Genesis 38 read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

Genesis 38 (WEBP)

[1] At that time, Judah went down from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
[2] There, Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite man named Shua. He took her, and went in to her.
[3] She conceived, and bore a son; and he named him Er.
[4] She conceived again, and bore a son; and she named him Onan.
[5] She yet again bore a son, and named him Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.
[6] Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
[7] Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in Yahweh’s sight. So Yahweh killed him.
[8] Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”
[9] Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother.
[10] The thing which he did was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and he killed him also.
[11] Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up;” for he said, “Lest he also die, like his brothers.” Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.
[12] After many days, Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah, the Adullamite.
[13] Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”
[14] She took off the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she wasn’t given to him as a wife.
[15] When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
[16] He turned to her by the way, and said, “Please come, let me come in to you,” for he didn’t know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”
[17] He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?”
[18] He said, “What pledge will I give you?” She said, “Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” He gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.
[19] She arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
[20] Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, but he didn’t find her.
[21] Then he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the road?” They said, “There has been no prostitute here.”
[22] He returned to Judah, and said, “I haven’t found her; and also the men of the place said, ‘There has been no prostitute here.’ ”
[23] Judah said, “Let her keep it, lest we be shamed. Behold, I sent this young goat, and you haven’t found her.”
[24] About three months later, Judah was told, “Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute. Moreover, behold, she is with child by prostitution.” Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.”
[25] When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “I am with child by the man who owns these.” She also said, “Please discern whose these are—the signet, and the cords, and the staff.”
[26] Judah acknowledged them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, because I didn’t give her to Shelah, my son.” He knew her again no more.
[27] In the time of her travail, behold, twins were in her womb.
[28] When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This came out first.”
[29] As he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out, and she said, “Why have you made a breach for yourself?” Therefore his name was called Perez.°
[30] Afterward his brother came out, who had the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.°

Genesis 38:29 Perez means “breaking out”.
Genesis 38:30 Zerah means “scarlet” or “brightness”.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

Genesis 38 (KJVS)

