New International VersionNot 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.
New Living TranslationSo he stopped and propositioned her. “Let me have sex with you,” he said, not realizing that she was his own daughter-in-law. “How much will you pay to have sex with me?” Tamar asked.
English Standard VersionHe 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?”
Berean Standard BibleNot realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.” “What will you give me for sleeping with you?” she inquired.
King James BibleAnd he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
New King James VersionThen 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?”
New American Standard BibleSo he turned aside to her by the road, and said, “Here now, let me have relations with you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may have relations with me?”
NASB 1995So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, “Here now, let me come in to you"; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”
NASB 1977So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, “Here now, let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”
Legacy Standard BibleSo he turned aside to her by the road and said, “Here now, let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”
Amplified BibleHe turned to her by the road, and said, “Please come, let me lie with you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may lie with me?”
Christian Standard BibleHe went over to her and said, “Come, let me sleep with you,” for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me for sleeping with me? ”
Holman Christian Standard BibleHe went over to her and said, “Come, let me sleep with you,” for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me for sleeping with me?"”
American Standard VersionAnd he turned unto her by the way, and said, Come, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee: for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
Contemporary English Versionand asked her to sleep with him. She asked, "What will you give me if I do?"
English Revised VersionAnd he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee: for he knew not that she was his daughter in law. And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
GOD'S WORD® TranslationSince he didn't know she was his daughter-in-law, he approached her by the roadside and said, "Come on, let's sleep together!" She asked, "What will you pay to sleep with me?"
Good News TranslationHe went over to her at the side of the road and said, "All right, how much do you charge?" (He did not know that she was his daughter-in-law.) She said, "What will you give me?"
International Standard VersionSo on the way, he turned aside, approached her, and said, "Come on! Let's have some sex!" But he didn't realize that he was talking to his own daughter-in-law. "What will you give me," she asked, "in order to have sex with me?"
NET BibleHe turned aside to her along the road and said, "Come on! I want to have sex with you." (He did not realize it was his daughter-in-law.) She asked, "What will you give me in exchange for having sex with you?"
New Heart English BibleHe went over to her by the road and said, "Please come, let me sleep with you," for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, " What will you give me for sleeping with you?"
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd he turned to her by the way, and said, Come, I pray thee, let me have access to thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law:) and she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayst have access to me? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleNot realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.” “What will you give me for sleeping with you?” she inquired.
World English BibleHe turned to her by the way, and said, “Please come, let me come in to you,” for he didn’t know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand he turns aside to her by the way and says, “Please come, let me come in to you,” for he has not known that she [is] his daughter-in-law; and she says, “What do you give to me, that you may come in to me?”
Young's Literal Translation and he turneth aside unto her by the way, and saith, 'Come, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee,' (for he hath not known that she is his daughter-in-law); and she saith, 'What dost thou give to me, that thou mayest come in unto me?'
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd he will turn to her by the way, and will say, Now I will come in to thee; for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law: and she will say, What wilt thou give to me that thou wilt come in to me? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd going to her, he said: Suffer me to lie with thee: for he knew her not to be his daughter in law. And she answered: What wilt thou give me to en joy my company?
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd entering to her, he said, “Permit me to join with you.” For he did not know her to be his daughter-in-law. And she responded, “What will you give to me, to enjoy me as a concubine?”
New American BibleSo he went over to her at the roadside and said, “Come, let me have intercourse with you,” for he did not realize that she was his daughter-in-law. She replied, “What will you pay me for letting you have intercourse with me?”
New Revised Standard VersionHe went over 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?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he turned to her by the way and said to her, Come, let me come in unto you (for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law). And she said, What will you give me that you may come in unto me?
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd he turned aside to her on the road and he said to her, “Come, I shall come into you”, because he did not know that she was his daughter in law, and she said to him, “What will you give when you come into me?” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And he turned unto her by the way, and said: 'Come, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee'; for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said: 'What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?'
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd he went out of his way to her, and said to her, Let me come in to thee; for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law; and she said, What wilt thou give me if thou shouldest come in to me?
