1890 Darby's Translation of the Holy Scriptures (DBY)

Genesis 38

1 Judah begetteth Er, Onan, and Shelah. 6 Er marrieth Tamar. 8 The trespass of Onan. 11 Tamar stayeth for Shelah. 13 She deceiveth Judah. 27 She beareth twins, Pharez and Zarah.

 38:1 ¶ And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a man of Adullam whose name was Hirah.

 38:2 And Judah saw there the daughter of a Canaanitish man whose name was Shua; and he took her, and went in to her.

 38:3 And she conceived and bore a son; and he called his name Er.

 38:4 And she again conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.

 38:5 And again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah; and he was at Chezib when she bore him.

 38:6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

 38:7 And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Jehovah, and Jehovah slew him.

 38:8 Then Judah said to Onan, Go in to thy brother's wife, and fulfil to her the brother-in-law's duty, and raise up seed to thy brother.

 38:9 But when Onan knew that the seed should not be his own, it came to pass when he went in to his brother's wife, that he spilled [it] on the ground, in order to give no seed to his brother.

 38:10 And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and he slew him also.

 38:11 And Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow in thy father's house, until Shelah my son is grown; for he said, Lest he die also, as his brethren. And Tamar went and remained in her father's house.

 38:12 ¶ And as the days were multiplied, Judah's wife, the daughter of Shua, died. And Judah was comforted, and he went up to his sheep-shearers, to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

 38:13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.

 38:14 And she put the garments of her widowhood off from her, and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the entry of Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as wife.

 38:15 And Judah saw her, and took her for a harlot; because she had covered her face.

 38:16 And he turned aside to her by the way, and said, Come, I pray thee, let me go in to thee; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in to me?

 38:17 And he said, I will send [thee] a kid of the goats from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give [me] a pledge, until thou send it?

 38:18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy lace, and thy staff which is in thy hand. And he gave [it] her, and went in to her; and she conceived by him.

 38:19 And she arose and went away; and she laid by her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

 38:20 And Judah sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman's hand; but he found her not.

 38:21 And he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the prostitute that was at Enaim, by the way-side? And they said, There was no prostitute here.

 38:22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I have not found her; and also the men of the place said, No prostitute has been here.

 38:23 Then Judah said, Let her take [it] for herself, lest we be put to shame. Behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.

 38:24 ¶ And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law has committed fornication, and behold, she is also with child by fornication. And Judah said, Bring her forth, that she may be burned.

 38:25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, By the man to whom these [belong] am I with child; and she said, Acknowledge, I pray thee, whose are this signet, and this lace, and this staff.

 38:26 And Judah acknowledged [them], and said, She is more righteous than I, because I have not given her to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.

 38:27 ¶ And it came to pass at the time of her delivery, that behold, twins were in her womb.

 38:28 And it came to pass when she brought forth, that one stretched out [his] hand, and the midwife took it and bound round his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.

 38:29 And it came to pass as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out; and she said, How hast thou broken forth! on thee be the breach! And they called his name Pherez.

 38:30 And afterwards came out his brother, round whose hand was the scarlet thread; and they called his name Zerah.