harlot's disguise and her widow's attire was a calculated move, preparing the way for the public revelation of her pregnancy and Judah's subsequent acknowledgment of her righteousness, as seen later in [Genesis 38:26](/genesis/38-26 "Judah's Confession").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Judah and Tamar, culminating in the birth of Perez and Zerah, stands as a remarkable testament to God's unwavering faithfulness in preserving the messianic lineage, even amidst significant human moral failings and unconventional circumstances. Tamar's determination to secure a rightful heir, though achieved through deceptive means, ultimately contributed to the very line from which King David would descend, and ultimately, Jesus Christ, as explicitly stated in [Matthew 1:3](/matthew/1-3 "Tamar in the Genealogy of Jesus"). This story powerfully underscores that God's redemptive plan is not thwarted by human sin or complexity, but rather, He sovereignly works through imperfect individuals and situations to bring about His perfect will. The inclusion of Tamar, a Gentile woman, and her morally ambiguous actions within the lineage of Christ, as also seen with Rahab ([Matthew 1:5](/matthew/1-5 "Rahab in the Genealogy of Jesus")) and Ruth ([Matthew 1:5](/matthew/1-5 "Ruth in the Genealogy of Jesus")), foreshadows the expansive and inclusive nature of God's grace, extending salvation to all peoples. Ultimately, Christ is the fulfillment of the covenant promises, the one who perfectly embodies justice and righteousness, and through whom all the families of the earth are blessed ([Genesis 12:3](/genesis/12-3 "Abrahamic Covenant - Blessing All Nations")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 38:14

And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which [is] by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

2 Samuel 14:2

And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

2 Samuel 14:5

And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I [am] indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.