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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 />At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/38.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />About this time, Judah left home and moved to Adullam, where he stayed with a man named Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/38.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/38.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />About that time, Judah left his brothers and settled near a man named Hirah, an Adullamite.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/38.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name <i>was</i> Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/38.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name <i>was</i> Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/38.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/38.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/38.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/38.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now it happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/38.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now at that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to [stay with] a certain Adullamite named Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/38.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />At that time Judah left his brothers and settled near an Adullamite named Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/38.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />At that time Judah left his brothers and settled near an Adullamite named Hirah. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/38.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/38.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />About that time Judah left his brothers in the hill country and went to live near his friend Hirah in the town of Adullam. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/38.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/38.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />About that time Judah left his brothers and went to stay with a man from Adullam whose name was Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/38.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />About that time Judah left his brothers and went to stay with a man named Hirah, who was from the town of Adullam. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/38.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Right about then, Judah left his brothers and went to live with an Adullamite man named Hirah. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/38.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />About that time, Judah left his brothers and settled near a man named Hirah, an Adullamite.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/38.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />At that time Judah left his brothers and stayed with an Adullamite man named Hirah. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/38.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />It happened at that time that Judah moved away from his brothers and stayed with an Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/38.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/38.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />At that time, Judah went down from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/38.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And it comes to pass, at that time, that Judah goes down from his brothers, and turns aside to a man, an Adullamite, whose name [is] Hirah;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/38.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And it cometh to pass, at that time, that Judah goeth down from his brethren, and turneth aside unto a man, an Adullamite, whose name is Hirah;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/38.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it shall be in that time, and Judah will go down from his brethren, and will turn to a man, an Adullamite, and his name Hirah.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/38.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />At that time Juda went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Odollamite, named Hiras. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/38.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />About the same time, Judah, descending from his brothers, turned toward an Adullamite man, named Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/38.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />About that time Judah went down, away from his brothers, and pitched his tent near a certain Adullamite named Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/38.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and settled near a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/38.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />AND it came to pass at that time that Judah went down from his brothers, and turned in to a certain Arlemite, whose name was Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/38.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And it occurred at that time, Yehuda came down from the presence of his brothers and he departed to an Arlemite man, and his name was Khira.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/38.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/38.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And it came to pass at that time that Judas went down from his brethren, and came as far as to a certain man of Odollam, whose name was Iras.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/38-1.