Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah, to the men who were shearing his sheep, and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went with him. New Living Translation Some years later Judah’s wife died. After the time of mourning was over, Judah and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to Timnah to supervise the shearing of his sheep. English Standard Version In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua’s daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. Berean Standard Bible After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah. Berean Literal Bible And the days multiplied, and Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. And Judah was comforted, and he went up to the shearers of his sheep, he and Hirah his friend, the Adullamite, at Timnah. King James Bible And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. New King James Version Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. New American Standard Bible 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. NASB 1995 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. NASB 1977 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. Legacy Standard Bible And after a considerable time, Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Then Judah was comforted, and he went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. Amplified Bible But quite a while later, Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died; and when the time of mourning was ended, he went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah with his friend Hirah the Adullamite. Berean Annotated Bible After a long time Judah’s (praised) wife, the daughter of Shua (wealth), died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah (a noble family) the Adullamite went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah (portion). Christian Standard Bible After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers. Holman Christian Standard Bible After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to Timnah to the sheepshearers. American Standard Version And in process of time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheep-shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. Contemporary English Version Some years later Judah's wife died, and he mourned for her. He then went with his friend Hirah to the town of Timnah, where his sheep were being sheared. English Revised Version And in process of time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. GOD'S WORD® Translation After a long time Judah's wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah from Adullam went to Timnah where the men were shearing Judah's sheep. Good News Translation After some time Judah's wife died. When he had finished the time of mourning, he and his friend Hirah of Adullam went to Timnah, where his sheep were being sheared. International Standard Version Some years later, Shua's daughter (that is, Judah's wife) died. As Judah was grieving, he visited the shearers of his flock in Timnah, accompanied by his Adullamite friend Hirah. NET Bible After some time Judah's wife, the daughter of Shua, died. After Judah was consoled, he left for Timnah to visit his sheepshearers, along with his friend Hirah the Adullamite. New Heart English Bible After some time, Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. And Judah finished mourning, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. Webster's Bible Translation And in process of time, the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died: and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep-shearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAfter a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah. World English Bible 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the days are multiplied, and the daughter of Shuah, Judah’s wife, dies; and Judah is comforted, and goes up to his sheep-shearers, he and Hirah his friend the Adullamite, to Timnath. Berean Literal Bible And the days multiplied, and Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. And Judah was comforted, and he went up to the shearers of his sheep, he and Hirah his friend, the Adullamite, at Timnah. Young's Literal Translation 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. Smith's Literal Translation And the days will be multiplied, and the daughter of Shuah, Judah's wife, will die; and Judah will be comforted, and will go up to the shearers of his sheep, he and Hirah his friend the Adullamite, to Timnath. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd after many days were past, the daughter of Sue the wife of Juda died: and when he had taken comfort after his mourning, he went up to Thamnas, to the shearers of his sheep, he and Hiras the Odollamite the shepherd of his flock. Catholic Public Domain Version 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. New American Bible Time passed, and the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died. After Judah completed the period of mourning, he went up to Timnah, to those who were shearing his sheep, in company with his friend Hirah the Adullamite. New Revised Standard Version In course of time the wife of Judah, Shua’s daughter, died; when Judah’s time of mourning was over, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd in the course of time Shuah's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Arlemite. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And days multiplied and the daughter of Shua, the wife of Yehuda, died, and Yehuda was comforted and he came up to the shearers of his flock, he and Khira his friend, the Arlemite, to Tamnath. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And in process of time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheep-shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the days were fulfilled, and Sava the wife of Judas died; and Judas, being comforted, went to them that sheared his sheep, himself and Iras his Shepherd the Odollamite, to Thamna. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Judah and Tamar…11Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house. 12After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah. 13When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,”… Cross References After a long time 1 Kings 18:1 After a long time, in the third year of the drought, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the face of the earth.” 2 Samuel 13:23 Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the sons of the king. Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. Genesis 23:1-2 Now Sarah lived to be 127 years old. / She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went out to mourn and to weep for her. Ezekiel 24:15-18 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow. / Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.” … When Judah had finished mourning, 2 Samuel 12:20-23 Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate. / “What is this you have done?” his servants asked. “While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate.” / David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’ … Genesis 50:10 When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, which is across the Jordan, they lamented and wailed loudly, and Joseph mourned for his father seven days. Deuteronomy 34:8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end. he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite 1 Samuel 22:1-2 So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. / And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. 2 Samuel 23:13-17 At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. / At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. / David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” … Joshua 15:35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah. Judges 14:1-2 One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman. / So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.” 1 Samuel 25:2-8 Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. He was a very wealthy man with a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. / His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings. / While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. … 1 Samuel 25:36-38 When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light. / In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these events, and his heart failed within him, and he became like a stone. / About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal dead. Ruth 1:3-5 Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons, / who took Moabite women as their wives, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. And after they had lived in Moab about ten years, / both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband. 2 Samuel 13:38-39 After Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, he stayed there three years. / And King David longed to go to Absalom, for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death. 1 Kings 2:13-25 Now Adonijah son of Haggith went to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, and she asked, “Do you come in peace?” “Yes, in peace,” he replied. / Then he said, “I have something to tell you.” “Say it,” she answered. / “You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD. … Treasury of Scripture And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep shearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. in process of time. Genesis 24:67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death. 2 Samuel 13:39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead. sheep shearers. Genesis 31:19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's. 1 Samuel 25:4-8,36 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep… 2 Samuel 13:23-29 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons… Timnath. Joshua 15:10,35,37 And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah: … Timnah. Joshua 19:43 And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron, Thimnathah. Judges 14:1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. Jump to Previous Adullam Adullamite Bath-Shua Comforted Considerable Course Cutting Daughter Died End Ended Friend Grief Hirah Judah Judah's Loss Mourning Multiplied Process Recovered Shearing Sheep Sheepshearers Sheep-Shearers Shua Shuah Shua's Time Timnah Timnath WifeJump to Next Adullam Adullamite Bath-Shua Comforted Considerable Course Cutting Daughter Died End Ended Friend Grief Hirah Judah Judah's Loss Mourning Multiplied Process Recovered Shearing Sheep Sheepshearers Sheep-Shearers Shua Shuah Shua's Time Timnah Timnath WifeGenesis 38 1. Judah begets Er, Onan, and Shelah.6. Er's marriage with Tamar, and death. 8. The trespass of Onan. 11. Tamar is reserved for Shelah. 12. Judah's wife dies. 13. Tamar deceives Judah. 27. She bears twins, Pharez and Zarah. After a long time This phrase indicates a significant passage of time since the events previously described in Genesis 38. It suggests a period of waiting or transition, which is a common theme in biblical narratives. The passage of time often sets the stage for new developments or divine interventions. Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah. Persons / Places / Events 1. JudahOne of the twelve sons of Jacob, Judah is a central figure in this account. His actions and decisions play a significant role in the unfolding events of Genesis 38. 2. Judah's Wife, the Daughter of Shua Although unnamed, she is significant as Judah's wife and the mother of his children. Her death marks a turning point in the account. 3. Hirah the Adullamite A friend of Judah, Hirah accompanies him to Timnah. His presence highlights the social and cultural practices of the time. 4. Timnah A location in the account where Judah goes to shear his sheep. It serves as the setting for subsequent events in the chapter. 5. Sheep Shearing An event that was not only agricultural but also social, often accompanied by festivities and gatherings. Teaching Points The Impact of LossJudah's response to his wife's death shows the human experience of grief and the need for community support during mourning. Friendship and Influence Hirah's role as Judah's companion reminds us of the influence friends can have on our decisions and actions. Cultural Practices Understanding the cultural context of sheep shearing helps us see how everyday events can lead to significant spiritual and moral decisions. Moral Complexity Judah's account is a reminder that God can work through flawed individuals to fulfill His purposes, encouraging us to seek redemption and transformation. Legacy and Lineage Despite personal failures, Judah's lineage plays a crucial role in God's redemptive plan, pointing to the grace and sovereignty of God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 38:12?2. How does Genesis 38:12 illustrate the consequences of ignoring God's moral laws? 3. What can we learn from Judah's actions in Genesis 38:12 about accountability? 4. How does Genesis 38:12 connect to the broader narrative of Judah's lineage? 5. In what ways can Genesis 38:12 guide us in making righteous decisions today? 6. How does the phrase "Judah's wife died" impact the unfolding events in Genesis 38? 7. Why did Judah not mourn longer for his wife in Genesis 38:12? 8. What cultural practices influenced Judah's actions in Genesis 38:12? 9. How does Genesis 38:12 fit into the larger narrative of Judah and Tamar? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 38? 11. In Genesis 38 overall, how does this morally complex story align with the broader biblical narrative on sexual ethics and lineage preservation? 12. In Genesis 38:14–18, how credible is it historically that Judah would fail to recognize his own daughter-in-law simply because she covered her face? 13. In Genesis 38:25-26, why does Judah suddenly shift from condemning Tamar to declaring her 'more righteous' than he is, without any direct divine intervention or clear moral explanation? 