Meaning of Genesis 38
Genesis 38 is a chapter from the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible. This chapter primarily focuses on the story of Judah and Tamar.
In this chapter, Judah, who is one of the twelve sons of Jacob, marries a Canaanite woman named Shua and has three sons with her: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er, the eldest, marries a woman named Tamar but dies due to his wickedness.
Judah then instructs Onan to marry Tamar (following the levirate marriage tradition) and produce offspring for his deceased brother. Onan refuses to do this and spills his semen on the ground, which was considered a grave sin in the sight of God. Consequently, Onan is slain by God for his disobedience.
Fearful of losing his only remaining son, Shelah, Judah promises Tamar that she can marry Shelah when he’s grown but fails to follow through on his promise. Tamar, realizing this, takes matters into her own hands to secure her future.
She disguises herself as a prostitute and sleeps with Judah (who does not recognize her). She becomes pregnant with twins and uses Judah’s personal items (which he’d given to her as a pledge for payment) to prove that he is the father.
Once revealed, Judah acknowledges that he had not fulfilled his promise of giving Shelah to Tamar, effectively admitting that he was in the wrong, not Tamar. Eventually, Tamar gives birth to twins, Perez and Zerah, who become important in the genealogy of King David and Jesus Christ.
So, the main themes of Genesis 38 include deceit, justice, and God’s providence despite human failure.
Genesis 38 kjv
Genesis 38 is a chapter from the Old Testament of the Bible in the King James Version. This chapter focuses on Judah, one of Jacob’s 12 sons, and his offspring.
Here’s a brief summary of the chapter:
At the start of Genesis 38, Judah departs from his brothers and marries a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua. They have three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah finds a wife for his first son, Er, named Tamar. However, Er was seen as wicked in the sight of the Lord, so he was taken by death by God.
As it was the custom of the time, the brother of the deceased was encouraged to marry the widow to raise offspring on behalf of his dead brother. Thus, Onan was expected to marry Tamar. However, Onan knew that offspring would not be considered his, so whenever he slept with Tamar, he spilled his semen on the ground to avoid providing offspring for his brother. This was displeasing to the Lord, leading to Onan’s death as well.
After Onan’s death, Judah promises Tamar that she can marry his other son, Shelah, when he grows up, and sends her back to her father’s house. However, when Shelah grows up, Judah does not keep his promise.
Later on, Judah’s wife dies, and after he finishes mourning, he heads to Timnah to shear his sheep. Tamar hears of this, removes her widow’s garments, covers herself with a veil and wraps herself, and sits in an open place on the way to Timnah. Judah, not recognizing her, thinks she is a prostitute due to the veil. He approaches her to sleep with him, giving her his signet, bracelets, and staff as a pledge until he could send her a young goat as payment – not knowing that she is his daughter-in-law. Tamar becomes pregnant by him.
Three months later, when it becomes evident that Tamar is pregnant, Judah is ready to have her burned for prostitution. But she sends the signet, bracelets, and staff to him saying the man who owns these made her pregnant. Realizing his mistake, Judah acknowledges that he was wrong for not giving Shelah to her.
Tamar eventually gives birth to twin sons, Perez and Zerah. This story introduces Perez, who becomes the ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ, establishing the genealogy that connects Jesus Christ to the lineage of David and Abraham.
Genesis 38 nkjv
Genesis Chapter 38 in the New King James Version (NKJV) is a part of the Old Testament, often considered a departure from the central narrative of the life of Joseph. Here’s a brief explanation of the chapter:
At the beginning of Genesis 38, Juda, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, leaves his family and marries a Canaanite woman named Shua. With her, he has three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah.
The eldest son, Er, gets married to a woman named Tamar, but due to his wickedness in God’s sight, he dies. Following custom, Onan, the second son, must marry his widowed sister-in-law Tamar and father a child with her, to keep Er’s line alive. However, Onan does not want his offspring to belong to his deceased brother and deliberately wastes his seed on the ground during intercourse to prevent Tamar from bearing a child. This act was also seen as wickedness by God, and consequently, Onan also dies.
Judah then asks Tamar, his daughter-in-law, to live as a widow in her father’s house until Shelah, his youngest son, has grown up. However, he was apprehensive that Shelah might also die like his brothers.
