This introduces a new part of the story that focuses on Judah.
Hirah is the name of a man who lived in the village of Adullam.
Shua is a Canaanite woman who married Judah.
This is a polite way of saying that he had sexual relations with her.
"Judah's wife became pregnant"
"His father named him Er"
"named him"
Judah's son
Judah's son
This is the name of a place
"was wicked and Yahweh saw it"
"So Yahweh killed him"
This is a polite way of telling him to have sexual relations with his brother's wife
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.
"he destroyed his semen by having it flow on the ground" or "he did not send his semen into her"
"his oldest son's wife"
"and live in your father's house"
"and when Shelah, my son, grows up, he can marry you"
"For he feared, 'If he marries her he may also die like his brothers did"
"When Judah was no longer grieving, he"
This is the name of a place.
"His friend Hiram, from Adullam, went with him"
"Someone told Tamar"
"your husband's father"
This is the name of a place.
"that widows wear"
a very thin material used to cover a woman's head and face
"wrapped herself in her clothing so that people would not recognize her"
"Judah had not given her to Shelah as a wife"
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.
"because she had covered her head and sat where prostitutes often sat"
"He went to where she was sitting by the road"
"Please have sexual relations with me" or "Please lie with me"
"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.
"he caused her to become pregnant"
"clothing that widows wear."
"take back the pledge"
"from the woman"
"some of the men who lived there"
"prostitute who serves in the temple"
"or else people will laugh at us when they find out what happened"
This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story.
"someone told Judah"
"Tamar, your oldest son's wife"
"it has made her pregnant" or "she is pregnant"
"we will burn her to death"
"her husband's father"
This is a polite way of saying that Judah did not have sexual relations with her again.
This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story.
The word "behold" alerts us to the surprise that Tamar was carrying twins, which was previously unknown.
"one of the babies put out his hand"
This is a person who helps a woman when she is giving birth to a child.
"bright red thread"
"around his wrist"
The word "behold" here alerts us to pay attention to the surprising information that follows.
"So this is how you break your way out first!" or "You have burst out first!"
"she named him"
This is the name of a boy. Translators may add a footnote that says: "The name Perez means 'breaking out.'"
This is the name of a boy. Translators may add a footnote that says: "The name Zerah means 'scarlet or bright red.'"