New King James Version

English Standard Version

1It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah.

1It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.

2And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her.

2There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her,

3So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er.

3and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er.

4She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.

4She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.

5And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.

5Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him.

6Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

6And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

7But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him.

7But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD put him to death.

8And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.”

8Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”

9But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother.

9But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother’s wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother.

10And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also.

10And what he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also.

11Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.

11Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, till Shelah my son grows up”—for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father’s house.

12Now 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.

12In 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.

13And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

13And when Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,”

14So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife.

14she took off her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage.

15When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face.

15When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.

16Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

16He turned to her at the roadside and said, “Come, let me come in to you,” for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

17And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.” So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”

17He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—”

18Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

18He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

19So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.

19Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood.

20And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her.

20When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her.

21Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?” And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.”

21And he asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute who was at Enaim at the roadside?” And they said, “No cult prostitute has been here.”

22So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.”

22So he returned to Judah and said, “I have not found her. Also, the men of the place said, ‘No cult prostitute has been here.’”

23Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”

23And Judah replied, “Let her keep the things as her own, or we shall be laughed at. You see, I sent this young goat, and you did not find her.”

24And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”

24About three months later Judah was told, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality.” And Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.”

25When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.”

25As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.”

26So 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.

26Then 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.

27Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb.

27When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb.

28And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.”

28And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.”

29Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez.

29But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” Therefore his name was called Perez.

30Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.

30Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.