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<!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 38:21 He asked the men of that place, "Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?" "No shrine prostitute has been here," they answered.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/38-21.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/01_Gen_38_21.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 38:21 - Judah and Tamar" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He asked the men of that place, Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim? No shrine prostitute has been here, they answered." /><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/38-21.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/38-21.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 21</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="/ad1.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/38-20.htm" title="Genesis 38:20">◄</a> Genesis 38:21 <a href="/genesis/38-22.htm" title="Genesis 38:22">►</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 />He asked the men who lived there, &#8220Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?&#8221 &#8220There hasn&#8217t been any shrine prostitute here,&#8221 they said.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/38.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />So he asked the men who lived there, “Where can I find the shrine prostitute who was sitting beside the road at the entrance to Enaim?” “We’ve never had a shrine prostitute here,” they replied.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/38.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And he asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute who was at Enaim at the roadside?” And they said, “No cult prostitute has been here.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/38.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He asked the men of that place, “Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?” “No shrine prostitute has been here,” they answered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/38.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where <i>is</i> the harlot, that <i>was</i> openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this <i>place</i>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/38.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who <i>was</i> openly by the roadside?” And they said, “There was no harlot in this <i>place.</i>”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/38.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />He asked the people of her place, saying, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no temple prostitute here.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/38.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He asked the men of her place, saying, &#8220Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?&#8221 But they said, &#8220There has been no temple prostitute here.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/38.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no temple prostitute here.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/38.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the cult prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no cult prostitute here.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/38.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />He asked the men of that place, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the roadside at Enaim?” They said, “There was no prostitute here.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/38.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim? ” “There has been no cult prostitute here,” they answered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/38.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He asked the men of the place, &#8220Where is the cult prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?"&#8221 There has been no cult prostitute here,&#8221 they answered. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/38.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Then he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the wayside? And they said, There hath been no prostitute here.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/38.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Hirah asked the people of Enaim, "Where is the prostitute who sat along the road outside your town?" "There's never been one here," they answered. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/38.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Then he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was at Enaim by the way side? And they said, There hath been no harlot here.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/38.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He asked the men of that area, "Where's that prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?" "There's no prostitute here," they answered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/38.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He asked some men at Enaim, "Where is the prostitute who was here by the road?" "There has never been a prostitute here," they answered. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/38.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He asked the men who lived in that area, "Where's that temple prostitute who was sitting alongside the road at Enaim?" But they replied, "There's been no temple prostitute here."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/38.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He asked the men of that place, ?Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?? ?No shrine prostitute has been here,? they answered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/38.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He asked the men who were there, "Where is the cult prostitute who was at Enaim by the road?" But they replied, "There has been no cult prostitute here."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/38.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Then he asked the men of the place, saying, "Where is the prostitute that was at Enaim by the road?" They said, "There has been no prostitute here."