This chapter focuses on Jacob's son Judah.
Onan was to provide for his brother's widow and give her an heir. This phrase indicates that he used Tamar to fulfill his own sexual desires rather than help her. This was sinful. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-euphemism and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#sin)
The Canaanite woman, Tamar, deceived her father-in-law, Judah, into having sexual relations with her. If it had not been for this act, Judah would not have any descendants to carry on his family line. Although her actions were wrong, God used them to protect his people. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#peopleofgod)
This introduces a new part of the story that focuses on Judah. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#writing-newevent)
Hirah is the name of a man who lived in the village of Adullam. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
Shua is a Canaanite woman who married Judah. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
This is a euphemism. Alternate translation: "he had sexual relations with her" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-euphemism)
"Judah's wife became pregnant"
This can be written in active form. Alternate translation: "His father named him Er" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)
Judah's son (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
"named him"
Judah's son (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
Judah's son (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
This is the name of a place. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
This is the name of one of Judah's sons. See how you translated this name in Genesis 38:3. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
The phrase "in the sight" refers to Yahweh seeing Er's wickedness. Alternate translation: "was wicked and Yahweh saw it" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-idiom)
Yahweh killed him because he was wicked. This can be made clear. Alternate translation: "So Yahweh killed him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)
This is the name of one of Judah's sons. See how you translated this name in Genesis 38:4. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
This is a euphemism. Alternate translation: "Have sexual relations with your brother's wife" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-euphemism)
This refers to a custom that when the oldest brother dies before he and his wife have a son, the next oldest brother would marry and have sexual relations with the widow. When the widow gave birth to the first son, that son was considered the son of the oldest brother and he would receive the oldest brother's inheritance.
This is a euphemism. Alternate translation: "he had sexual relations with" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-euphemism)
The phrase "in the sight" refers to Yahweh seeing Onan's wickedness. Alternate translation: "was evil and Yahweh saw it" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-idiom)
Yahweh killed him because what he did was evil. This can be made clear. Alternate translation: "So Yahweh killed him also" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)
"his oldest son's wife"
This means her to live in here father's house. Alternate translation: "and live in your father's house" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)
Judah intends for Tamar to marry Shelah when he grows up. Alternate translation: "and when Shelah, my son, grows up, he can marry you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)
This is the name of one of Judah's sons. See how you translated this name in Genesis 38:5. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
Judah feared that if Shelah married Tamar he would also die like his brothers did. Alternate translation: "For he feared, 'If he marries her he may also die like his brothers did" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)
This is the name of a man. See how you translated this name in Genesis 38:2. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
"When Judah was no longer grieving, he"
"Timnah, where his men were shearing sheep"
This is the name of a place. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
"His friend Hiram, from Adullam, went with him"
"Hiram" is the name of a man, and "Adullam" is the name of a village where he lived. See how you translated this name in Genesis 38:1. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Someone told Tamar" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)
"Listen." Here the word "look" is used to get Tamar attention.
"your husband's father"
This is the name of a place. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
"that widows wear"
a very thin material used to cover a woman's head and face
This means that she hid herself with her clothing so that people would not recognize her. Traditionally, part of women's clothing were large pieces of cloth they wrapped themselves with. Alternate translation: "wrapped herself in her clothing so that people would not recognize her" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)
"along the road" or "on the way"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Judah had not given her to Shelah as a wife" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)
The word "her" here refers to Tamar, but your reader should understand that Judah did not know that the woman he was looking at was Tamar.
Judah did not think she was a prostitute just because her face was covered but also because she was sitting in the gate. Alternate translation: "because she had covered her head and sat where prostitutes often sat" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)
Tamar was sitting by the road. Alternate translation: "He went to where she was sitting by the road" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)
"Come with me, please" or "Come now, please"
"from my flock of goats"
A "seal" is similar to a coin with a design engraved on it, used to imprint melted wax. The "cord" was put through the seal so the owner could wear it around his neck. A staff was long wooden stick that helped in walking over rough ground.
This is a euphemism. Alternate translation: "he had sexual relations with her" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-euphemism)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he caused her to become pregnant" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)
This was a very thin material used to cover a woman's head and face. See how you translated these in Genesis 38:14.
"clothing that widows wear." See how you translated these in Genesis 38:14.
a person who lives in the village of Adullam. See how you translated this in Genesis 38:1. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "take back the pledge"(See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)
Here "hand" emphasizes that they were in here possession. The woman's hand refers to the woman. Alternate translation: "from the woman" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-synecdoche)
a person who lives in the village of Adullam. See how you translated this in Genesis 38:1. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
"some of the men who lived there"
"prostitute who serves in the temple"
This is the name of a place. See how you translated this in Genesis 38:14. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
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When people found out what had happened they would ridicule Judah and laugh at him. This can be made clear and stated in active form. Alternate translation: "or else people will laugh at us when they find out what happened" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)
This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#writing-newevent)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "someone told Judah" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)
"Tamar, your oldest son's wife"
Here the word "it" refers to the "prostitution" that she committed. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "it has made her pregnant" or "she is pregnant" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)
"Bring her out"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "we will burn her to death" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "When they brought her out" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)
"her husband's father"
A "seal" is similar to a coin with a design engraved on it, used to make an impression in melted wax. The "cord" was put through the seal so the owner could wear it around his neck. A staff was long wooden stick that helped in walking over rough ground. See how you translated this in Genesis 38:18.
This is the name of one of Judah's sons. See how you translated this name in Genesis 38:5. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
This is a euphemism. Alternate translation: "did not have sexual relations with her again" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-euphemism)
This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#writing-newevent)
The word "behold" alerts us to the surprise that Tamar was carrying twins, which was previously unknown.
This phrase "It came about" marks an important event in the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.
"one of the babies put out his hand"
This is a person who helps a woman when she is giving birth to a child. See how you translated this in Genesis 35:17.
"bright red thread"
"around his wrist"
The word "behold" here alerts us to pay attention to the surprising information that follows.
This shows the midwife's surprise to seeing the second baby come out first. Alternate translation: "So this is how you break your way out first!" or "You have burst out first!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-explicit)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "she named him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#figs-activepassive)
This is the name of a boy. Translators may add a footnote that says: "The name Perez means 'breaking out.'" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)
This is the name of a boy. Translators may add a footnote that says: "The name Zerah means 'scarlet or bright red.'" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=translate#translate-names)