38:6 Judah acquired 1 a wife for Er his firstborn; her name was Tamar.
38:11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until Shelah my son grows up.” For he thought, 2 “I don’t want him to die like his brothers.” 3 So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.
38:24 After three months Judah was told, 4 “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has turned to prostitution, 5 and as a result she has become pregnant.” 6 Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” 38:25 While they were bringing her out, she sent word 7 to her father-in-law: “I am pregnant by the man to whom these belong.” 8 Then she said, “Identify 9 the one to whom the seal, cord, and staff belong.” 38:26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more upright 10 than I am, because I wouldn’t give her to Shelah my son.” He did not have sexual relations with her 11 again.
1 tn Heb “and Judah took.”
2 tn Heb “said.”
3 tn Heb “Otherwise he will die, also he, like his brothers.”
4 tn Heb “it was told to Judah, saying.”
5 tn Or “has been sexually promiscuous.” The verb may refer here to loose or promiscuous activity, not necessarily prostitution.
6 tn Heb “and also look, she is with child by prostitution.”
7 tn Heb “she was being brought out and she sent.” The juxtaposition of two clauses, both of which place the subject before the predicate, indicates synchronic action.
8 tn Heb “who these to him.”
9 tn Or “ recognize; note.” This same Hebrew verb (נָכַר, nakhar) is used at the beginning of v. 26, where it is translated “recognized.”
10 tn Traditionally “more righteous”; cf. NCV, NRSV, NLT “more in the right.”
11 tn Heb “and he did not add again to know her.” Here “know” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.