Judah and Tamar
(1 Chronicles 2:3–4)

1  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass) בָּעֵ֣ת (at the time) הַהִ֔וא (that), וַיֵּ֥רֶד (and went down) יְהוּדָ֖ה (Judah) מֵאֵ֣ת (from) אֶחָ֑יו (his brothers) וַיֵּ֛ט (and settled) עַד־ (to) אִ֥ישׁ (a man) עֲדֻלָּמִ֖י (an Adullamite), וּשְׁמ֥וֹ (and his name was) חִירָֽה׃ (Hirah). 2  וַיַּרְא־ (And saw) שָׁ֧ם (there) יְהוּדָ֛ה (Judah) בַּת־ (a daughter) אִ֥ישׁ (of a man) כְּנַעֲנִ֖י (a Canaanite), וּשְׁמ֣וֹ (and his name was) שׁ֑וּעַ (Shua). וַיִּקָּחֶ֖הָ (And he took her) וַיָּבֹ֥א (and went in) אֵלֶֽיהָ׃ (to her). 3  וַתַּ֖הַר (And she conceived) וַתֵּ֣לֶד (and bore) בֵּ֑ן (a son), וַיִּקְרָ֥א (and he called) אֶת־ (-) שְׁמ֖וֹ (his name) עֵֽר׃ (Er). 4  וַתַּ֥הַר (And she conceived) ע֖וֹד (again) וַתֵּ֣לֶד (and bore) בֵּ֑ן (a son), וַתִּקְרָ֥א (and she called) אֶת־ (-) שְׁמ֖וֹ (his name) אוֹנָֽן׃ (Onan). 5  וַתֹּ֤סֶף (And she conceived) עוֹד֙ (yet again) וַתֵּ֣לֶד (and bore) בֵּ֔ן (a son), וַתִּקְרָ֥א (and she called) אֶת־ (-) שְׁמ֖וֹ (his name) שֵׁלָ֑ה (Shelah); וְהָיָ֥ה (and he was) בִכְזִ֖יב (at Chezib) בְּלִדְתָּ֥הּ (when she bore) אֹתֽוֹ׃ (him).

6  וַיִּקַּ֧ח (And took) יְהוּדָ֛ה (Judah) אִשָּׁ֖ה (a wife) לְעֵ֣ר (for Er) בְּכוֹר֑וֹ (his firstborn), וּשְׁמָ֖הּ (and her name was) תָּמָֽר׃ (Tamar). 7  וַיְהִ֗י (And was) עֵ֚ר (Er), בְּכ֣וֹר (firstborn) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah), רַ֖ע (evil) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH); וַיְמִתֵ֖הוּ (and killed him) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH). 8  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוּדָה֙ (Judah) לְאוֹנָ֔ן (to Onan), בֹּ֛א (Go in) אֶל־ (to) אֵ֥שֶׁת (the wife) אָחִ֖יךָ (of your brother), וְיַבֵּ֣ם (and perform the dury of a brother-in-law) אֹתָ֑הּ (to her), וְהָקֵ֥ם (and raise up) זֶ֖רַע (seed) לְאָחִֽיךָ׃ (for your brother).

9  וַיֵּ֣דַע (And knew) אוֹנָ֔ן (Onan) כִּ֛י (that) לֹּ֥א (not) ל֖וֹ (to him) יִהְיֶ֣ה (would belong) הַזָּ֑רַע (the seed), וְהָיָ֞ה (and it came to pass), אִם־ (when) בָּ֨א (he went in) אֶל־ (to) אֵ֤שֶׁת (the wife) אָחִיו֙ (of his brother), וְשִׁחֵ֣ת (that he destroyed it) אַ֔רְצָה (on the earth), לְבִלְתִּ֥י (so that he would not) נְתָן־ (give) זֶ֖רַע (seed) לְאָחִֽיו׃ (to his brother). 10  וַיֵּ֛רַע (And was evil) בְּעֵינֵ֥י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (what) עָשָׂ֑ה (he did), וַיָּ֖מֶת (and He killed) גַּם־ (also) אֹתֽוֹ׃ (him).