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Judah and Tamar… 15When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face. 16Notrealizingthatshewas his daughter-in-law,he went overto herand said,“Comenow,let me sleep withyou.”“Whatwill you givemeforsleeping withyou?”she inquired.17“I will send you a young goat from my flock,” Judah answered. But she replied, “Only if you leave me something as a pledge until you send it.”…
Cross References Leviticus 18:15You must not have sexual relations with your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife; you are not to have sexual relations with her.
Deuteronomy 25:5-10When 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. / But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.” ...
Ruth 4:5-10Then 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.” / The kinsman-redeemer replied, “I cannot redeem it myself, or I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I cannot redeem it.” / Now in former times in Israel, concerning the redemption or exchange of property, to make any matter legally binding a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party, and this was a confirmation in Israel. ...
Matthew 1:3Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.
1 Chronicles 2:4Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.
Hosea 4:14I 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.
Proverbs 7:10-13Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart. / She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home. / Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner. ...
Ezekiel 16:32You adulterous wife! You receive strangers instead of your own husband!
1 Corinthians 6:16Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.
Leviticus 20:12If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both must surely be put to death. They have acted perversely; their blood is upon them.
Deuteronomy 23:17No daughter or son of Israel is to be a shrine prostitute.
2 Samuel 13:11-14And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said, “Come lie with me, my sister!” / “No, my brother!” she cried. “Do not violate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! / Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” ...
Amos 2:7They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the earth; they push the needy out of their way. A man and his father have relations with the same girl and so profane My holy name.
Romans 1:24-27Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. / They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen. / For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. ...
Treasury of Scripture And 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? Go to. 2 Samuel 13:11 And when she had broughtthem unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister. What wilt. Deuteronomy 23:18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both theseare abomination unto the LORD thy God. Ezekiel 16:33 They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom. Matthew 26:15 And saidunto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. Jump to Previous AccessDaughterDaughter-In-LawIdeaLawMayestMaystPleasePriceRealizingRoadRoadsideSideTurnedTurnethTurningWayWiltJump to Next AccessDaughterDaughter-In-LawIdeaLawMayestMaystPleasePriceRealizingRoadRoadsideSideTurnedTurnethTurningWayWiltGenesis 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.Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-lawJudah's failure to recognize Tamar highlights the theme of deception and mistaken identity, which is prevalent in Genesis. This incident occurs after Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute, a common practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures where veiling was used to conceal identity. The lack of recognition also reflects Judah's spiritual blindness and moral decline, contrasting with his earlier role in selling Joseph into slavery. This moment foreshadows later biblical narratives where identity plays a crucial role, such as Jacob's deception of Isaac and Joseph's brothers not recognizing him in Egypt. he went over to her and said,
Judah's approach to Tamar signifies a departure from his familial responsibilities and a descent into moral compromise. This action takes place in the region of Enaim, a location that underscores the theme of "eyes" or "sight," as the name suggests. The geographical setting serves as a backdrop for Judah's lack of spiritual insight. His decision to engage with a perceived prostitute reflects the cultural norms of Canaanite society, where such interactions were not uncommon, yet it also highlights the contrast between Canaanite practices and the ethical standards expected of the descendants of Abraham. “Come now, let me sleep with you.”
Judah's proposition reveals his impulsive nature and susceptibility to temptation. This phrase underscores the moral challenges faced by the patriarchs and their descendants, illustrating the ongoing struggle between fleshly desires and covenantal faithfulness. The request also echoes the broader biblical narrative of sexual immorality leading to significant consequences, as seen in the stories of Sodom and Gomorrah and later in the life of King David. This moment serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of yielding to sinful impulses. “What will you give me for sleeping with you?” she inquired.
