Genesis 38:15
 Genesis 38:15 
New International Version (©2011)
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Judah noticed her and thought she was a prostitute, since she had covered her face.

English Standard Version (©2001)
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, for she had covered her face.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.

International Standard Version (©2012)
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, since she had concealed her face.

NET Bible (©2006)
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; because she had covered her face.

American King James Version
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.

American Standard Version
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she had covered her face.

Douay-Rheims Bible
When Juda saw her, he thought she was a harlot: for she had covered her face, lest she should be known.

Darby Bible Translation
And Judah saw her, and took her for a harlot; because she had covered her face.

English Revised Version
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; for she had covered her face.

Webster's Bible Translation
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; because she had covered her face.

World English Bible
When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.

Young's Literal Translation
And Judah seeth her, and reckoneth her for a harlot, for she hath covered her face,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

38:1-30 The profligate conduct of Judah and his family. - This chapter gives an account of Judah and his family, and such an account it is, that it seems a wonder that of all Jacob's sons, our Lord should spring out of Judah, Heb 7:14. But God will show that his choice is of grace and not of merit, and that Christ came into the world to save sinners, even the chief. Also, that the worthiness of Christ is of himself, and not from his ancestors. How little reason had the Jews, who were so called from this Judah, to boast as they did, Joh 8:41. What awful examples the Lord proclaims in his punishments, of his utter displeasure at sin! Let us seek grace from God to avoid every appearance of sin. And let that state of humbleness to which Jesus submitted, when he came to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, in appointing such characters as those here recorded, to be his ancestors, endear the Redeemer to our hearts.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 15. - When (literally, and) Judah saw her, he (literally, and he) thought her to be an harlot; - literally, thought her (i.e. took her for) an harlot, like λογίζεσθαι τινα de r& (cf. 1 Samuel 1:13; Job 13:24), or to זונָה (fem. part. of זָנַה, commit fornication); vide Genesis 34:31 - because she had covered her face - more meretricis.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot,.... By her posture and the place she was in:

because she had covered her face; with her veil, that he did not know her; for this is not given as a reason why he took her to be an harlot; the reason of this was, because she sat in the public road; but having covered her face he could not discern who she was, and therefore, from the other circumstance, concluded that she was an harlot, and sat there to prostitute herself to any that passed by.


Genesis 38:15 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Judah and Tamar
14And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a veil, 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 to him to wife. 15When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face. 16And he turned to her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray you, let me come in to you; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What will you give me, that you may come in to me? …

Genesis 38:14 she took off her widow's clothes, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and then sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife.
Genesis 38:16 Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her by the roadside and said, "Come now, let me sleep with you." "And what will you give me to sleep with you?" she asked.
Proverbs 7:10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.