11  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יְהוּדָה֩ (Judah) לְתָמָ֨ר (to Tamar) כַּלָּת֜וֹ (his daughter-in-law), שְׁבִ֧י (Remain) אַלְמָנָ֣ה (a widow) בֵית־ (in the house) אָבִ֗יךְ (of your father) עַד־ (until) יִגְדַּל֙ (is grown) שֵׁלָ֣ה (Shelah) בְנִ֔י (my son). כִּ֣י (For) אָמַ֔ר (he said), פֶּן־ (Lest) יָמ֥וּת (die) גַּם־ (also) ה֖וּא (he) כְּאֶחָ֑יו (like his brothers). וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ (And went) תָּמָ֔ר (Tamar) וַתֵּ֖שֶׁב (and dwelt) בֵּ֥ית (in the house) אָבִֽיהָ׃ (of her father).

12  וַיִּרְבּוּ֙ (And multiplied) הַיָּמִ֔ים (the days), וַתָּ֖מָת (and died) בַּת־ (the daughter) שׁ֣וּעַ (of Shua), אֵֽשֶׁת־ (wife) יְהוּדָ֑ה (of Judah). וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם (And was comforted) יְהוּדָ֗ה (Judah), וַיַּ֜עַל (and he went up) עַל־ (to) גֹּֽזֲזֵ֤י (the shearers) צֹאנוֹ֙ (of his sheep) ה֗וּא (he) וְחִירָ֛ה (and Hirah) רֵעֵ֥הוּ (his friend), הָעֲדֻלָּמִ֖י (the Adullamite), תִּמְנָֽתָה׃ (at Timnah). 13  וַיֻּגַּ֥ד (And it was told) לְתָמָ֖ר (to Tamar), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), הִנֵּ֥ה (Behold), חָמִ֛יךְ (your father-in-law) עֹלֶ֥ה (is going up) תִמְנָ֖תָה (to Timnah) לָגֹ֥ז (to shear) צֹאנֽוֹ׃ (his sheep). 14  וַתָּסַר֩ (And she took off) בִּגְדֵ֨י (the garments) אַלְמְנוּתָ֜הּ (of her widowhood) מֵֽעָלֶ֗יהָ (from her), וַתְּכַ֤ס (and covered herself) בַּצָּעִיף֙ (with a veil), וַתִּתְעַלָּ֔ף (and wrapped herself), וַתֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ (and sat) בְּפֶ֣תַח (in the entrance) עֵינַ֔יִם (of Enaim) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (which is) עַל־ (on) דֶּ֣רֶךְ (the way) תִּמְנָ֑תָה (to Timnah). כִּ֤י (For) רָאֲתָה֙ (she saw) כִּֽי־ (that) גָדַ֣ל (had grown) שֵׁלָ֔ה (Shelah), וְהִ֕וא (and she) לֹֽא־ (not) נִתְּנָ֥ה (was given) ל֖וֹ (to him) לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ (for a wife).

15  וַיִּרְאֶ֣הָ (And saw her) יְהוּדָ֔ה (Judah) וַֽיַּחְשְׁבֶ֖הָ (and he thought her) לְזוֹנָ֑ה (for a prostitute), כִּ֥י (because) כִסְּתָ֖ה (she had covered) פָּנֶֽיהָ׃ (her face). 16  וַיֵּ֨ט (And he turned aside) אֵלֶ֜יהָ (to her) אֶל־ (by) הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ (the way) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said), הָֽבָה־ (Come now), נָּא֙ (please), אָב֣וֹא (let me come in) אֵלַ֔יִךְ (to you). כִּ֚י (For) לֹ֣א (not) יָדַ֔ע (he did know) כִּ֥י (that) כַלָּת֖וֹ (his daughter-in-law) הִ֑וא (she was).

וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And she said), מַה־ (What) תִּתֶּן־ (will you give) לִּ֔י (to me) כִּ֥י (that) תָב֖וֹא (you may come in) אֵלָֽי׃ (to me).

17  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), אָנֹכִ֛י (I)— אֲשַׁלַּ֥ח (I will send) גְּדִֽי־ (a kid) עִזִּ֖ים (of the goats) מִן־ (from) הַצֹּ֑אן (the flock).

וַתֹּ֕אמֶר (And she said), אִם־ (Only if) תִּתֵּ֥ן (will you give me) עֵרָב֖וֹן (a pledge), עַ֥ד (until) שָׁלְחֶֽךָ׃ (you send it)?

18  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And he said), מָ֣ה (What) הָֽעֵרָבוֹן֮ (is the pledge) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) אֶתֶּן־ (I shall give) לָּךְ֒ (to you)?

וַתֹּ֗אמֶר (And she said), חֹתָֽמְךָ֙ (Your seal), וּפְתִילֶ֔ךָ (and your cord), וּמַטְּךָ֖ (and your staff) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that is) בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ (in your hand). וַיִּתֶּן־ (And he gave them) לָּ֛הּ (to her) וַיָּבֹ֥א (and went in) אֵלֶ֖יהָ (to her), וַתַּ֥הַר (and she conceived) לֽוֹ׃ (by him). 19  וַתָּ֣קָם (And she arose), וַתֵּ֔לֶךְ (and went away), וַתָּ֥סַר (and she took off) צְעִיפָ֖הּ (her veil) מֵעָלֶ֑יהָ (from her), וַתִּלְבַּ֖שׁ (and she put on) בִּגְדֵ֥י (the garments) אַלְמְנוּתָֽהּ׃ (of her widowhood).

20  וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (And sent) יְהוּדָ֜ה (Judah) אֶת־ (-) גְּדִ֣י (the kid) הָֽעִזִּ֗ים (of the goats) בְּיַד֙ (by the hand) רֵעֵ֣הוּ (of his friend) הָֽעֲדֻלָּמִ֔י (the Adullamite), לָקַ֥חַת (to receive) הָעֵרָב֖וֹן (the pledge) מִיַּ֣ד (from the hand) הָאִשָּׁ֑ה (of the woman); וְלֹ֖א (and not) מְצָאָֽהּ׃ (he did find her). 21  וַיִּשְׁאַ֞ל (And he asked) אֶת־ (-) אַנְשֵׁ֤י (the men) מְקֹמָהּ֙ (of her place), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), אַיֵּ֧ה (Where is) הַקְּדֵשָׁ֛ה (the temple prostitute)— הִ֥וא (she was) בָעֵינַ֖יִם (in Enaim) עַל־ (by) הַדָּ֑רֶךְ (the way)?

וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (And they said), לֹא־ (No) הָיְתָ֥ה (there has been) בָזֶ֖ה (in this place) קְדֵשָֽׁה׃ (temple prostitute).

22  וַיָּ֙שָׁב֙ (And he returned) אֶל־ (to) יְהוּדָ֔ה (Judah) וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (and said), לֹ֣א (Not) מְצָאתִ֑יהָ (I did find her), וְגַ֨ם (and) אַנְשֵׁ֤י (the men) הַמָּקוֹם֙ (of the place) אָֽמְר֔וּ (said), לֹא־ (No) הָיְתָ֥ה (there has been) בָזֶ֖ה (in this place) קְדֵשָֽׁה׃ (temple prostitute).

23  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) יְהוּדָה֙ (Judah), תִּֽקַּֽח־ (Let her take them) לָ֔הּ (for herself), פֶּ֖ן (lest) נִהְיֶ֣ה (we become) לָב֑וּז (despised). הִנֵּ֤ה (Behold), שָׁלַ֙חְתִּי֙ (I sent) הַגְּדִ֣י (kid) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), וְאַתָּ֖ה (and you) לֹ֥א (not) מְצָאתָֽהּ׃ (have found her).