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=9629" 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">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">About</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: ha·hi·w (Art:: Pro-3fs) -- He, she, it. ">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/6256.htm" title="6256: bā·‘êṯ (Prep-b, Art:: N-cs) -- Time. From ad; time, especially now, when, etc.">time,</a> <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.">Judah</a> <a href="/hebrew/854.htm" title="854: mê·’êṯ (Prep-m:: DirObjM) -- With (denoting proximity). Probably from 'anah; properly, nearness, near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3381.htm" title="3381: way·yê·reḏ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To come or go down, descend. ">left</a> <a href="/hebrew/251.htm" title="251: ’e·ḥāw (N-mpc:: 3ms) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab).">his brothers</a> <a href="/hebrew/5186.htm" title="5186: way·yêṭ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away; used in a great variety of application.">and settled</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: ‘aḏ- (Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">near</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-msc) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">a man</a> <a href="/hebrew/8034.htm" title="8034: ū·šə·mōw (Conj-w:: N-msc:: 3ms) -- A primitive word; an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character.">named</a> <a href="/hebrew/2437.htm" title="2437: ḥî·rāh (N-proper-ms) -- A friend of Judah. From chavar in the sense of splendor; Chirah, an Adullamite.">Hirah,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5726.htm" title="5726: ‘ă·ḏul·lā·mî (N-proper-ms) -- Inhab. of Adullam. Patrial from Adullam; an Adullamite or native of Adullam.">an Adullamite.</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>There Judah saw the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua, and he took her as a wife and slept with her.…<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="/genesis/37-26.htm">Genesis 37:26-28</a></span><br />Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? / Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And they agreed. / So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/39-1.htm">Genesis 39:1</a></span><br />Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/46-12.htm">Genesis 46:12</a></span><br />The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/2-3.htm">1 Chronicles 2:3</a></span><br />The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanite. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/1-3.htm">Matthew 1:3</a></span><br />Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ruth/4-12.htm">Ruth 4:12</a></span><br />And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/4-21.htm">1 Chronicles 4:21</a></span><br />The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth-ashbea,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/26-19.htm">Numbers 26:19-22</a></span><br />The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan. / These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah. / And these were the descendants of Perez: the Hezronite clan from Hezron and the Hamulite clan from Hamul. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/2-4.htm">1 Chronicles 2:4</a></span><br />Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/3-33.htm">Luke 3:33</a></span><br />the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/2-5.htm">1 Chronicles 2:5</a></span><br />The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/2-6.htm">1 Chronicles 2:6</a></span><br />The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara—five in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/2-7.htm">1 Chronicles 2:7</a></span><br />The son of Carmi: Achar, who brought trouble upon Israel by violating the ban on devoted things.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/2-8.htm">1 Chronicles 2:8</a></span><br />The son of Ethan: Azariah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/2-9.htm">1 Chronicles 2:9</a></span><br />The sons who were born to Hezron: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brothers, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.</p><p class="hdg">A.</p><p class="hdg">turned.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/19-2.htm">Genesis 19:2,3</a></b></br> And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/4-18.htm">Judges 4:18</a></b></br> And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/4-8.htm">2 Kings 4:8</a></b></br> And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where <i>was</i> a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And <i>so</i> it was, <i>that</i> as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.</p><p class="hdg">Adullamite.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/12-15.htm">Joshua 12:15</a></b></br> The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/15-35.htm">Joshua 15:35</a></b></br> Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/22-1.htm">1 Samuel 22:1</a></b></br> David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard <i>it</i>, they went down thither to him.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/micah/1-15.htm">Adullam</a> <a href="/genesis/38-20.htm">Adullamite</a> <a href="/genesis/37-17.htm">Departed</a> <a href="/genesis/26-26.htm">Friend</a> <a href="/genesis/38-20.htm">Hirah</a> <a href="/genesis/37-26.htm">Judah</a> <a href="/genesis/35-16.htm">Time</a> <a href="/genesis/30-30.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/genesis/31-55.htm">Turneth</a> <a href="/genesis/21-1.htm">Visited</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/38-12.htm">Adullam</a> <a href="/genesis/38-12.htm">Adullamite</a> <a href="/genesis/38-19.htm">Departed</a> <a href="/genesis/38-12.htm">Friend</a> <a href="/genesis/38-12.htm">Hirah</a> <a href="/genesis/38-2.htm">Judah</a> <a href="/genesis/38-12.htm">Time</a> <a href="/genesis/38-16.