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/38.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/38.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Then he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the road?” They said, “There has been no prostitute here.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/38.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And he asks the men of her place, saying, “Where [is] the separated one—she in Enayim, by the way?” And they say, “There has not been in this [place] a separated one.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/38.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And he asketh the men of her place, saying, 'Where is the separated one -- she in Enayim, by the way?' and they say, 'There hath not been in this place a separated one.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/38.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will ask the men of the place, saying, Where the harlot, she in the eyes upon the way? and they will say, No harlot was here.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/38.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />asked the men of that place : Where is the woman that sat in the cross way? And when they all made answer: There was no harlot in this place, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/38.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />he questioned the men of that place: “Where is the woman who sat at the crossroad?” And they all responded, “There has been no harlot in this place.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/38.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />So he asked the men of that place, “Where is the prostitute, the one by the roadside in Enaim?” But they answered, “No prostitute has been here.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/38.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He asked the townspeople, “Where is the temple prostitute who was at Enaim by the wayside?” But they said, “No prostitute has been here.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/38.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Then he asked the men of the place, saying, Where is the harlot who sat at the parting of the road? And they said, There is no harlot here.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/38.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he asked the men of the place and said, “Where is the harlot who dwelt at the parting of the roads?”, and they said “There is no harlot here.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/38.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Then he asked the men of her place, saying: 'Where is the harlot, that was at Enaim by the wayside?' And they said: 'There hath been no harlot here.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/38.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he asked the men of the place, Where is the harlot who was in Aenan by the way-side? and they said, There was no harlot here.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/38-21.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=9804" 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">20</span>Now when Judah sent his friend Hirah the Adullamite with the young goat to collect the items he had left with the woman, he could not find her. <span class="reftext">21</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/7592.htm" title="7592: way·yiš·’al (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To ask, inquire. Or shael; a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand.">He asked</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: lê·mōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> <a href="/hebrew/582.htm" title="582: ’an·šê (N-mpc) -- Man, mankind. From 'anash; properly, a mortal; hence, a man in general.">the men</a> <a href="/hebrew/4725.htm" title="4725: mə·qō·māh (N-msc:: 3fs) -- Or maqom; also mqowmah; or mqomah; from quwm; properly, a standing, i.e. A spot; but used widely of a locality; also of a condition.">of that place,</a> <a href="/hebrew/346.htm" title="346: ’ay·yêh (Interrog) -- Where?. Prolonged from 'ay; where?.">“Where</a> <a href="/hebrew/6948.htm" title="6948: haq·qə·ḏê·šāh (Art:: Adj-fs) -- A female devotee. Feminine of qadesh; a female devotee.">is the shrine prostitute</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hî (Pro-3fs) -- He, she, it. ">who</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">was beside</a> <a href="/hebrew/1870.htm" title="1870: had·dā·reḵ (Art:: N-cs) -- Way, road, distance, journey, manner. From darak; a road; figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb.">the road</a> <a href="/hebrew/5879.htm" title="5879: ḇā·‘ê·na·yim (Prep-b, Art:: N-proper-fs) -- Enaim -- two springs, a place in Israel. Or meynam; dual of ayin; double fountain; Enajim or Enam, a place in Palestine.">at Enaim?”</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">“No</a> <a href="/hebrew/6948.htm" title="6948: qə·ḏê·šāh (Adj-fs) -- A female devotee. Feminine of qadesh; a female devotee.">shrine prostitute</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: hā·yə·ṯāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">has been</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: ḇā·zeh (Prep-b:: Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">here,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mə·rū (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">they answered.</a> </span><span class="reftext">22</span>So Hirah returned to Judah and said, “I could not find her, and furthermore, the men of that place said, ‘No shrine prostitute has been here.’ ”…<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 7:10-12</a></span><br />Then 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/2-1.htm">Joshua 2:1</a></span><br />Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.<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="/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="/deuteronomy/23-17.htm">Deuteronomy 23:17</a></span><br />No daughter or son of Israel is to be a shrine prostitute.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/16-25.htm">Ezekiel 16:25</a></span><br />At the head of every street you built your lofty shrines and degraded your beauty. With increasing promiscuity, you spread your legs to all who passed by.