Genesis 38:18

“And he said, What pledge shall I giue thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staffe, that is in thine hand: and he gaue it her, & came in vnto her, and she conceived by him.”

1611 King James Version (KJV)




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Other Translations

And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that [is] in thine hand. And he gave [it] her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
- King James Version

He said, "What pledge shall I give you? And she said, "Your seal 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."
- New American Standard Version (1995)

And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet and thy cord, and thy staff that is in thy hand. And he gave them to her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
- American Standard Version (1901)

And he said, What would you have? And she said, Your ring and its cord and the stick in your hand. So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she became with child by him.
- Basic English Bible

And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy lace, and thy staff which is in thy hand. And he gave [it] her, and went in to her; and she conceived by him.
- Darby Bible

And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? and she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thy hand: and he gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.
- Webster's Bible

He said, "What pledge will I give you?" She said, "Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand." He gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.
- World English Bible

and he saith, `What [is] the pledge that I give to thee?' and she saith, `Thy seal, and thy ribbon, and thy staff which [is] in thy hand;' and he giveth to her, and goeth in unto her, and she conceiveth to him;
- Youngs Literal Bible

And he said: 'What pledge shall I give thee?' And she said: 'Thy signet and thy cord, and thy staff that is in thy hand.' And he gave them to her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
- Jewish Publication Society Bible

Bible commentary

Discussion for Genesis 38

  • Dewey J
    Cesar, no he didn 't because she was impregnated by Judah. Even though that was the penalty in those days for adultery Tamar showed Judah and everyone else by presenting Proof of his signet, bracelets, and staff that Judah was the father Gen.38:25. Judah then confessed that Tamar had been more righteous than he. Tamar went approximately 6 months later to give birth to two sons Pharez and Zarah. God bless us all and also in the understanding of his Word. Praise God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen!
  • Dewey J
    Jeremiah, interesting post. However, We must conclude that as the Scripture says, Isa. 55:8,9 "For my thoughs are not your thought, neither, are your ways my ways...Though you or me haven 't committed that particular sin as Judah here we all have our own sin Rom.3:10 "As it is written,there is none righteous, no, not one. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Therefore, We are commanded by God in Lu.6:37 "Judge not that you be not judged. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus in all situations in life as well as all Biblical stories. Because Ep.2:8,9 says, "For by grace are we saved through faith and that is not of ourselves it is the gift of God not of works least any man should boast. God bless us all and also in the understanding of his Word. Bless the Lord with all my soul and all that is within me bless his Holy name through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen!
  • Peter mugendi mutara for verse 7
    am just amazed
  • Jeremiah
    vs 16 17 this is a strong conversation with Judah soliciting for sex from a harlot. who will think the LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH will come from such a disgraceful grandparent. many times its God 's way of doing things. He chooses that which we look down upon , the disqualified ,rejected. also it will have been an easy task for the devil to trace where or by who JESUS was born if GOD had used the obvious.
  • Judah really had her burned, wow.
  • Joseph
    Indeed the ways and thoughts of God are higher than ours Isaiah 55 8 9. God decides who He uses at any point in time. God knew that Jesus would come through the lineage of Judah and He allowed Judah to impregnate his daughter in law though Judah did not know that time and allowed her to bear twins, Pharez who was supposed to be the junior twin coming out before Zarah who was supposed to be the senior twin read verses 27 30 , similar to Jacob taking the position of Esau. The lesson i learnt is that no matter how sinful you might have been, God will have mercy on you if you come to Him just as you are and ask Him for mercy and pardon. Indeed God will have mercy upon whom He will have mercy and nobody can question Him! May we receive Grace to come to Him with all our burdens and sins and leave them at the feet of Jesus Christ in Jesus Name. Amen

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