[1] And it came to pass at that time H6256, that Judah H3063 went down H3381 (8799) from his brethren H251, and turned H5186 (8799) in to a certain H376 Adullamite H5726, whose name H8034 [was] Hirah H2437.
[2] And Judah H3063 saw H7200 (8799) there a daughter H1323 of a certain H376 Canaanite H3669, whose name H8034 [was] Shuah H7770; and he took her H3947 (8799), and went in H935 (8799) unto her.
[3] And she conceived H2029 (8799), and bare H3205 (8799) a son H1121; and he called H7121 (8799) his name H8034 Er H6147.
[4] And she conceived H2029 (8799) again, and bare H3205 (8799) a son H1121; and she called H7121 (8799) his name H8034 Onan H209.
[5] And she yet again conceived H3254 (8686), and bare H3205 (8799) a son H1121; and called H7121 (8799) his name H8034 Shelah H7956: and he was at Chezib H3580, when she bare H3205 (8800) him.
[6] And Judah H3063 took H3947 (8799) a wife H802 for Er H6147 his firstborn H1060, whose name H8034 [was] Tamar H8559.
[7] And Er H6147, Judah’s H3063 firstborn H1060, was wicked H7451 in the sight H5869 of the LORD H3068; and the LORD H3068 slew H4191 (8686) him.
[8] And Judah H3063 said H559 (8799) unto Onan H209, Go in H935 (8798) unto thy brother’s H251 wife H802, and marry H2992 (8761) her, and raise up H6965 (8685) seed H2233 to thy brother H251.
[9] And Onan H209 knew H3045 (8799) that the seed H2233 should not be his; and it came to pass, when H518 he went in H935 (8802) unto his brother’s H251 wife H802, that he spilled H7843 (8765) [it] on the ground H776, lest H1115 that he should give H5414 (8800) seed H2233 to his brother H251.
[10] And the thing which H834 he did H6213 (8804) displeased H3415 (8799) H5869 the LORD H3068: wherefore he slew H4191 (8686) him also.
[11] Then said H559 (8799) Judah H3063 to Tamar H8559 his daughter in law H3618, Remain H3427 (8798) a widow H490 at thy father’s H1 house H1004, till Shelah H7956 my son H1121 be grown H1431 (8799): for he said H559 (8804), Lest peradventure he die H4191 (8799) also, as his brethren H251 [did]. And Tamar H8559 went H3212 (8799) and dwelt H3427 (8799) in her father’s H1 house H1004.
[12] And in process H7235 (8799) of time H3117 the daughter H1323 of Shuah H7770 Judah’s H3063 wife H802 died H4191 (8799); and Judah H3063 was comforted H5162 (8735), and went up H5927 (8799) unto his sheepshearers H1494 (8802) H6629 to Timnath H8553, he and his friend H7453 Hirah H2437 the Adullamite H5726.
[13] And it was told H5046 (8714) Tamar H8559, saying H559 (8800), Behold thy father in law H2524 goeth up H5927 (8802) to Timnath H8553 to shear H1494 (8800) his sheep H6629.
[14] And she put H5493 her widow’s H491 garments H899 off H5493 (8686) from her, and covered her H3680 (8762) with a vail H6809, and wrapped herself H5968 (8691), and sat in H3427 (8799) an open H5869 place H6607, which [is] by the way H1870 to Timnath H8553; for she saw H7200 (8804) that Shelah H7956 was grown H1431 (8804), and she was not given H5414 (8738) unto him to wife H802.
[15] When Judah H3063 saw her H7200 (8799), he thought H2803 (8799) her [to be] an harlot H2181 (8802); because she had covered H3680 (8765) her face H6440.
[16] And he turned H5186 (8799) unto her by the way H1870, and said H559 (8799), Go to H3051 (8798), I pray thee, let me come in H935 (8799) unto thee; (for he knew H3045 (8804) not that she [was] his daughter in law H3618.) And she said H559 (8799), What wilt thou give H5414 (8799) me, that thou mayest come in H935 (8799) unto me?
[17] And he said H559 (8799), I will send H7971 (8762) [thee] a kid H5795 H1423 from the flock H6629. And she said H559 (8799), Wilt thou give H5414 (8799) [me] a pledge H6162, till thou send H7971 (8800) [it]?
[18] And he said H559 (8799), What H834 pledge H6162 shall I give H5414 (8799) thee? And she said H559 (8799), Thy signet H2368, and thy bracelets H6616, and thy staff H4294 that [is] in thine hand H3027. And he gave H5414 (8799) [it] her, and came in H935 (8799) unto her, and she conceived H2029 (8799) by him.
[19] And she arose H6965 (8799), and went away H3212 (8799), and laid by H5493 (8686) her vail H6809 from her, and put on H3847 (8799) the garments H899 of her widowhood H491.
[20] And Judah H3063 sent H7971 (8799) the kid H1423 H5795 by the hand H3027 of his friend H7453 the Adullamite H5726, to receive H3947 (8800) [his] pledge H6162 from the woman’s H802 hand H3027: but he found her H4672 (8804) not.
[21] Then he asked H7592 (8799) the men H582 of that place H4725, saying H559 (8800), Where [is] the harlot H6948, that [was] openly H5869 by the way side H1870? And they said H559 (8799), There was no harlot H6948 in this H2088 [place].
[22] And he returned H7725 (8799) to Judah H3063, and said H559 (8799), I cannot H3808 find H4672 (8804) her; and also the men H582 of the place H4725 said H559 (8804), [that] there was no harlot H6948 in this [place].
[23] And Judah H3063 said H559 (8799), Let her take H3947 (8799) [it] to her, lest we be shamed H937: behold, I sent H7971 (8804) this kid H1423, and thou hast not found H4672 (8804) her.
[24] And it came to pass about three H7969 months H2320 after, that it was told H5046 (8714) Judah H3063, saying H559 (8800), Tamar H8559 thy daughter in law H3618 hath played the harlot H2181 (8804); and also, behold, she [is] with child H2030 by whoredom H2183. And Judah H3063 said H559 (8799), Bring her forth H3318 (8685), and let her be burnt H8313 (8735).
[25] When she [was] brought forth H3318 (8716), she sent H7971 (8804) to her father in law H2524, saying H559 (8800), By the man H376, whose these [are, am] I with child H2030: and she said H559 (8799), Discern H5234 (8685), I pray thee, whose [are] these, the signet H2858, and bracelets H6616, and staff H4294.
[26] And Judah H3063 acknowledged H5234 (8686) [them], and said H559 (8799), She hath been more righteous H6663 (8804) than I; because that I gave H5414 (8804) her not to Shelah H7956 my son H1121. And he knew her H3045 (8800) again H3254 (8804) no more.
[27] And it came to pass in the time H6256 of her travail H3205 (8800), that, behold, twins H8380 [were] in her womb H990.
[28] And it came to pass, when she travailed H3205 (8800), that [the one] put out H5414 (8799) [his] hand H3027: and the midwife H3205 (8764) took H3947 (8799) and bound H7194 (8799) upon his hand H3027 a scarlet thread H8144, saying H559 (8800), This came out H3318 (8804) first H7223.
[29] And it came to pass, as he drew back H7725 (8688) his hand H3027, that, behold, his brother H251 came out H3318 (8804): and she said H559 (8799), How hast thou broken forth H6555 (8804)? [this] breach H6556 [be] upon thee: therefore his name H8034 was called H7121 (8799) Pharez H6557.
[30] And afterward H310 came out H3318 (8804) his brother H251, that had the scarlet thread H8144 upon his hand H3027: and his name H8034 was called H7121 (8799) Zarah H2226.