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/genesis/38-16.htm">Turneth</a> <a href="/exodus/3-16.htm">Visited</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>About that time</b><br>This phrase indicates a transition in the narrative, suggesting a specific period in the life of Judah, one of Jacob's sons. It connects to the events of <a href="/genesis/37.htm">Genesis 37</a>, where Joseph is sold into slavery. The timing is significant as it shows a divergence in the family story, focusing on Judah's personal life and decisions.<p><b>Judah left his brothers</b><br>Judah's departure from his brothers marks a significant moment of separation. This act may reflect internal family tensions or a desire for independence. Judah's leadership role among his brothers is highlighted in previous chapters, and his departure sets the stage for his own narrative arc. This separation also foreshadows the eventual division of the tribes of Israel.<p><b>and settled near a man named Hirah,</b><br>Hirah is introduced as a friend or associate of Judah. The mention of Hirah suggests a relationship that influences Judah's actions and decisions. This connection may indicate Judah's integration into Canaanite society, which plays a crucial role in the unfolding events of the chapter.<p><b>an Adullamite.</b><br>Adullam is a city in the Shephelah region of Judah, known for its strategic location and historical significance. The reference to Hirah as an Adullamite provides geographical context, indicating Judah's movement into Canaanite territory. This setting is important for understanding the cultural and social interactions that occur in the narrative. Adullam later becomes significant in the story of David, who seeks refuge in the caves of Adullam (<a href="/1_samuel/22.htm">1 Samuel 22:1-2</a>), creating a connection between Judah's story and the future king of Israel.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/judah.htm">Judah</a></b><br>The fourth son of Jacob and Leah, Judah is a central figure in this chapter. His actions and decisions play a significant role in the unfolding account of <a href="/bsb/genesis/38.htm">Genesis 38</a>.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/h/hirah.htm">Hirah</a></b><br>An Adullamite, Hirah is a friend of Judah. His presence indicates Judah's integration into the Canaanite society, which has implications for Judah's family and future events.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/adullam.htm">Adullam</a></b><br>A Canaanite city where Judah settles. This location is significant as it represents Judah's departure from his family and his immersion into a different cultural and social environment.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/judah's_departure.htm">Judah's Departure</a></b><br>This event marks a turning point in Judah's life, as he leaves his brothers and begins a new chapter, which leads to significant personal and familial consequences.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_separation.htm">The Consequences of Separation</a></b><br>Judah's decision to leave his family and settle among the Canaanites can serve as a cautionary tale about the potential spiritual and moral consequences of distancing oneself from a godly community.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/influence_of_companionship.htm">Influence of Companionship</a></b><br>The presence of Hirah, an Adullamite, in Judah's life illustrates the influence that friends and associates can have on our decisions and spiritual journey. It is crucial to choose companions who encourage us in our faith.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_imperfect_situations.htm">God's Sovereignty in Imperfect Situations</a></b><br>Despite Judah's questionable decisions, God works through his lineage to bring about His purposes, ultimately leading to the birth of Jesus. This teaches us that God can redeem and use even our mistakes for His glory.<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/why_was_onan_punished_but_not_judah.htm">In Genesis 38:1–11, why would God punish Onan’s refusal to father children for Tamar so severely, yet no comparable punishment is shown for Judah’s neglect of her? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_genesis_38_fit_biblical_ethics.htm">In Genesis 38 overall, how does this morally complex story align with the broader biblical narrative on sexual ethics and lineage preservation?</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/why_does_judah_call_tamar_'righteous'.htm">In Genesis 38:25-26, why does Judah suddenly shift from condemning Tamar to declaring her 'more righteous' than he is, without any direct divine intervention or clear moral explanation?</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>(1) <span class= "bld">At that time.</span>--This does not mean at the time of Joseph's sale; for as there was only an interval of twenty-two years between that event and the descent into Egypt, this period is scarcely long enough for the events recorded in this chapter. According to the usual chronology, Judah, Leah's fourth son, would not have been more than eight years old when he left Padan-aram, and only one year at most older than Joseph, the son of Jacob's old age. But the more true chronology which we have followed, gives time for him to have been Joseph's senior by twenty years, and the events recorded here probably began soon after his father's arrival at the tower of Eder.<p><span class= "bld">Adullamite.