Old Testament

New Testament

Genesis 38:12-20 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

12. Now after a considerable time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when the time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

13. It was told to Tamar, "Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep."

14. So she removed her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife.

15. When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, for she had covered her face.

16. So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, "Here now, let me come in to you"; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?"

17. He said, therefore, "I will send you a young goat from the flock." She said, moreover, "Will you give a pledge until you send it?"

18. He said, "What pledge shall I give you?" And she said, "Your seal 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 departed, and removed her veil and put on her widow's garments.

20. When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman's hand, he did not find her.

Read complete chapter Genesis 38