Years pass, Judah’s wife dies, and Shelah grows up, but Tamar is not given to him in marriage. In an attempt to seek justice, Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute and seduces Judah without him knowing her true identity. She claims his seal, cord, and staff as a pledge for his payment.
When Judah learns that his daughter-in-law Tamar is pregnant, he orders her to be burned for harlotry. Tamar then sends him his seal, cord, and staff, and Judah acknowledges them alongside his wrongdoings, saying that Tamar was more righteous than he was since he did not give her to his son Shelah as he had promised.
Tamar later gives birth to twin boys: Perez and Zerah. The birth is notable as Zerah’s hand appeared first, and a scarlet thread was tied around his wrist. But Perez was born first, pushing his brother back.
The chapter ends with these birth circumstances. The narration in Genesis 38 sets the stage as Perez would become an ancestor of King David and consequently, Jesus Christ. Thus, it’s an integral part of the biblical genealogy.
Genesis 38 niv
Genesis 38 NIV is a chapter from the Old Testament of the Bible that discusses the story of Judah and Tamar.
In the beginning of the chapter, Judah, the son of Jacob and Leah, leaves his brothers and settles near a man named Hirah. He ends up marrying a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua, who gives birth to three children: Er, Onan, and Shelah but the location of the latter is often denoted as kezib.
God deemed Er, Judah’s firstborn, as being wicked and so he died. Judah then asked his second son, Onan, to perform his duty as a brother in law to Er’s widow, Tamar, by marrying her and raising offspring for his deceased brother. But Onan, knowing that if he had children with Tamar they would not be considered his, denied this responsibility and God found his actions displeasing and thus he also died.
Following the deaths of his two sons, Judah promises Tamar, his daughter in law, that she can marry his third son, Shelah, once he has grown up. However, fearing that Shelah might die like his brothers, Judah delays their marriage. This prompts Tamar to disguise herself as a prostitute and trick Judah into sleeping with her.
When Judah found out Tamar was pregnant (by him, but he did not know that at this point), his initial response was to punish her harshly for what he considered to be promiscuity. However, Tamar produced items that Judah had given her as a pledge for payment – his seal, its cord, and staff – which revealed that he was indeed the father.
Upon recognizing his belongings and realizing that he was the father of her unborn children, Judah admits that he was wrong for not keeping his promise of giving Shelah to Tamar. Eventually, Tamar gives birth to twins, Perez and Zerah, and the chapter concludes with their birth.
Genesis 38 is often considered as a pivotal chapter in the Bible as it highlights themes of deceit, justice, and Judah’s transformation.
What is Genesis 38 all about?
Genesis 38 is a chapter in the Bible’s Old Testament that provides a narrative about the life of Judah, one of Jacob’s twelve sons. This chapter is a deviation from the main Joseph story to focus on Judah’s personal journey and family life.
Genesis 38 begins with Judah leaving his brothers and marrying a Canaanite woman named Shua, with whom he has three sons named Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er marries a woman named Tamar, but he dies because he was evil in the sight of the Lord. As per the custom of levirate marriage (where the brother of a man who died without children has to marry his brother’s widow), Onan is instructed to fulfill his duty to his deceased brother by providing offspring for him with Tamar.
However, Onan intentionally avoids making Tamar pregnant, for which God punishes him with death, too. Judah then promises Tamar that she can marry his third son, Shelah, when he grows up, but he does not keep his promise because he fears that Shelah might also die.
Later, Tamar deceives Judah into sleeping with her by pretending to be a prostitute. When it is revealed that she is pregnant, Judah prepares to punish her for supposed adultery until she proves that he is the father of her unborn child. Recognizing his wrongs, Judah spares Tamar. The chapter ends with the birth of Tamar’s twin sons, Perez and Zerah, who are also recognized as Judah’s children.
This chapter gives insight into Judah’s growth and transformation, as well as the societal norms and issues of that era. The narrative sets the stage for the significant lineage of Perez, who is an ancestor of King David and, according to the Bible, Jesus Christ.
What does Genesis 38 teaches?
Genesis 38 is a chapter in the Bible that tells the story of Judah and his family. This narrative interrupts the story of Joseph being sold into Egypt, drawing our attention to a significant but often overlooked part of the Biblical narrative.