14. How does 1 Chronicles 2:3-4 align with Genesis 38 regarding Judah and Tamar's lineage, and does it create inconsistencies? What Does Genesis 38:12 Mean After a long time“After a long time” signals that Judah’s household life settled into a routine after the deaths of Er and Onan (Genesis 38:7–10). • Scripture often notes lengthy intervals to remind us that God’s plans unfold over years, not moments (Genesis 17:1; Galatians 4:4). • Seasons of quiet do not mean God is absent; He is preparing the next step, as He later does through Tamar’s surprising role in the Messiah’s lineage (Matthew 1:3). Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died The unnamed Canaanite woman who once drew Judah away from his brothers now exits the story (Genesis 38:2). • Her death underscores the cost of Judah’s earlier choice to marry outside the covenant line, paralleling Esau’s unions that “brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah” (Genesis 26:34–35). • Though her name is unrecorded, Scripture fully records the event, affirming the literal reality of every life and death in the narrative. When Judah had finished mourning A defined period of grief follows, just as Jacob mourned Joseph (Genesis 37:34) and Israel mourned Moses thirty days (Deuteronomy 34:8). • Mourning was public and time-bound, acknowledging both loss and God’s sovereignty over life and death (Psalm 90:3–4). • Finishing mourning does not mean forgetting; it signals readiness to re-engage with responsibilities the Lord still assigns. He and his friend Hirah the Adullamite Hirah, first mentioned in Genesis 38:1, remains a steady companion. • Friendship can reinforce for good or ill; Jonathon strengthened David “in God” (1 Samuel 23:16), while Rehoboam’s peers misled him (1 Kings 12:8). • Judah’s ongoing link with a Canaanite associate hints that his relational circle still lies outside covenant boundaries, setting the stage for God’s corrective work through Tamar. Went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah “Sheepshearers” season was a time of profit and festivity (1 Samuel 25:2–8; 2 Samuel 13:23). • Traveling “up” signals leaving the lowland valley for the higher hills around Timnah, an ancient town later allotted to Dan (Joshua 19:43). • The festive mood often invited moral laxity—exactly the backdrop in which Tamar will act (Genesis 38:13–15). • God overrules every setting—even a routine business trip—to advance His redemptive purposes (Romans 8:28). summary Genesis 38:12 marks a turning point for Judah: years pass, his wife dies, mourning ends, and a routine trip begins. Yet each ordinary detail is woven by God into an extraordinary plan that will confront Judah’s compromises, preserve Tamar, and ultimately further the lineage leading to Christ (Ruth 4:18–22; Matthew 1:3). The verse reminds us that nothing in a believer’s calendar is trivial; in every season, God is faithfully at work. (12) Timnath.--There were two places of this name (Joshua 15:10; Joshua 15:57). One was a little to the west of Bethlehem, the other upon the Philistine border, beyond Bethshemesh. As it lay, however, only about seven miles beyond Adullam, and as the flocks there were Judah's private property (Genesis 38:13), and under the charge of Hirah, this remoter place, now called Tibneh, is probably the Timnath meant, as at Bethlehem the pastures were occupied by his father. (See also Genesis 38:14.) For the sheep-shearing, see Genesis 31:19. Instead of "his friend Hirah," the LXX. and Vulg. render his shepherd Hirah. This would require no change in the consonants, but only in the vowels. Most of the other authorities agree with the Authorised Version; but even so, there was most probably some partnership between Judah and Hirah in these flocks, and they would be under Hirah's charge whenever Judah was absent, tending the flocks of his father.Verse 12. - And in process of time - literally, and the days were multiplied (cf. Genesis 4:3), which is rendered by the same words in the A.V. - the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted (or, comforted himself, ceased to mourn), and went up unto his sheep-shearers (vide Genesis 31:19) to Timnath, - a border town between Ekron and Bethshemesh (Joshua 15:10) in the plain of Judah (Kalisch, Wordsworth, W. L. Alexander in Kitto's 'Cyclopedia'); but more probably here a town (Joshua 15:57) in the mountains of Judah (Robinson, 2:343, Keil, Alford, 'Speaker's Commentary') - he and his friend - ὁ ποιμὴν αὐτοῦ (LXX.) - Hirah the Adullamite.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew After a longוַיִּרְבּוּ֙ (way·yir·bū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great time הַיָּמִ֔ים (hay·yā·mîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3117: A day Judah’s יְהוּדָ֑ה (yə·hū·ḏāh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites wife, אֵֽשֶׁת־ (’ê·šeṯ-) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female the daughter בַּת־ (baṯ-) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 1323: A daughter of Shua, שׁ֣וּעַ (šū·a‘) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 7770: Shua -- father of Judah's wife died. וַתָּ֖מָת (wat·tā·māṯ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 4191: To die, to kill When Judah יְהוּדָ֗ה (yə·hū·ḏāh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites had finished mourning, וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם (way·yin·nā·ḥem) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5162: To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avenge he ה֗וּא (hū) Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are and his friend רֵעֵ֥הוּ (rê·‘ê·hū) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow Hirah וְחִירָ֛ה (wə·ḥî·rāh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 2437: Hirah -- a friend of Judah the Adullamite הָעֲדֻלָּמִ֖י (hā·‘ă·ḏul·lā·mî) Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 5726: Adullamite -- inhabitant of Adullam went up וַיַּ֜עַל (way·ya·‘al) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively to עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against his sheepshearers גֹּֽזֲזֵ֤י (gō·ză·zê) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct Strong's 1494: To cut off, to shear a, flock, shave the hair, to destroy an enemy at Timnah. תִּמְנָֽתָה׃ (tim·nā·ṯāh) Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 8553: Timnah -- 'territory', two cities in Judah Links Genesis 38:12 NIVGenesis 38:12 NLT Genesis 38:12 ESV Genesis 38:12 NASB Genesis 38:12 KJV Genesis 38:12 BibleApps.com Genesis 38:12 Biblia Paralela Genesis 38:12 Chinese Bible Genesis 38:12 French Bible Genesis 38:12 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 38:12 After many days Shua's daughter the wife (Gen. 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