Tamar's response indicates her awareness of the transactional nature of the encounter and her strategic thinking. In the ancient Near East, the exchange of goods or tokens was customary in such interactions, reflecting the economic dimensions of sexual relations outside of marriage. Tamar's question sets the stage for her securing Judah's personal items as a pledge, which becomes pivotal in the narrative. This exchange prefigures later biblical themes of redemption and restitution, as seen in the story of Ruth and Boaz, where a kinsman-redeemer plays a crucial role. Persons / Places / Events 1. JudahOne of the twelve sons of Jacob, Judah is a central figure in this account. He unknowingly engages in an encounter with his daughter-in-law, Tamar, which leads to significant consequences for his family line. 2. TamarThe widow of Judah's son, she disguises herself to secure her rights and future within Judah's family, highlighting themes of justice and desperation. 3. The RoadsideThe setting of this encounter, symbolizing a place of transition and decision, where Judah's actions have lasting implications. 4. The DisguiseTamar's disguise is pivotal, as it leads to Judah's unintentional fulfillment of his duty to her, reflecting themes of deception and revelation. 5. The PledgeJudah's promise to give Tamar a young goat in exchange for her company, which she secures with his seal, cord, and staff, items of personal identification and authority. Teaching Points The Complexity of Human ActionsThis passage highlights the complexity of human motives and actions. Judah's failure to fulfill his duty to Tamar leads to a series of events that are both morally complex and significant in God's plan. God's Sovereignty in ImperfectionDespite human failings, God's purposes prevail. Tamar's inclusion in the lineage of Christ demonstrates how God can use imperfect situations for His glory. The Importance of Justice and RighteousnessTamar's actions, though unconventional, underscore the importance of justice and the fulfillment of familial obligations, challenging us to consider how we uphold justice in our own lives. Repentance and RecognitionJudah's eventual acknowledgment of his wrongdoing serves as a reminder of the importance of repentance and the recognition of righteousness in others. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Genesis 38:16?
2.How does Genesis 38:16 illustrate consequences of ignoring God's moral standards?
3.What does Judah's action in Genesis 38:16 reveal about human nature?
4.How can Genesis 38:16 inform our understanding of repentance and forgiveness?
5.What scriptural connections exist between Genesis 38:16 and the concept of accountability?
6.How can we apply lessons from Genesis 38:16 to maintain personal integrity today?
7.Why did Judah not recognize Tamar in Genesis 38:16?
8.What cultural practices are reflected in Genesis 38:16?
9.How does Genesis 38:16 fit into the larger narrative of Genesis?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 38?
11.What happened to Tamar in the biblical narrative?
12.How does 1 Chronicles 2:3-4 align with Genesis 38 regarding Judah and Tamar's lineage, and does it create inconsistencies?
13.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?
14.Who was Judah in the Bible?What Does Genesis 38:16 Mean Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law• Genesis reports an actual moment in Judah’s life, underscoring how quickly sin obscures discernment.Proverbs 4:19 says, “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble,” echoing Judah’s blindness. • The disguise Tamar chose (Genesis 38:14-15) works because Judah is spiritually dulled. Earlier he had joined his brothers in deceiving Jacob with Joseph’s robe (Genesis 37:32); now he himself is the deceived one. Sin’s harvest is consistent (Galatians 6:7-8). • Tamar’s relationship to Judah carried covenant implications. Lever-rite duty (later codified inDeuteronomy 25:5-10) required Judah’s family to preserve the line of his deceased sons. Judah had stalled, so the Lord allowed Tamar’s bold plan to bring justice and secure the promised seed (Matthew 1:3).
He went over to her• Judah’s movement toward the roadside woman shows deliberate choice, not accident.James 1:14-15 reminds us that desire conceives sin before it is acted out. • In contrast, Joseph—Judah’s younger brother—“fled” from Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:12). Scripture places these two accounts side by side to highlight the fork in the road that each believer faces (Psalm 1:1). • The text also exposes Judah’s drift from his family’s covenant center. He is traveling away from home, away from worship, and into temptation, illustrating1 Corinthians 15:33: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.”• The blunt request unmasks Judah’s heart. Sexual sin is never merely physical; it disregards God’s design (1 Corinthians 6:18-20) and harms others (2 Samuel 11:4). • Judah speaks with the authority of a man who assumes he can purchase pleasure. His attitude mirrors Samson’s later demand, “Get her for me, for she pleases me” (Judges 14:3), showing how lust treats people as commodities, not image-bearers (Genesis 1:27). • That Judah seeks intimacy with a supposed prostitute on his way to shear sheep—an occasion traditionally linked with festivals and drinking (1 Samuel 25:36)—reveals how carelessness in “ordinary” outings can open doors to grave compromise (Ephesians 5:15-16).