The first part of this chapter continues the tragic tale of Joseph’s brother Judah who marries a Canaanite woman named Shua. They have three sons: Er, Onan and Shelah. Er marries a woman named Tamar, but he’s so wicked that God takes his life. Then there’s a practice called the Leverite marriage which comes into play – since Er dies without a child, his brother Onan must marry Tamar to preserve Er’s line. Onan, however, also acts wickedly and God takes his life too. Judah tells Tamar to live as a widow until Shelah is grown up, but he’s scared that Shelah might meet the same fate and avoids keeping his promise.
Tamar, feeling wronged, cleverly disguises herself and tricks Judah into sleeping with her by making him think she was a prostitute. As a result, she becomes pregnant. When Judah learns of her pregnancy, he orders her to be burned, considering her actions immoral. However, Tamar proves that Judah is the father, and he acknowledges his fault in not giving Shelah to her. Eventually, Tamar gives birth to twins – Perez and Zerah.
This chapter teaches several lessons including the consequences of breaking promises and being deceptive. Judah, who was deceptive with his father Jacob, later falls victim to Tamar’s deception. This reciprocity underscores the Old Testament theme of ‘an eye for an eye’. It also demonstrates the consequences of trying to evade responsibility, a lesson learned by Onan and Judah.
Genesis 38 also highlights Tamar’s initiative and courage in seeking justice and survival within the structures of her time, despite being a woman in a patriarchal society. This chapter lays the groundwork for the inclusion of Tamar and Perez in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:3), reminding us that God often works in unexpected and unconventional ways. The chapter serves as a story of God’s grace, showing that He can use even the messy circumstances and sinful actions of people to fulfill His perfect plans.
A Sermon on Genesis 38
Genesis 38 is a significant chapter in the biblical book of Genesis. It breaks from the narrative of Joseph’s story to detail the life of Judah, one of Joseph’s brothers, and provides key pieces of the lineage leading to King David and eventually Jesus Christ.
Genesis 38 starts when Judah leaves his brothers and settles near a man named Hirah. Judah marries a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua, with whom he has three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah.
God, finding Er wicked, takes his life. Judah then tells Onan to fulfill his duty as a brother and provide an heir for Er by marrying his widow, Tamar. Onan, knowing that the offspring would not be his, spills his semen on the ground to prevent providing offspring for his brother. This action is wrong in the eyes of God, who then takes Onan’s life.
Shelah being too young, Judah promises Tamar that she can marry Shelah when he grows up. Over time, Judah’s wife dies, and after a period of mourning, he goes to Timnah to visit his shepherds. Namely, Tamar, having noted that Shelah has grown up yet she was not given to him as a wife, takes action. She resorts to deception. She removes her widow outfit and poses as a prostitute. Judah fails to recognize her and sleeps with her, leaving his signet seal, cord, and staff as a pledge for payment.
Tamar becomes pregnant and is accused of prostitution. Sentenced to death by burning, she presents Judah’s belongings, proving that he is the father. Judah acknowledges these and admits that he was wrong not to have given Tamar to Shelah, thus saving Tamar’s life.
The chapter ends with the birth of Tamar’s twin sons, Perez and Zerah, inverting the typical birth order – even though Zerah’s hand came out first, Perez is born first. Perez becomes an ancestor to King David and ultimately Jesus, showing God’s sovereignty and grace, despite human failures and errors.
This chapter of Genesis teaches a few key lessons: the repercussions of deceit, the cost of not fulfilling one’s responsibilities, the implications of lack of justice, and God’s sovereignty in all times, good and bad. At a glance, Genesis 38 seems out of place in the story of Joseph, but it serves as an essential part of God’s unfolding plan of redemption.
Key people in Genesis 38
Genesis 38 focuses on Judah, one of Jacob’s twelve sons, and his family, specifically his three sons Er, Onan, and Shelah, and his daughter-in-law Tamar who became his eventual wife according to custom.
1. Judah: He is one of the 12 sons of Jacob (Israel) and Leah. This chapter of Genesis largely revolves around Judah’s house and his interactions with his daughter-in-law, Tamar.
2. Er: He is the eldest son of Judah and his wife (a Canaanite woman). He married Tamar but was considered wicked in God’s sight, leading to his early death.
