Génesis 38
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Judá y Tamar
38 Por aquel tiempo Judá se separó[a] de sus hermanos, y visitó a[b] un adulamita(A) llamado Hira. 2 Allí Judá vio a la hija de un cananeo llamado Súa(B). La tomó, y se llegó a ella. 3 Ella concibió y dio a luz un hijo, y le puso por nombre Er(C). 4 Concibió otra vez y dio a luz otro hijo, y le puso por nombre Onán(D). 5 Aún dio a luz a otro hijo, y le puso por nombre Sela(E). Y fue en Quezib que[c] le nació.
6 Entonces Judá tomó mujer para Er su primogénito, la cual se llamaba Tamar. 7 Pero Er, primogénito de Judá, era malo ante los ojos del Señor, y el Señor le quitó la vida(F).
8 Entonces Judá dijo a Onán: «Llégate a la mujer de tu hermano, y cumple con ella tu deber como cuñado, y levanta descendencia[d] a tu hermano(G)». 9 Y Onán sabía que la descendencia[e] no sería suya. Acontecía que cuando se llegaba a la mujer de su hermano, derramaba su semen en tierra para no dar descendencia[f] a su hermano(H). 10 Pero lo que hacía era malo ante los ojos del Señor. También a él le quitó la vida(I). 11 Entonces Judá dijo a su nuera Tamar: «Quédate viuda en casa de tu padre hasta que crezca mi hijo Sela(J)»; pues pensaba[g]: «Temo[h] que él muera también como sus hermanos». Así que Tamar se fue y se quedó en casa de su padre.
12 Pasaron muchos días y murió la hija de Súa, mujer de Judá. Y pasado el duelo, Judá[i] subió a los trasquiladores de sus ovejas en Timnat(K), él y su amigo Hira el adulamita. 13 Y se lo hicieron saber a Tamar, diciéndole: «Mira, tu suegro sube a Timnat(L) a trasquilar sus ovejas». 14 Entonces ella se quitó sus ropas de viuda y se cubrió con un velo[j](M), se envolvió bien y se sentó a la entrada de Enaim(N) que está en el camino de Timnat. Porque veía que Sela había crecido, y ella aún no había sido dada a él por mujer.
15 Cuando la vio Judá, pensó que era una ramera, pues se había cubierto el rostro. 16 Y se acercó a ella junto al camino, y le dijo: «Vamos[k], déjame estar contigo[l]»; pues no sabía que era su nuera. «¿Qué me darás por estar conmigo[m]?», le dijo ella. 17 «Yo te enviaré un cabrito de las cabras del rebaño», respondió Judá. «¿Me darás una prenda hasta que lo envíes?», le dijo ella. 18 «¿Qué prenda tengo que darte?», preguntó Judá. «Tu sello, tu cordón y el báculo que tienes en la mano(O)», dijo ella. Y él se los dio y se llegó a ella, y ella concibió de él. 19 Entonces ella se levantó y se fue. Se quitó el velo[n] y se puso sus ropas de viuda.
20 Cuando Judá envió el cabrito por medio de[o] su amigo el adulamita, para recobrar la prenda de mano de la mujer, no la halló. 21 Y preguntó a los hombres del lugar: «¿Dónde está la ramera[p] que estaba en Enaim, junto al camino?». «Aquí no ha habido ninguna ramera[q]», dijeron ellos.
22 Él volvió donde Judá, y le dijo: «No la encontré. Además, los hombres del lugar dijeron: “Aquí no ha habido ninguna ramera[r]”». 23 Entonces Judá dijo: «Que se quede con las prendas[s], para que no seamos causa de burla. Ya ves[t] que envié este cabrito, y tú no la has encontrado».
24 Y a los tres meses, informaron a Judá, diciendo: «Tu nuera Tamar ha fornicado, y[u] ha quedado encinta a causa de las fornicaciones». «Sáquenla y que sea quemada(P)», dijo Judá. 25 Cuando la sacaban, ella envió a decir a su suegro: «Del hombre a quien pertenecen estas cosas estoy encinta». Y añadió «Le ruego que examine(Q) y vea de quién es este sello, este cordón y este báculo».