24  וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass), כְּמִשְׁלֹ֣שׁ (about three) חֳדָשִׁ֗ים (months later) וַיֻּגַּ֨ד (that it was told) לִֽיהוּדָ֤ה (to Judah), לֵֽאמֹר֙ (saying), זָֽנְתָה֙ (Has played the prostitute) תָּמָ֣ר (Tamar), כַּלָּתֶ֔ךָ (your daughter-in-law); וְגַ֛ם (and also), הִנֵּ֥ה (behold), הָרָ֖ה (she is pregnant) לִזְנוּנִ֑ים (by prostitution).

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) יְהוּדָ֔ה (Judah), הוֹצִיא֖וּהָ (Bring her out) וְתִשָּׂרֵֽף׃ (and let her be burned).

25  הִ֣וא (She) מוּצֵ֗את (was being brought out), וְהִ֨יא (and she) שָׁלְחָ֤ה (sent) אֶל־ (to) חָמִ֙יהָ֙ (her father-in-law), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), לְאִישׁ֙ (By the man) אֲשֶׁר־ (to whom) אֵ֣לֶּה (these) לּ֔וֹ (belong), אָנֹכִ֖י (I) הָרָ֑ה (am pregnant). וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (And she said), הַכֶּר־ (Recognize), נָ֔א (please), לְמִ֞י (to whom is) הַחֹתֶ֧מֶת (the signet), וְהַפְּתִילִ֛ים (and the cords), וְהַמַּטֶּ֖ה (and the staff) הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (these).

26  וַיַּכֵּ֣ר (And recognized them) יְהוּדָ֗ה (Judah) וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said), צָֽדְקָ֣ה (She is more righteous) מִמֶּ֔נִּי (than I) כִּֽי־ (for) עַל־ (upon) כֵּ֥ן (thus) לֹא־ (not) נְתַתִּ֖יהָ (I did give her) לְשֵׁלָ֣ה (to Shelah) בְנִ֑י (my son). וְלֹֽא־ (And not) יָסַ֥ף (he did continue) ע֖וֹד (anymore) לְדַעְתָּֽה׃ (to know her).

The Birth of Perez and Zerah

27  וַיְהִ֖י (And it came to pass), בְּעֵ֣ת (at the time) לִדְתָּ֑הּ (of her giving birth), וְהִנֵּ֥ה (that behold), תְאוֹמִ֖ים (twins were) בְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃ (in her womb). 28  וַיְהִ֥י (And it came to pass), בְלִדְתָּ֖הּ (when she was giving birth), וַיִּתֶּן־ (that one put out) יָ֑ד (a hand); וַתִּקַּ֣ח (and took it) הַמְיַלֶּ֗דֶת (the midwife) וַתִּקְשֹׁ֨ר (and tied) עַל־ (on) יָד֤וֹ (his hand) שָׁנִי֙ (a scarlet thread), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), זֶ֖ה (This one) יָצָ֥א (came out) רִאשֹׁנָֽה׃ (first). 29  וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass), כְּמֵשִׁ֣יב (as he was drawing back) יָד֗וֹ (his hand), וְהִנֵּה֙ (that behold), יָצָ֣א (came out) אָחִ֔יו (his brother); וַתֹּ֕אמֶר (and she said), מַה־ (How) פָּרַ֖צְתָּ (you have burst forth)— עָלֶ֣יךָ (for yourself) פָּ֑רֶץ (a breach)! וַיִּקְרָ֥א (And he called) שְׁמ֖וֹ (his name) פָּֽרֶץ׃ (Perez). 30  וְאַחַר֙ (And afterward) יָצָ֣א (came out) אָחִ֔יו (his brother) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who had) עַל־ (on) יָד֖וֹ (his hand) הַשָּׁנִ֑י (the scarlet thread), וַיִּקְרָ֥א (and was called) שְׁמ֖וֹ (his name) זָֽרַח׃ס (Zerah).