“What will you give me for sleeping with you?” she inquired.• Tamar’s question initiates a transaction, yet behind it stands a righteous motive: to compel Judah to fulfill obligations he had ignored. Her request for a pledge (v. 18) will soon expose him, much like Nathan’s parable laid bare David’s sin (2 Samuel 12:7). • The negotiation spotlights Judah’s short-sightedness. He is willing to part with his seal, cord, and staff—personal identifiers—just to satisfy momentary lust, paralleling Esau who “sold his birthright for a single meal” (Hebrews 12:16). • Tamar is not selling her body for profit; she is securing evidence. The Lord often uses the unexpected to advance His purposes (Romans 8:28). Out of this encounter will come Perez, ancestor of King David and ultimately Christ (Ruth 4:18-22;Matthew 1:3).
summaryGenesis 38:16 records a real, morally charged encounter that reveals Judah’s spiritual blindness, deliberate pursuit of sin, and willingness to barter integrity for gratification. At the same time, it displays Tamar’s bold strategy to obtain the justice Judah withheld, setting the stage for God to preserve the messianic line through unlikely means. The verse warns believers of sin’s deceptive pull, the cost of unchecked desire, and the faithfulness of God to work even through human failure to accomplish His redemptive plan. Verse 16. - And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; ( for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law). Though willing to commit adultery or fornication, Judah would have shrank from the sin of incest. And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me? The conduct of Tamer, though in every way reprehensible, is not to be attributed to mere lust, or inordinate desire for offspring, if not from the son Shelah, then from the father Judah, but was probably traceable to a secret wish on the one hand to be avenged on Judah, and on the other hand to assert her right to a place amongst the ancestresses of the patriarchal family. Yet Tamar was really guilty of both adultery and incest, though Lange thinks the wickedness of Er and Onan renders this open to question.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Notלֹ֣א(lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, norealizingיָדַ֔ע(yā·ḏa‘)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045:To knowthatכִּ֥י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionsheהִ֑וא(hî)Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931:He, self, the same, this, that, as, arewas his daughter-in-law,כַלָּת֖וֹ(ḵal·lā·ṯōw)Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3618:Daughter-in-law, bridehe went overוַיֵּ֨ט(way·yêṭ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5186:To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bendtoאֵלֶ֜יהָ(’ê·le·hā)Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, toher and said,וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙(way·yō·mer)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559:To utter, say“Comeהָֽבָה־(hā·ḇāh-)Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3051:To give, to put, imperatively, comenow,נָּא֙(nā)Interjection
Strong's 4994:I pray', 'now', 'then'let me sleep withאָב֣וֹא(’ā·ḇō·w)Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular
Strong's 935:To come in, come, go in, goyou.”אֶל־(’el-)Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, to“Whatמַה־(mah-)Interrogative
Strong's 4100:What?, what!, indefinitely whatwill you giveתִּתֶּן־(tit·ten-)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5414:To give, put, setme forכִּ֥י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionsleeping withתָב֖וֹא(ṯā·ḇō·w)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 935:To come in, come, go in, goyou?”אֵלַ֔יִךְ(’ê·la·yiḵ)Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, toshe asked.וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙(wat·tō·mer)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 559:To utter, say
Links Genesis 38:16 NIVGenesis 38:16 NLTGenesis 38:16 ESVGenesis 38:16 NASBGenesis 38:16 KJV
Genesis 38:16 BibleApps.comGenesis 38:16 Biblia ParalelaGenesis 38:16 Chinese BibleGenesis 38:16 French BibleGenesis 38:16 Catholic Bible
OT Law: Genesis 38:16 He turned to her by the way (Gen. Ge Gn) |
