Genesis 38:24-26

38:24 After three months Judah was told, ¹  “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has turned to prostitution, ²  and as a result she has become pregnant.” ³  Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” 38:25 While they were bringing her out, she sent word ⁴  to her father-in-law: “I am pregnant by the man to whom these belong.” ⁵  Then she said, “Identify ⁶  the one to whom the seal, cord, and staff belong.” 38:26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more upright ⁷  than I am, because I wouldn’t give her to Shelah my son.” He did not have sexual relations with her ⁸  again.

[38:24]  ¹ tn Heb “it was told to Judah, saying.”

[38:24]  ² tn Or “has been sexually promiscuous.” The verb may refer here to loose or promiscuous activity, not necessarily prostitution.

[38:24]  ³ tn Heb “and also look, she is with child by prostitution.”

[38:25]  ⁴ 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.

[38:25]  ⁵ tn Heb “who these to him.”

[38:25]  ⁶ tn Or “ recognize; note.” This same Hebrew verb (נָכַר, nakhar) is used at the beginning of v. 26, where it is translated “recognized.”

[38:26]  ⁷ tn Traditionally “more righteous”; cf. NCV, NRSV, NLT “more in the right.”

[38:26]  ⁸ tn Heb “and he did not add again to know her.” Here “know” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.