CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 38:15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/38-15.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/01_Gen_38_15.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 38:15 - Judah and Tamar" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/38-15.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/38-15.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/38.htm">Chapter 38</a> > Verse 15</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad15.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/38-14.htm" title="Genesis 38:14">◄</a> Genesis 38:15 <a href="/genesis/38-16.htm" title="Genesis 38:16">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/38.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/38.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/38.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Judah noticed her and thought she was a prostitute, since she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/38.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/38.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/38.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought her <i>to be</i> an harlot; because she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/38.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she <i>was</i> a harlot, because she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/38.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he assumed she <i>was</i> a prostitute, for she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/38.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, for she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/38.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she <i>was</i> a harlot, for she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/38.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then Judah saw her, and he thought she <i>was</i> a harlot, for she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/38.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she was a [temple] prostitute, for she had covered her face [as such women did].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/38.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/38.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/38.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/38.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />When Judah came along, he did not recognize her because of the veil. He thought she was a prostitute <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/38.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; for she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/38.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/38.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, because she had her face covered. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/38.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, since she had concealed her face. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/38.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/38.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/38.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/38.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; because she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/38.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/38.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Judah sees her, and reckons her for a harlot, for she has covered her face,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/38.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Judah seeth her, and reckoneth her for a harlot, for she hath covered her face,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/38.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Judah will see her, and will think her a harlot, because she covered her face.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/38.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />When Juda saw her, he thought she was a harlot: for she had covered her face, lest she should be known. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/38.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And when Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot. For she had covered her face, lest she be recognized.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/38.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, since she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/38.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a prostitute, for she had covered her face.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/38.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; because she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/38.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Yehuda saw and he considered her as a harlot because her face was covered.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/38.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she had covered her face.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/38.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And when Judas saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she covered her face, and he knew her not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/38-15.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=9750" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/38.htm">Judah and Tamar</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">14</span>she removed her widow’s garments, covered her face with a veil to disguise herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that although Shelah had grown up, she had not been given to him as a wife. <span class="reftext">15</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3063.htm" title="3063: yə·hū·ḏāh (N-proper-ms) -- From yadah; celebrated; Jehudah, the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory.">When Judah</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: way·yir·’e·hā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms:: 3fs) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">saw her,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2803.htm" title="2803: way·yaḥ·šə·ḇe·hā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms:: 3fs) -- To think, account. ">he thought</a> <a href="/hebrew/2181.htm" title="2181: lə·zō·w·nāh (Prep-l:: N-fs) -- To commit fornication, be a harlot. A primitive root; to commit adultery; figuratively, to commit idolatry.">she was a prostitute</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">because</a> <a href="/hebrew/3680.htm" title="3680: ḵis·sə·ṯāh (V-Piel-Perf-3fs) -- To cover. A primitive root; properly, to plump, i.e. Fill up hollows; by implication, to cover.">she had covered</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: pā·ne·hā (N-mpc:: 3fs) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">her face.