3. Onan: He was the second son of Judah, who was asked to marry his brother Er’s widow, Tamar, to fulfill the Levirate Law. But Onan refused to have children by her, refusing to establish a lineage for his deceased brother which was considered a form of disobedience, confirmed by his act of ‘spilling seed on the ground’. This act was seen as wicked in the eyes of God, resulting in his death as well.
4. Tamar: She was originally the wife of Judah’s eldest son Er. After Er’s death, she was married to Onan due to the customs of Levirate marriage. Onan also died without providing her a child. Tamar, then disguised herself as a prostitute to trick her father-in-law Judah into sleeping with her, thereby securing her lineage. She later gave birth to twins, Perez and Zerah.
5. Shelah: He is the third son of Judah. After the death of his older brothers, Lore suggests Tamar should be given to him as a wife when he comes of age, but Judah hesitates to do so out of fear that he too might die.
6. Perez and Zerah: Perez and Zerah are the twin sons of Judah and Tamar. Perez’s lineage is particularly significant as it leads to King David and ultimately to Jesus Christ, according to Matthew 1:3.
This chapter shines a light on the cultural traditions of the time, God’s judgement, and eventually God’s grace, as it follows the lineage that leads to King David and Jesus Christ.
Real world examples on Genesis 38
Genesis 38 focuses on the life of Judah, one of the sons of Jacob. Judah makes several decisions that provide real-world lessons.
1. Dishonesty: Genesis 38:1-5 discusses Judah bearing three sons from his wife. His firstborn, Er, was married to Tamar but was killed by God for his wickedness. Onan, the second son, was then asked to marry Tamar (as per custom known as levirate marriage) and raise offspring for his brother; instead, he used Tamar for his pleasure and spilled his seed on the ground, so as not to give her a child. God found this act wicked and killed Onan. This talks about dishonesty and cheating, which are still pervasive in today’s society.
2. Deception: After the death of her first two husbands (Judah’s sons), Tamar pretends to be a prostitute to trick Judah into sleeping with her (Genesis 38: 13-19). She does this to secure her rights and force Judah to fulfill his obligation towards her as the father of her husbands. This act of deception underlines the lengths people might go when they are denied justice.
3. Admitting guilt: When Judah finds out Tamar is pregnant and plans to have her killed for promiscuity, she proves that he is the father (Genesis 38:24-26). Instead of denying or making excuses, Judah admits his wrongs and spares Tamar. This shows the importance of taking accountability for your actions.
In the real world, these examples can be seen in various forms. Dishonesty can lead to loss of trust or worse consequences. People still use deception to fight injustice or gain power, while acknowledging mistakes is a universal concept important for maintaining ethical behavior.
Overall Genesis 38 reinforces the notion that actions have consequences and that one should act with integrity even in difficult situations.
Brief Explanation of Genesis 38
Genesis 38 is a chapter from the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible. It tells the story of Judah and his three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah.
Judah married a Canaanite woman named Shua and had three sons. Er, the oldest, married a woman named Tamar, but he was wicked and God put him to death. Judah then tasked his second son, Onan, to produce an offspring with Tamar (as per the customary duty of a brother-in-law in such situations), but Onan refused to have a child who would not be his heir, so he spilled his seed on the ground. This act displeased God, who also put Onan to death.
Afterward, Judah promised Tamar that she could marry his third son Shelah when Shelah was older, but he did not keep his promise. Tamar, realizing that she had been deceived, disguised herself as a prostitute and seduced Judah. When it was discovered that she was pregnant, Judah ordered her to be burned to death, but she revealed that he was the father of her child. Ashamed, Judah acknowledged that he was wrong for not giving Tamar to his son Shelah as promised.
Eventually, Tamar gave birth to twin sons, Perez and Zerah, marking the continuation of Judah’s line. This is significant as it is from the line of Perez that King David and, according to the New Testament, Jesus Christ, are said to descend.
Frequently asked questions for Genesis 38
Genesis 38 is a chapter in the Bible that presents the story of Judah and Tamar, which is quite detailed and covers various themes like deceit, responsibility, and redemption. Frequently asked questions regarding this chapter often include:
1. Who are the main characters in Genesis 38?
– Genesis 38 centers around Judah, the son of Jacob and Leah, his sons Er, Onan, and Shelah, and a woman named Tamar, who was initially the wife of Er and later mother to Judah’s twin sons.
