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Genesis 38:14-16
New English Translation
Genesis 38:14-16
New English Translation
14 So she removed her widow’s clothes and covered herself with a veil. She wrapped herself and sat at the entrance to Enaim which is on the way to Timnah. (She did this because[a] she saw that she had not been given to Shelah as a wife, even though he had now grown up.)[b]
15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute[c] because she had covered her face. 16 He turned aside to her along the road and said, “Come, please, I want to sleep with you.”[d] (He did not realize it was his daughter-in-law.) She asked, “What will you give me so that you may sleep with me?”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 38:14 tn The Hebrew text simply has “because,” connecting this sentence to what precedes. For stylistic reasons the words “she did this” are supplied in the translation and a new sentence begun.
- Genesis 38:14 tn Heb “she saw that Shelah had grown up, but she was not given to him as a wife.”
- Genesis 38:15 tn Heb “he reckoned her for a prostitute,” which was what Tamar had intended for him to do. She obviously had some idea of his inclinations, or she would not have tried this risky plan.
- Genesis 38:16 tn Heb “I want to approach.” The verb בּוֹא (boʾ) with the preposition אֶל (ʾel) means “come to” or “approach,” but is also used as a euphemism for sexual relations. The imperfect verbal form is probably modal and indicates his desire.
New English Translation (NET)
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