</a> </span><span class="reftext">16</span>Not 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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/7-10.htm">Proverbs 7:10</a></span><br />Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/22-21.htm">Deuteronomy 22:21</a></span><br />she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house, and there the men of her city will stone her to death. For she has committed an outrage in Israel by being promiscuous in her father’s house. So you must purge the evil from among you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Hosea 4:14</a></span><br />I 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/19-29.htm">Leviticus 19:29</a></span><br />You must not defile your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be prostituted and filled with depravity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/16-1.htm">Judges 16:1</a></span><br />One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went in to spend the night with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/16-15.htm">Ezekiel 16:15</a></span><br />But because of your fame, you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot. You lavished your favors on everyone who passed by, and your beauty was theirs for the asking.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/9-13.htm">Proverbs 9:13-18</a></span><br />The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing. / She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city, / calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/3-16.htm">1 Kings 3:16</a></span><br />At that time two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/3-3.htm">Jeremiah 3:3</a></span><br />Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen. Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to be ashamed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/57-3.htm">Isaiah 57:3</a></span><br />“But come here, you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/21-31.htm">Matthew 21:31-32</a></span><br />Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. / For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/15-30.htm">Luke 15:30</a></span><br />But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-15.htm">1 Corinthians 6:15-16</a></span><br />Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! / Or 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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/17-1.htm">Revelation 17:1-5</a></span><br />Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. / The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.” / And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_thessalonians/4-3.htm">1 Thessalonians 4:3-5</a></span><br />For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; / each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, / not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.</p><p class="hdg">harlot.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/34-31.htm">Genesis 34:31</a></b></br> And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/19-29.htm">Leviticus 19:29</a></b></br> Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/21-14.htm">Leviticus 21:14</a></b></br> A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, <i>or</i> an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.</p><p class="hdg">because.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_thessalonians/5-22.htm">1 Thessalonians 5:22</a></b></br> Abstain from all appearance of evil.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_peter/3-3.htm">1 Peter 3:3-6</a></b></br> Whose adorning let it not be that outward <i>adorning</i> of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; … </p><p class="hdg">covered.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/38-14.htm">Genesis 38:14</a></b></br> And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which <i>is</i> by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/38-14.htm">Covered</a> <a href="/genesis/36-6.htm">Face</a> <a href="/genesis/34-31.htm">Harlot</a> <a href="/genesis/38-12.htm">Judah</a> <a href="/genesis/34-31.htm">Loose</a> <a href="/genesis/34-31.htm">Prostitute</a> <a href="/genesis/15-6.htm">Reckoneth</a> <a href="/genesis/38-11.htm">Thought</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/2-3.htm">Covered</a> <a href="/genesis/39-6.htm">Face</a> <a href="/genesis/38-21.htm">Harlot</a> <a href="/genesis/38-20.htm">Judah</a> <a href="/genesis/38-21.htm">Loose</a> <a href="/genesis/38-21.htm">Prostitute</a> <a href="/1_samuel/1-13.htm">Reckoneth</a> <a href="/genesis/40-23.htm">Thought</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 38</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/38-1.htm">Judah begets Er, Onan, and Shelah.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/38-6.htm">Er's marriage with Tamar, and death.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/38-8.htm">The trespass of Onan.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/38-11.htm">Tamar is reserved for Shelah.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/38-12.htm">Judah's wife dies.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/38-13.htm">Tamar deceives Judah.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">27. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/38-27.htm">She bears twins, Pharez and Zarah.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/38.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/38.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>When Judah saw her</b><br>Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, is a central figure in this narrative. This event occurs after he has left his brothers and settled in the region of Adullam. The context of this passage is significant as it highlights Judah's departure from his family and the resulting moral and spiritual decline. This moment is pivotal in the story of Judah and Tamar, which ultimately leads to the lineage of King David and, prophetically, to Jesus Christ (<a href="/matthew/1-3.htm">Matthew 1:3</a>).<p><b>he thought she was a prostitute</b><br>In the ancient Near Eastern culture, prostitution was not uncommon, and women who engaged in it often did so out of economic necessity. The Hebrew term used here can refer to a common prostitute or a cultic prostitute, the latter being associated with pagan religious practices. Judah's assumption reflects the moral and social norms of the time, where such encounters were not unheard of, especially in Canaanite society. This assumption also reveals Judah's own moral state and the influence of the surrounding Canaanite culture.<p><b>because she had covered her face</b><br>Covering the face was a practice that could signify various things in ancient times, including mourning, modesty, or, as in this case, disguise. Tamar's act of covering her face was strategic, allowing her to conceal her identity and fulfill her plan to secure her rights as a widow in Judah's family. This act of covering is significant in the narrative, as it sets the stage for the unfolding events and highlights themes of deception and recognition, which are recurrent in the Genesis narratives. The covering of the face also serves as a literary device, creating dramatic irony as the reader knows Tamar's identity while Judah does not.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/judah.htm">Judah</a></b><br>One of the twelve sons of Jacob, Judah is a central figure in this account. He is the fourth son of Leah and Jacob and plays a significant role in the lineage of Jesus Christ.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/tamar.htm">Tamar</a></b><br>The widow of Judah's son, Er. She disguises herself as a prostitute to secure her rights and future within Judah's family line.