2. What happens to Judah’s sons Er and Onan in Genesis 38?
– Based on Genesis 38, both Er and Onan died due to their wickedness. God was displeased with Er and took his life, then Onan was ordered to marry Tamar to provide offspring for his deceased brother, but he didn’t fulfill his duty and this displeased God, hence his death.
3. Who was Tamar in Genesis 38 and why did she disguise herself?
– Tamar was Er’s widow who was promised by Judah that she could marry his youngest son, Shelah, when he grew up. But Judah failed to uphold his promise. In response, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute to arrange a union with Judah himself, which led to the birth of his twin sons.
4. What is the significance of the story of Judah and Tamar?
– The story of Judah and Tamar, despite its complicated elements, has significant meanings. It shows the importance of upholding familial and societal responsibilities and justice, and the consequences faced when these responsibilities are ignored. It’s also important genealogically, as Judah’s lineage leads to King David and ultimately to Jesus.
5. How does Genesis 38 connect to other parts of the Bible?
– Genesis 38 is largely an “interlude” from the story of Joseph, but it’s significant as it shows God working in difficult situations, and the lineage that directly leads to David, then Jesus. It presents an early example of a Levirate marriage, a practice where a man is obligated to marry his brother’s childless widow, which is later delineated in Deuteronomy 25:5-10.
6. What is the role of the “signet, cord, and staff” in Genesis 38?
– Judah’s signet, cord, and staff served as collateral for payment to Tamar (whom he thought to be a prostitute). Later, they served as a form of proof that he was the father of her child. The items were personal and significant enough to be easily recognized by Judah.
Remember that interpretations of biblical passages can vary among different religious or theological perspectives.
Possible References for Genesis 38
Genesis 38 is a chapter in The Bible that focuses on the story of Judah and Tamar. There are several important references and events in this chapter.
1. Judah and his sons: This chapter gives a personal view of Judah who leaves his brothers and settles with a man named Hirah. He gets married to a Canaanite woman named Bathshua and they have three sons together – Er, Onan, and Shelah.
2. Tamar, Er, and Onan: Tamar marries Er, Judah’s firstborn. However, Er is wicked and God kills him, leaving Tamar a widow. As per the levirate law in Deuteronomy 25:5-10, a man is required to marry his brother’s widow to provide offspring for his deceased brother. Thus, Onan, Er’s brother, marries Tamar, but he dies as well because he disobeys God’s command of providing an heir for his brother by practicing coitus interruptus.
3. Judah and Tamar: Judah fearing the same fate for his third son, Shelah, he deceives Tamar by not giving him to her as a husband. When Judah’s wife dies, Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute, and Judah sleeps with her unknowingly. She gets pregnant with twins, Perez and Zerah.
4. The Birth of Perez and Zerah: When Tamar is about to give birth, Zerah’s hand comes out first and they place a crimson thread on his hand indicating he is the firstborn. But then Perez is actually born first, becoming the ancestor of King David and eventually Jesus (according to the genealogical records in Matthew 1:3).
These events in Genesis 38 offer a deeper connection to biblical themes of deception, redemption, and God’s sovereignty. It’s worth noting the levirate marriage, the twins’ birth, and the lineage of Jesus, are the key references in this chapter.
Conclusion on Genesis 38
Genesis 38 is a chapter in the Bible that follows the story of Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar. The conclusion of this chapter provides a significant teaching on deceptive acts and God’s view on justice.
Near the end of Genesis 38, Tamar is proven pregnant and Judah acknowledges that he is the father. He admits “She is more righteous than I am, because I didn’t give her to my son Shelah” (Genesis 38:26). Judah recognizes that he was wrong for not fulfilling his promise to Tamar, which led her to resort to deception.
Then, when Tamar gave birth to twins, there was a strange event where one twin put out his hand first, and the midwife tied a red thread on it to mark the firstborn. However, he drew his hand back, and his brother came out first instead. They were named Perez and Zerah, thereby establishing the lineage that will later lead to King David and eventually to Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, Genesis 38 ends with Judah recognizing his wrongful actions and Tamar giving birth to Perez and Zerah. This chapter highlights that God can turn even deceptive and wrong actions into a greater plan, since Perez becomes an important figure in the line of the Messiah. It also underscores the importance of fulfilling our commitments to other people, and the consequences if we fail to do so.