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/23-16.htm">Isaiah 23:16</a></span><br />“Take up your harp, stroll through the city, O forgotten harlot. Make sweet melody, sing many a song, so you will be remembered.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/3-2.htm">Jeremiah 3:2</a></span><br />“Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been violated? You sat beside the highways waiting for your lovers, like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness.<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="/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="/hebrews/11-31.htm">Hebrews 11:31</a></span><br />By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/2-25.htm">James 2:25</a></span><br />In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">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.</p><p class="hdg">openly by the way side.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/38-14.htm">Jeremiah 38:14</a></b></br> Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that <i>is</i> in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/38-14.htm">Enaim</a> <a href="/genesis/38-15.htm">Harlot</a> <a href="/3_john/1-11.htm">Hasn't</a> <a href="/genesis/38-15.htm">Loose</a> <a href="/1_john/4-15.htm">Openly</a> <a href="/genesis/38-15.htm">Prostitute</a> <a href="/titus/3-9.htm">Questions</a> <a href="/genesis/38-16.htm">Road</a> <a href="/genesis/30-40.htm">Separated</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-19.htm">Shrine</a> <a href="/genesis/38-16.htm">Side</a> <a href="/revelation/21-22.htm">Temple</a> <a href="/genesis/38-19.htm">Way</a> <a href="/luke/18-35.htm">Wayside</a> <a href="/luke/18-35.htm">Way-Side</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/38-14.htm">Enaim</a> <a href="/genesis/38-22.htm">Harlot</a> <a href="/genesis/38-22.htm">Hasn't</a> <a href="/genesis/49-21.htm">Loose</a> <a href="/genesis/38-26.htm">Openly</a> <a href="/genesis/38-22.htm">Prostitute</a> <a href="/genesis/43-7.htm">Questions</a> <a href="/genesis/45-24.htm">Road</a> <a href="/genesis/38-22.htm">Separated</a> <a href="/genesis/38-22.htm">Shrine</a> <a href="/genesis/41-1.htm">Side</a> <a href="/genesis/38-22.htm">Temple</a> <a href="/genesis/39-19.htm">Way</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-13.htm">Wayside</a> <a href="/1_samuel/4-13.htm">Way-Side</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>He asked the men of that place</b><br>This phrase indicates an inquiry made by Judah's friend, Hirah the Adullamite, as he seeks information about the whereabouts of the woman Judah had encountered. The act of asking the local men suggests a communal society where people were familiar with each other's activities. In ancient Near Eastern culture, it was common for travelers to seek information from locals, highlighting the importance of community knowledge and communication.<p><b>“Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?”</b><br>The mention of a "shrine prostitute" reflects the Canaanite practice of cultic prostitution, which was part of their religious rituals. This practice was detestable to the Israelites, as seen in <a href="/deuteronomy/23-17.htm">Deuteronomy 23:17-18</a>, which prohibits such activities. Enaim, meaning "eyes" or "springs," was a location on the road, possibly a crossroads or a place of gathering, making it a strategic spot for such encounters. The reference to a shrine prostitute also underscores the moral and spiritual decline in the region, contrasting with the holiness expected of God's people.<p><b>“No shrine prostitute has been here,” they answered.</b><br>The response from the men indicates that Tamar, who disguised herself as a prostitute, was not recognized as such by the locals. This suggests that her actions were out of character for the area, or that shrine prostitution was not as prevalent as assumed. This denial also sets the stage for the unfolding of God's providential plan, as Tamar's actions lead to the continuation of Judah's lineage, which is significant in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (<a href="/matthew/1-3.htm">Matthew 1:3</a>). The absence of a shrine prostitute highlights the uniqueness of Tamar's situation and the divine orchestration behind the events.<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 chapter. His actions and decisions are pivotal to the account.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/tamar.htm">Tamar</a></b><br>Judah's daughter-in-law, who disguises herself as a prostitute to secure her rights and future within Judah's family line.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/enaim.htm">Enaim</a></b><br>A location mentioned in the account, where Tamar positions herself to encounter Judah.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_men_of_enaim.htm">The Men of Enaim</a></b><br>They are the ones questioned by Judah's friend about the whereabouts of the supposed shrine prostitute.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_shrine_prostitute.htm">The Shrine Prostitute</a></b><br>A term used in the account, though it is revealed that no such person was present, highlighting the deception involved.<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 historical context of shrine prostitution in ancient Near Eastern societies and its implications for the account.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_deception.htm">The Consequences of Deception</a></b><br>Reflect on how deception, even when seemingly justified, can lead to complex and unintended consequences.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_imperfect_situations.htm">God's Sovereignty in Imperfect Situations</a></b><br>Consider how God can work through flawed human actions to fulfill His purposes, as seen in the inclusion of Tamar in the lineage of Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_justice_and_rights.htm">The Importance of Justice and Rights</a></b><br>Tamar's actions highlight the importance of justice and securing one's rights, especially for marginalized individuals in society.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_redemption.htm">Repentance and Redemption</a></b><br>Judah's eventual acknowledgment of his wrongdoing and Tamar's vindication point to themes of repentance and redemption.