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/p/prostitute.htm">Prostitute</a></b><br>In this context, the term refers to a woman who offers herself for sexual relations in exchange for payment. Tamar disguises herself as one to fulfill her plan.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/covered_face.htm">Covered Face</a></b><br>Tamar's act of covering her face is significant as it conceals her identity, leading Judah to mistake her for a prostitute.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/ennaim.htm">Ennaim</a></b><br>The location where this encounter takes place. It is a town in the territory of Judah.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_cultural_context.htm">Understanding Cultural Context</a></b><br>Recognize the cultural and legal expectations of Levirate marriage in ancient Israel, which influenced Tamar's actions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/j/judgment_and_perception.htm">Judgment and Perception</a></b><br>Reflect on how appearances can be deceiving and the importance of seeking truth beyond initial judgments.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_redemption.htm">Repentance and Redemption</a></b><br>Consider Judah's eventual acknowledgment of his wrongdoing and the redemptive arc that follows, emphasizing the power of repentance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_imperfection.htm">God's Sovereignty in Imperfection</a></b><br>Observe how God works through flawed human actions to fulfill His divine purposes, as seen in the lineage of Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/righteousness_and_justice.htm">Righteousness and Justice</a></b><br>Explore the theme of righteousness as Tamar is declared more righteous than Judah, challenging us to consider what true justice looks like.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_38.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 38</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_proverbs_7_6-12_literal_or_symbolic.htm">Does the street-roaming seductress in Proverbs 7:6–12 reflect actual ancient customs or serve only as a symbolic warning? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_1_chr_2_3-4_align_with_gen_38.htm">How does 1 Chronicles 2:3-4 align with Genesis 38 regarding Judah and Tamar's lineage, and does it create inconsistencies?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_it_credible_judah_didn't_recognize_tamar.htm">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?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_jephthah's_lineage_inconsistent.htm">Judges 11:1-3: Does Jephthah's parentage present any inconsistency with standard Old Testament genealogical records?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/38.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(15) <span class= "bld">Because she had covered her face.</span>--The Jewish commentators all agree that this was not the custom of harlots; and as Judah, in <a href="/genesis/38-21.htm" title="Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.">Genesis 38:21</a>, calls her <span class= "ital">kedeshah, </span>one consecrated, he probably thought that she was a woman performing the vow required of every female votary of the Ph?nician Venus (Astarte), once in her lifetime (Herod. i. 199). Hence the hire was a kid to be sacrificed to the goddess. As for Tamar her object was to assert her claim to the inheritance of 'Er. Lange considers that the wickedness of 'Er had caused him, equally with Onan, to neglect her, and that consequently there was no real incest. This is made probable by her immediate conception.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/38.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 15.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">When</span> (literally, and) <span class="cmt_word">Judah saw her, he</span> (literally, and he) <span class="cmt_word">thought her to be an harlot</span>; - literally, <span class="accented">thought her</span> (<span class="accented">i.e.</span> took her for) <span class="accented">an harlot</span>, like <span class="greek">λογίζεσθαι τινα</span> de r& (cf. <a href="/1_samuel/1-13.htm">1 Samuel 1:13</a>; <a href="/job/13-24.htm">Job 13:24</a>), or to <span class="hebrew">זונָה</span> (fem. part. of <span class="hebrew">זָנַה</span>, commit fornication); <span class="accented">vide</span> <a href="/genesis/34-31.htm">Genesis 34:31</a> - <span class="cmt_word">because she had covered her face</span> - more <span class="accented">meretricis</span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/38-15.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">When Judah</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוּדָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(yə·hū·ḏāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3063.htm">Strong's 3063: </a> </span><span class="str2">Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">saw her,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּרְאֶ֣הָ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yir·’e·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he thought</span><br /><span class="heb">וַֽיַּחְשְׁבֶ֖הָ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yaḥ·šə·ḇe·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2803.htm">Strong's 2803: </a> </span><span class="str2">To think, account</span><br /><br /><span class="word">she was a prostitute</span><br /><span class="heb">לְזוֹנָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(lə·zō·w·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2181.htm">Strong's 2181: </a> </span><span class="str2">To commit adultery, to commit idolatry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">because</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">she had covered</span><br /><span class="heb">כִסְּתָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(ḵis·sə·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3680.htm">Strong's 3680: </a> </span><span class="str2">To plump, fill up hollows, to cover</span><br /><br /><span class="word">her face.</span><br /><span class="heb">פָּנֶֽיהָ׃</span> <span class="translit">(pā·ne·hā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/38-15.htm">Genesis 38:15 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/38-15.htm">Genesis 38:15 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/38-15.htm">Genesis 38:15 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/38-15.htm">Genesis 38:15 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/38-15.htm">Genesis 38:15 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/38-15.htm">Genesis 38:15 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/38-15.htm">Genesis 38:15 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/38-15.htm">Genesis 38:15 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/38-15.htm">Genesis 38:15 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/38-15.htm">Genesis 38:15 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/38-15.htm">OT Law: Genesis 38:15 When Judah saw her he thought that (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/38-14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 38:14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 38:14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/38-16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 38:16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 38:16" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>