Old Testament

New Testament

Genesis 38:2-15 Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

2. And he saw there the daughter of a man called Shua, of Canaan. And taking her as a wife, he entered to her.

3. And she conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Er.

4. And conceiving offspring again, having given birth to a son, she called him Onan.

5. Likewise, she bore a third, whom she called Shelah, after whose birth, she ceased to bear any more.

6. Then Judah gave a wife to his first born Er, whose name was Tamar.

7. And it also happened that Er, the first born of Judah, was wicked in the sight of the Lord and was killed by him.

8. Therefore, Judah said to his son Onan: "Enter to the wife of your brother, and associate with her, so that you may raise offspring to your brother."

9. He, knowing that the sons to be born would not be his, when he entered to the wife of his brother, he spilled his seed on the ground, lest children should be born in his brother's name.

10. And for this reason, the Lord struck him down, because he did a detestable thing.

11. Because of this matter, Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Be a widow in your father's house, until my son Shelah grows up." For he was afraid, lest he also might die, just as his brothers did. She went away, and she lived in her father's house.

12. Then, after many days had passed, the daughter of Shua, the wife of Judah, died. And when he accepted consolation after his mourning, he went up to the shearers of his sheep at Timnah, he and Hirah, the herdsman of the Adullamite flock.

13. And it was reported to Tamar that her father-in-law had gone up to Timnah to shear the sheep.

14. And storing away the garments of her widowhood, she took up a veil. And changing her clothing, she sat at the crossroad that leads to Timnah, because Shelah had grown up, and she had not received him as a husband.

15. And when Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot. For she had covered her face, lest she be recognized.

Read complete chapter Genesis 38