Young’s Literal Translation

Genesis 38 (YLT)

[1] And it cometh to pass, at that time, that Judah goeth down from his brethren, and turneth aside unto a man, an Adullamite, whose name is Hirah;
[2] and Judah seeth there the daughter of a man, a Canaanite, whose name is Shuah, and taketh her, and goeth in unto her.
[3] And she conceiveth, and beareth a son, and he calleth his name Er;
[4] and she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Onan;
[5] and she addeth again, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Shelah; and he was in Chezib in her bearing him.
[6] And Judah taketh a wife for Er, his first-born, and her name is Tamar;
[7] and Er, Judah’s first-born, is evil in the eyes of Jehovah, and Jehovah doth put him to death.
[8] And Judah saith to Onan, ‘Go in unto the wife of thy brother, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother;’
[9] and Onan knoweth that the seed is not reckoned his; and it hath come to pass, if he hath gone in unto his brother’s wife, that he hath destroyed it to the earth, so as not to give seed to his brother;
[10] and that which he hath done is evil in the eyes of Jehovah, and He putteth him also to death.
[11] And Judah saith to Tamar his daughter-in-law, ‘Abide a widow at thy father’s house, till Shelah my son groweth up;’ for he said, ‘Lest he die-even he-like his brethren;’ and Tamar goeth and dwelleth at her father’s house.
[12] And the days are multiplied, and the daughter of Shuah, Judah’s wife, dieth; and Judah is comforted, and goeth up unto his sheep-shearers, he and Hirah his friend the Adullamite, to Timnath.
[13] And it is declared to Tamar, saying, ‘Lo, thy husband’s father is going up to Timnath to shear his flock;’
[14] and she turneth aside the garments of her widowhood from off her, and covereth herself with a vail, and wrappeth herself up, and sitteth in the opening of Enayim, which is by the way to Timnath, for she hath seen that Shelah hath grown up, and she hath not been given to him for a wife.
[15] And Judah seeth her, and reckoneth her for a harlot, for she hath covered her face,
[16] and he turneth aside unto her by the way, and saith, ‘Come, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee,’ (for he hath not known that she is his daughter-in-law); and she saith, ‘What dost thou give to me, that thou mayest come in unto me?’
[17] and he saith, ‘I-I send a kid of the goats from the flock.’ And she saith, ‘Dost thou give a pledge till thou send it?’
[18] and he saith, ‘What is the pledge that I give to thee?’ and she saith, ‘Thy seal, and thy ribbon, and thy staff which is in thy hand;’ and he giveth to her, and goeth in unto her, and she conceiveth to him;
[19] and she riseth, and goeth, and turneth aside her vail from off her, and putteth on the garments of her widowhood.
[20] And Judah sendeth the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the hand of the woman, and he hath not found her.
[21] And he asketh the men of her place, saying, ‘Where is the separated one-she in Enayim, by the way?’ and they say, ‘There hath not been in this place a separated one.’
[22] And he turneth back unto Judah, and saith, ‘I have not found her; and the men of the place also have said, There hath not been in this place a separated one,’
[23] and Judah saith, ‘Let her take to herself, lest we become despised; lo, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.’
[24] And it cometh to pass about three months after, that it is declared to Judah, saying, ‘Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath committed fornication; and also, lo, she hath conceived by fornication:’ and Judah saith, ‘Bring her out-and she is burnt.’
[25] She is brought out, and she hath sent unto her husband’s father, saying, ‘To a man whose these are, I am pregnant;’ and she saith, ‘Discern, I pray thee, whose are these-the seal, and the ribbons, and the staff.’
[26] And Judah discerneth and saith, ‘She hath been more righteous than I, because that I did not give her to Shelah my son;’ and he hath not added to know her again.
[27] And it cometh to pass in the time of her bearing, that lo, twins are in her womb;
[28] and it cometh to pass in her bearing, that one giveth out a hand, and the midwife taketh and bindeth on his hand a scarlet thread, saying, ‘This hath come out first.’
[29] And it cometh to pass as he draweth back his hand, that lo, his brother hath come out, and she saith, ‘What! thou hast broken forth-on thee is the breach;’ and he calleth his name Pharez;
[30] and afterwards hath his brother come out, on whose hand is the scarlet thread, and he calleth his name Zarah.