Génesis 38
Dios Habla Hoy
Judá y Tamar
38 En aquel tiempo, Judá se apartó de sus hermanos y se fue a vivir a la casa de un hombre llamado Hirá, que era del pueblo de Adulam. 2 Allí conoció a la hija de un cananeo llamado Súa, y se casó con ella. Cuando se unieron, 3 ella quedó embarazada y tuvo un hijo, al cual llamó Er. 4 Volvió a quedar embarazada y tuvo otro hijo, al cual llamó Onán. 5 Todavía volvió a tener otro hijo, al cual llamó Selá, que nació cuando Judá estaba en Quezib.
6 Judá casó a Er, su hijo mayor, con una mujer llamada Tamar. 7 Pero al Señor no le agradaba la mala conducta de Er, y le quitó la vida. 8 Entonces Judá le dijo a Onán:
—Únete a la viuda de tu hermano y cumple así con tu deber de cuñado, para que tu hermano pueda tener descendientes por medio de ti.
9 Pero Onán sabía que los hijos que nacieran no serían considerados suyos. Por eso, cada vez que se unía con la viuda de su hermano, procuraba que ella no quedara embarazada, para que su hermano no tuviera descendientes por medio de él. 10 El Señor se disgustó mucho por lo que Onán hacía, y también a él le quitó la vida. 11 Entonces Judá le dijo a su nuera Tamar:
—Quédate viuda en la casa de tu padre, hasta que mi hijo Selá sea mayor de edad.
En realidad, Judá pensaba que también Selá podría morir como sus hermanos. Así Tamar se fue a vivir a la casa de su padre.
12 Pasó el tiempo y murió la esposa de Judá, la hija de Súa. Cuando Judá dejó de guardar luto, fue al pueblo de Timnat, donde estaban los que trasquilaban sus ovejas, y su amigo Hirá el adulamita lo acompañó. 13 Cuando Tamar supo que su suegro había ido a Timnat a trasquilar sus ovejas, 14 se quitó el vestido de viuda, se cubrió con un velo para que nadie la reconociera, y se sentó a la entrada del pueblo de Enaim, que está en el camino a Timnat. Hizo esto porque se dio cuenta de que Selá ya era mayor de edad, y sin embargo no la habían casado con él.
15 Cuando Judá la vio, pensó que era una prostituta, pues ella se había cubierto la cara. 16 Entonces se apartó del camino para acercarse a ella y, sin saber que era su nuera, le dijo:
—¿Me dejas acostarme contigo?
—¿Qué me vas a dar por acostarte conmigo? —le preguntó ella.
17 —Voy a mandarte uno de los cabritos de mi rebaño —contestó Judá.
—Está bien —dijo ella—, pero déjame algo tuyo como prenda hasta que me lo mandes.
18 —¿Qué quieres que te deje? —preguntó Judá.
—Dame tu sello con el cordón, y el bastón que tienes en la mano —respondió ella.
Judá se los dio y se acostó con ella, y la dejó embarazada. 19 Después Tamar fue y se quitó el velo que tenía puesto, y volvió a ponerse su vestido de viuda.
20 Más tarde Judá mandó el cabrito por medio de su amigo adulamita, para que la mujer le devolviera las prendas, pero su amigo ya no la encontró. 21 Entonces les preguntó a los hombres de ese lugar:
—¿Dónde está esa prostituta de Enaim, la que estaba junto al camino?
—Aquí no ha estado ninguna prostituta —le contestaron.
22 Entonces él regresó a donde estaba Judá, y le dijo:
—No encontré a la mujer, y además los hombres del lugar me dijeron que allí no había estado ninguna prostituta.
23 Y Judá contestó:
—Pues que se quede con las cosas, para que nadie se burle de nosotros; pero que conste que yo mandé el cabrito y tú no la encontraste.
24 Como tres meses después, vinieron a decirle a Judá:
—Tamar, la nuera de usted, se ha acostado con otros hombres, y como resultado de ello ha quedado embarazada.
—¡Sáquenla y quémenla! —gritó Judá.
25 Pero cuando la estaban sacando, ella le mandó decir a su suegro: «El dueño de estas cosas es el que me dejó embarazada. Fíjese usted a ver de quién son este sello con el cordón y este bastón.» 26 Cuando Judá reconoció las cosas, dijo: «Ella ha hecho bien, y yo mal, porque no la casé con mi hijo Selá.» Y nunca más volvió a acostarse con ella.
27 El día que Tamar dio a luz, tuvo mellizos. 28 Al momento de nacer, uno de ellos sacó la mano. Entonces la partera le ató un hilo rojo en la mano, y dijo: «Éste salió primero.» 29 Pero en ese momento el niño metió la mano, y fue su hermano el que nació primero. Por eso la partera lo llamó Fares, pues dijo: «¡Cómo te abriste paso!» 30 Luego nació el otro niño, el que tenía el hilo rojo en la mano, y lo llamó Zérah.
Genesis 38
New King James Version
Judah and Tamar
38 It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and (A)visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. 2 And Judah (B)saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was (C)Shua, and he married her and went in to her. 3 So 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 And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name (F)Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.
6 Then Judah (G)took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was (H)Tamar. 7 But (I)Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, (J)and the Lord killed him. 8 And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to (K)your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the heir would not be (L)his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did [a]displeased the Lord; therefore He killed (M)him also.
11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, (N)“Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt (O)in her father’s house.
12 Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah (P)was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up (Q)to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and (R)sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw (S)that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. 16 Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law.
So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”
17 And he said, (T)“I will send a young goat from the flock.”
So she said, (U)“Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”
18 Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?”
So she said, (V)“Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 So she arose and went away, and (W)laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.
20 And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. 21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was [b]openly by the roadside?”
And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.”
22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.”
23 Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”
24 And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has (X)played the harlot; furthermore she is [c]with child by harlotry.”
So Judah said, “Bring her out (Y)and let her be burned!”
25 When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, (Z)“Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.”
26 So Judah (AA)acknowledged them and said, (AB)“She has been more righteous than I, because (AC)I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he (AD)never knew her again.
27 Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. 28 And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called (AE)Perez.[d] 30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called (AF)Zerah.
Footnotes
- Genesis 38:10 Lit. was evil in the eyes of
- Genesis 38:21 in full view
- Genesis 38:24 pregnant
- Genesis 38:29 Lit. Breach or Breakthrough
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
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.
Dios habla hoy ®, © Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, 1966, 1970, 1979, 1983, 1996.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