<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/what_happened_to_tamar_in_the_bible.htm">What happened to Tamar in the biblical narrative?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_bible's_view_on_prostitution.htm">What is the Bible's stance on prostitution?</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>(21) <span class= "bld">Where is the harlot . . .</span>?--Heb.,<span class= "ital">Whercisthe kedeshah </span>(see <a href="/genesis/38-15.htm" title="When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.">Genesis 38:15</a>) <span class= "ital">that was at Enajim by the wayside? </span>"Enajim (the two founts) by-the-wayside," seems to have been the full name of the village. (See <a href="/genesis/38-14.htm" title="And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him to wife.">Genesis 38:14</a>.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/38.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 21.</span> - T<span class="cmt_word">hen he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot</span>, - literally, the consecrated, the prostitute being regarded as "one devoted to the worship of Astarte, a goddess of the Canaanites, the deification of the generative and productive principle of nature," corresponding to the Babylonian Ashtarte, whose worship was of a grossly libidinous character (Herod., 1:199). Cf. <a href="/deuteronomy/23-19.htm">Deuteronomy 23:19</a>; <a href="/numbers/25-1.htm">Numbers 25:1</a>; <a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Hosea 4:14</a>; and <span class="accented">vide</span> Keil on REFERENCE_WORK:Keil & DelitzschDeuteronomy 23:19 <span class="cmt_word">that was openly by the way side?</span> - or, that was in Enajim on the way, <span class="accented">ut supra</span>, ver. 14). <span class="cmt_word">And they said, There was no harlot</span> (or <span class="accented">kedeshah</span>) in this place. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/38-21.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">He asked</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּשְׁאַ֞ל</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiš·’al)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7592.htm">Strong's 7592: </a> </span><span class="str2">To inquire, to request, to demand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the men</span><br /><span class="heb">אַנְשֵׁ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(’an·šê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_582.htm">Strong's 582: </a> </span><span class="str2">Man, mankind</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of that place,</span><br /><span class="heb">מְקֹמָהּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(mə·qō·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4725.htm">Strong's 4725: </a> </span><span class="str2">A standing, a spot, a condition</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Where</span><br /><span class="heb">אַיֵּ֧ה</span> <span class="translit">(’ay·yêh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_346.htm">Strong's 346: </a> </span><span class="str2">Where?</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is the temple prostitute</span><br /><span class="heb">הַקְּדֵשָׁ֛ה</span> <span class="translit">(haq·qə·ḏê·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6948.htm">Strong's 6948: </a> </span><span class="str2">A female devotee</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who</span><br /><span class="heb">הִ֥וא</span> <span class="translit">(hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was beside</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the road</span><br /><span class="heb">הַדָּ֑רֶךְ</span> <span class="translit">(had·dā·reḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1870.htm">Strong's 1870: </a> </span><span class="str2">A road, a course of life, mode of action</span><br /><br /><span class="word">at Enaim?”</span><br /><span class="heb">בָעֵינַ֖יִם</span> <span class="translit">(ḇā·‘ê·na·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5879.htm">Strong's 5879: </a> </span><span class="str2">Enaim -- 'two springs', a place in Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“No</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">temple prostitute</span><br /><span class="heb">קְדֵשָֽׁה׃</span> <span class="translit">(qə·ḏê·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6948.htm">Strong's 6948: </a> </span><span class="str2">A female devotee</span><br /><br /><span class="word">has been</span><br /><span class="heb">הָיְתָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·yə·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">here,”</span><br /><span class="heb">בָזֶ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(ḇā·zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they answered.</span><br /><span class="heb">לֵאמֹ֔ר</span> <span class="translit">(lê·mōr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/38-21.htm">Genesis 38:21 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/38-21.htm">Genesis 38:21 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/38-21.htm">Genesis 38:21 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/38-21.htm">Genesis 38:21 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/38-21.htm">Genesis 38:21 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/38-21.htm">Genesis 38:21 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/38-21.htm">Genesis 38:21 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/38-21.htm">Genesis 38:21 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/38-21.htm">Genesis 38:21 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/38-21.htm">Genesis 38:21 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/38-21.htm">OT Law: Genesis 38:21 Then he asked the men of her (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/38-20.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 38:20"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 38:20" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/38-22.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 38:22"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 38:22" /></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>