26 Judá los reconoció, y dijo: «Ella es más justa que yo(R), por cuanto yo no la di por mujer a mi hijo Sela». Y no volvió a tener más relaciones con ella[v](S).
27 Y sucedió que al tiempo de dar a luz, había mellizos en su seno(T). 28 Aconteció, además, que mientras daba a luz, uno de ellos sacó su mano, y la partera la tomó y le ató un hilo escarlata en la mano, diciendo: «Este salió primero». 29 Pero sucedió que cuando él retiró su mano, su hermano salió. Entonces ella dijo: «¡Qué brecha te has abierto!». Por eso le pusieron por nombre Fares[w](U). 30 Después salió su hermano que tenía el hilo escarlata en la mano; y le pusieron por nombre Zara[x](V).
Footnotes
- 38:1 Lit. descendió.
- 38:1 Lit. se desvió hacia.
- 38:5 Lit. cuando.
- 38:8 Lit. simiente.
- 38:9 Lit. simiente.
- 38:9 Lit. simiente.
- 38:11 Lit. decía.
- 38:11 O No sea.
- 38:12 Lit. Y cuando Judá se hubo consolado.
- 38:14 O manto.
- 38:16 Lit. Ven ahora.
- 38:16 Lit. llegarme a ti.
- 38:16 Lit. llegarte a mí.
- 38:19 O manto.
- 38:20 Lit. cabrito de cabras por mano de.
- 38:21 O ramera de culto pagano.
- 38:21 O ramera de culto pagano.
- 38:22 O ramera de culto pagano.
- 38:23 Lit. Que las tome para sí.
- 38:23 Lit. He aquí.
- 38:24 Lit. y también.
- 38:26 Lit. ya no volvió a conocerla más.
- 38:29 I.e. Brecha.
- 38:30 I.e. Amanecer.
Genesis 38
King James Version
38 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.
3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
4 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.
5 And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
7 And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.
8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
10 And the thing which he did displeased the Lord: wherefore he slew him also.
11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.
12 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
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.
15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?
18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not.
21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.
22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.
23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.
26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
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? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.
30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.
Genesis 38
English Standard Version
Judah and Tamar
38 It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and (A)turned aside to a certain (B)Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was (C)Shua. He took her and went in to her, 3 and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name (D)Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name (E)Onan. 5 Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name (F)Shelah. Judah[a] was in Chezib when she bore him.
6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah's firstborn, (G)was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to (H)your brother's wife and (I)perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. 10 And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also. 11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, (J)“Remain a widow in your father's house, till Shelah my son grows up”—for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained (K)in her father's house.
12 In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua's daughter, died. When Judah (L)was comforted, he went up to (M)Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And when Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,” 14 she took off her widow's garments (N)and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to (O)Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, (P)and she had not been given to him in marriage. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 16 He turned to her at the roadside and said, “Come, let me come in to you,” for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” 17 He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” 18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, (Q)“Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 Then she arose and went away, and taking off (R)her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood.
20 When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman's hand, he did not find her. 21 And he asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute[b] who was at (S)Enaim at the roadside?” And they said, “No cult prostitute has been here.” 22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I have not found her. Also, the men of the place said, ‘No cult prostitute has been here.’” 23 And Judah replied, “Let her keep the things as her own, or we shall be laughed at. You see, I sent this young goat, and you did not find her.”
24 About three months later Judah was told, “Tamar your daughter-in-law (T)has been immoral.[c] Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality.”[d] And Judah said, “Bring her out, and (U)let her be burned.” 25 As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, (V)the signet and the cord and the staff.” 26 Then Judah identified them and said, (W)“She is more righteous than I, since (X)I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again.
27 When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb. 28 And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” Therefore his name was called (Y)Perez.[e] 30 Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called (Z)Zerah.
Footnotes
- Genesis 38:5 Hebrew He
- Genesis 38:21 Hebrew sacred woman; a woman who served a pagan deity by prostitution; also verse 22
- Genesis 38:24 Or has committed prostitution
- Genesis 38:24 Or by prostitution
- Genesis 38:29 Perez means a breach
Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ Copyright © 2005 por The Lockman Foundation
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
