Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not sleep with her again. New Living Translation Judah recognized them immediately and said, “She is more righteous than I am, because I didn’t arrange for her to marry my son Shelah.” And Judah never slept with Tamar again. English Standard Version Then Judah identified them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again. Berean Standard Bible Judah recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again. Berean Literal Bible And Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, for upon thus I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he did not continue to know her anymore. King James Bible And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. New King James Version So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again. New American Standard Bible And Judah recognized them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again. NASB 1995 Judah recognized them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again. NASB 1977 And Judah recognized them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again. Legacy Standard Bible And Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again. Amplified Bible Judah recognized the articles, and said, “She has been more righteous [in this matter] than I, because I did not give her to my son Shelah [as I had promised].” And Judah did not have [intimate] relations with her again. Berean Annotated Bible Judah (praised) recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah (a petition). And he did not have relations with her again. Christian Standard Bible Judah recognized them and said, “She is more in the right than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her intimately again. Holman Christian Standard Bible Judah recognized them and said, “She is more in the right than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her intimately again. American Standard Version And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She is more righteous than I; forasmuch as I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. Contemporary English Version "Those are mine!" Judah admitted. "She's a better person than I am, because I broke my promise to let her marry my son Shelah." After this, Judah never slept with her again. English Revised Version And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She is more righteous than I; forasmuch as I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. GOD'S WORD® Translation Judah recognized them and said, "She's not guilty. I am! She did this because I haven't given her my son Shelah." Judah never made love to her again. Good News Translation Judah recognized them and said, "She is in the right. I have failed in my obligation to her--I should have given her to my son Shelah in marriage." And Judah never had intercourse with her again. International Standard Version When Judah recognized them, he admitted, "She is more upright than I, because I never did give her my son Shelah." And he never had sex with her again. NET Bible Judah recognized them and said, "She is more upright than I am, because I wouldn't give her to Shelah my son." He did not have sexual relations with her again. New Heart English Bible Then Judah recognized them, and said, " She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah." He did not sleep with her again. Webster's Bible Translation And Judah acknowledged them, and said She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son: and he knew her again no more. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleJudah recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again. World English Bible 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Judah discerns and says, “She has been more righteous than I, because that I did not give her to my son Shelah”; and he has not added to know her again. Berean Literal Bible And Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, for upon thus I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he did not continue to know her anymore. Young's Literal Translation 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. Smith's Literal Translation And Judah will recognise, and will say, She was justified more than I, because that I gave her not to Shelah my son: and he will not add to know her yet again. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut he acknowledging the gifts, said: She is juster than I: because I did not give her to Sela, my son. However, he knew her no more. Catholic Public Domain Version But he, acknowledging the gifts, said: “She is more just than I am. For I did not deliver her to my son Shelah.” However, he knew her no more. New American Bible Judah recognized them and said, “She is in the right rather than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” He had no further sexual relations with her. New Revised Standard Version Then Judah acknowledged them and said, “She is more in the right than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not lie with her again. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Judah recognized them, and said, She is more righteous than I; because I did not give her in marriage to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Yehuda knew and said, “She is innocent more than I, because of this, I did not give her to Shala my son”, and he did not have sexual relations with her again. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Judah acknowledged them, and said: 'She is more righteous than I; forasmuch as I gave her not to Shelah my son.' And he knew her again no more. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Judas knew them, and said, Thamar is cleared rather than I, forasmuch as I gave her not to Selom my son: and he knew her not again. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Judah and Tamar…25As she was being brought out, Tamar sent a message to her father-in-law: “I am pregnant by the man to whom these items belong.” And she added, “Please examine them. Whose seal and cord and staff are these?” 26Judah recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again. Cross References Judah recognized the items and said, Joshua 7:19-21 So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make a confession to Him. I urge you to tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” / “It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did: / When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” 2 Samuel 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy. “She is more righteous than I, 1 Samuel 24:17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil. Exodus 9:27 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he said. “The LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Genesis 44:16 “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.” since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” Deuteronomy 25:5-6 When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her. / The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. Matthew 22:24-28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. / Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died without having children. So he left his wife to his brother. / The same thing happened to the second and third brothers, down to the seventh. … Ruth 4:5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.” And he did not have relations with her again. Hebrews 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; / each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, / not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God; Matthew 1:3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. Ruth 4:12 And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.” 1 Chronicles 2:4 Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all. Hosea 4:14 I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin. Treasury of Scripture And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She has been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. acknowledged. Genesis 37:33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. She hath. 1 Samuel 24:17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 2 Samuel 24:17 And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house. Ezekiel 16:52 Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters. more righteous. Genesis 38:14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, 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 unto him to wife. And he knew. Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 Samuel 16:22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 2 Samuel 20:3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood. Jump to Previous Acknowledged Added Connection Forasmuch Inasmuch Judah Lie Openly Recognized Relations Righteous Shelah Sleep Upright Wouldn'tJump to Next Acknowledged Added Connection Forasmuch Inasmuch Judah Lie Openly Recognized Relations Righteous Shelah Sleep Upright Wouldn'tGenesis 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. Judah recognized the items and said Judah's recognition of the items—his seal, cord, and staff—marks a pivotal moment of self-awareness and confession. These items were personal identifiers, akin to a modern-day signature, and their recognition signifies Judah's acknowledgment of his actions. This moment is reminiscent of other biblical instances where individuals are confronted with their sins, such as Nathan confronting David (2 Samuel 12:7). It highlights the importance of personal accountability in biblical narratives. “She is more righteous than I since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again. Persons / Places / Events 1. JudahOne of the twelve sons of Jacob, Judah is a central figure in this account. He acknowledges his wrongdoing in not fulfilling his promise to Tamar. 2. Tamar The widow of Judah's son, she takes bold action to secure her rights and future, ultimately being declared more righteous than Judah. 3. Shelah Judah's youngest son, whom Judah had promised to Tamar as a husband, but failed to fulfill this promise. 4. The Event This verse captures the moment of Judah's recognition of his failure and Tamar's righteousness, highlighting themes of justice and accountability. Teaching Points Acknowledgment of SinJudah's admission, "She is more righteous than I," serves as a model for recognizing and confessing our own failures and sins. Righteousness and Justice Tamar's actions, though unconventional, highlight the importance of seeking justice and righteousness, even when it requires boldness. Consequences of Broken Promises Judah's failure to keep his promise to Tamar underscores the importance of integrity and the consequences of neglecting our commitments. Transformation and Redemption Judah's journey from deceit to acknowledgment of his wrongs illustrates the potential for personal transformation and redemption. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 38:26?2. How does Judah's admission of guilt in Genesis 38:26 demonstrate true repentance? 3. What can we learn about accountability from Judah's response in Genesis 38:26? 4. How does Genesis 38:26 connect to themes of justice and righteousness in Scripture? 5. How can we apply Judah's acknowledgment of Tamar's righteousness to our own lives? 6. What does Genesis 38:26 teach about recognizing and admitting personal wrongdoing? 7. Why did Judah acknowledge Tamar's righteousness in Genesis 38:26 despite her deception? 8. How does Genesis 38:26 reflect on the themes of justice and righteousness? 9. What cultural practices are highlighted in Genesis 38:26 regarding levirate marriage? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 38? 11. What happened to Tamar in the biblical narrative? 12. Who was Judah in the Bible? 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. In Genesis 38:1–11, why would God punish Onan’s refusal to father children for Tamar so severely, yet no comparable punishment is shown for Judah’s neglect of her? What Does Genesis 38:26 Mean Recognizing the items“Judah recognized the items…” (Genesis 38:26) • Judah’s seal, cord, and staff were unmistakably his; the evidence was undeniable, just as Jacob immediately recognized Joseph’s coat in Genesis 37:32. • God often confronts sin with clear, tangible proof (Numbers 32:23; Joshua 7:20-21). • Judah’s recognition signals the turning point from concealment to conviction—an echo of Psalm 51:3: “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” Acknowledging superior righteousness “…and said, ‘She is more righteous than I…’” • Judah openly admits Tamar’s moral standing surpasses his own, paralleling David’s admission to Nathan in 2 Samuel 12:13. • This moment underscores Matthew 7:3-5: removing the plank from one’s own eye before judging another. • Tamar’s actions, though unconventional, sought to uphold the levirate duty (Deuteronomy 25:5-10); Judah had evaded that duty. Confession of neglect “…‘since I did not give her to my son Shelah.’” • Judah pinpoints his specific failure: withholding Shelah from Tamar, thereby breaking his promise and the family responsibility established in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. • Like Saul admitting, “I have acted foolishly” (1 Samuel 26:21), Judah confesses the precise sin, not a vague mistake. • His admission validates Romans 3:23—“all have sinned”—and demonstrates that true repentance names the wrong committed. Commitment to purity “And he did not have relations with her again.” • Judah’s repentance moves beyond words to corrective action, reflecting Proverbs 28:13: “He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.” • By abstaining, he honors the integrity of the levirate provision without exploiting Tamar—similar to Joseph refusing Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39:9. • His changed behavior models James 2:17: faith and repentance are proven by deeds. summary Judah’s recognition of his own items confronted him with undeniable guilt. He acknowledged Tamar’s greater righteousness, confessed his failure to provide Shelah, and demonstrated genuine repentance by ending the illicit relationship. Genesis 38:26 shows God using clear evidence to expose sin, elicit humble confession, and produce practical change, affirming both His justice and His mercy in restoring a fallen sinner. Verse 26. - And Judah acknowledged (or discerned, ut supra, i.e. recognized) them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; - though Tamer was far from innocent (vide vex. 16), she was by no means as culpable as Judah - because that (כִּי־עַל־כֵּן, for, for this cause, i.e. that so it might hap, pen to me: vide Genesis 18:5) I gave her not to Shelah my son. And (in token of his penitence) he knew her again no more.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Judahיְהוּדָ֗ה (yə·hū·ḏāh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites recognized [the items] וַיַּכֵּ֣ר (way·yak·kêr) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5234: To regard, recognize and said, וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “She is more righteous צָֽדְקָ֣ה (ṣā·ḏə·qāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 6663: To be just or righteous than I, מִמֶּ֔נִּי (mim·men·nî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of since כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction I did not לֹא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no give נְתַתִּ֖יהָ (nə·ṯat·tî·hā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set her to my son בְנִ֑י (ḇə·nî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 1121: A son Shelah.” לְשֵׁלָ֣ה (lə·šê·lāh) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7956: Shelah -- a son of Judah And he did not וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no have relations with her לְדַעְתָּֽה׃ (lə·ḏa‘·tāh) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 3045: To know again. יָסַ֥ף (yā·sap̄) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3254: To add, augment Links Genesis 38:26 NIVGenesis 38:26 NLT Genesis 38:26 ESV Genesis 38:26 NASB Genesis 38:26 KJV Genesis 38:26 BibleApps.com Genesis 38:26 Biblia Paralela Genesis 38:26 Chinese Bible Genesis 38:26 French Bible Genesis 38:26 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 38:26 Judah acknowledged them and said She (Gen. 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