</span>--The town of Adullam, near which was David's famous cave, has been clearly identified by Lieut. Conder (<span class= "ital">Tent-work, </span>ii. 158). It lay in the great valley of Elah, which formed the highway from Hebron to the country of the Philistines, some two or three miles south of Shochoh, and fifteen or sixteen miles west by north from Hebron. Judah "went down" thither, not as Abenezra and others have supposed, because it was to the south, but because it was towards the sea, and the road is an actual descent from the hill country of Judah into the Shephelah, or lowland, in which Adullam was situated. The sons of Jacob often, probably, with a few retainers, made expeditions in search of pastures for their cattle; and Hirah, apparently, had shown Judah hospitality on some such journey, and finally a friendship had grown up between them. "Turned in to," however, literally means <span class= "ital">pitched </span>(his tent) <span class= "ital">close by; </span>and the friendship between Judah and Hirah, thus accidentally formed, seems to have ended in Hirah taking the charge of Judah's cattle.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/38.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And it came to pass</span>. The present chapter appears to interrupt the continuity of the narrative of Joseph's history. Partly on this account, and partly because the name Jehovah occurs in it (vers. 7, 10), it has been pronounced a later Jehovistic interpolation (Tuch, Bleek, Davidson, Coleuso). Its design has been explained as an attempt to glorify the line of David by representing it as sprung from Judah (Bohlen), or to disclose the origin of the Levitate law of marriage among the Jews (Knobel); but the incidents here recorded of Judah and his family are fitted to reflect dishonor instead of glory on the ancestry of David (Havernick); and the custom here mentioned of raising up seed to a dead brother by marrying his widow, though the idea may have originated with Judah (Lange), is more likely to have descended from earlier times (Delitzsch, Keil). Rightly understood, the object of the present portion of the record appears to have been not simply to prepare the way for the subsequent (<a href="/genesis/46-8.htm">Genesis 46:8-27</a>) genealogical register (Gerlach), or to contrast the wickedness of Judah and his sons with the piety and chastity of Joseph in Egypt (Wordsworth), or to recite the private history of one of Christ's ancestors (Bush, Murphy, 'Speaker's Commentary'), or to show that the pre-eminence of Judah in the patriarchal family was due exclusively to grace (Candlish), but also and chiefly to justify the Divine procedure in the subsequent deportation of Jacob and his sons to Egypt (Keil). The special danger to which the theocratic family was exposed was that of intermarrying with the Canaanites (<a href="/genesis/24-3.htm">Genesis 24:3</a>; <a href="/genesis/28-6.htm">Genesis 28:6</a>). Accordingly, having carried forward his narrative to the point where, in consequence of Joseph's sale, a way begins to open up for the transference of the patriarchal house to the lend of the Pharaohs, the historian makes a pause to introduce a passage from the life of Judah, with the view of proving the necessity of such removal, by showing, as in the case of Judah, the almost certainty that, if left in Canaan, the descendants of Jacob would fall before the temptation of marrying with the daughters of the land, with the result, in the first instance, of a great and rapid moral deterioration in the holy seed, and with the ultimate effect of completely obliterating the line of demarcation between them and the surrounding heathen world. How the purity of the patriarchal family was guarded till it developed into a powerful nation, first by its providential withdrawment in infancy from the sphere of temptation (<a href="/genesis/46-5.htm">Genesis 46:5</a>), then by its separate establishment in Goshen beside a people who regarded them with aversion (<a href="/genesis/46-34.htm">Genesis 46:34</a>), and latterly by its cruel enslavement under Pharaoh (<a href="/exodus/1-10.htm">Exodus 1:10</a>), is a subject which in due course engages the attention of the writer. <span class="cmt_word">At that time.</span> <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> If the date of Judah's marriage, as is most probable, was shortly after the sale of Joseph (Keil, Kurtz, Lange, Alford, Wordsworth, Quarry), since at the time of that atrocity Judah was still living with his brethren, the only difficulty calling for solution is to account for the birth of Judah's grandchildren, Hezron and Hamul (the sons of Pharez, the twin child of Judah by Tamar), in the short interval of twenty-two years which preceded Jacob's descent into Egypt without making Er and Onan marry in comparative boyhood. The case becomes a little less perplexing if Hezron and Hamul, though said to have come into Egypt (<a href="/genesis/46-27.htm">Genesis 46:27</a>; <a href="/exodus/1-1.htm">Exodus 1:1</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/10-22.htm">Deuteronomy 10:22</a>), may be regarded as having been born there (Hengstenberg), since twenty-two years afford sufficient space for the birth of Judah's three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah, which may have taken place during the first three years after their father's marriage, and for the birth of Pharez and Zarah, even if Er married as late as eighteen. Of course if the narrative requires the birth of Hezron and Hamul to have taken place in Canaan (Kalisch), it is simply impossible to hold that all this occurred within little more than a score of years. Hence <p><span class="note_emph">(2)</span> the date of Judah's marriage has been placed before the sale of Joseph (Augustine, Aben Ezra, Rosenmüller, Drechsler, Baumgarten, Gerlach, Ainsworth, Candlish, Murphy, Inglis); but even on this assumption the task is arduous to make the birth of Hezron and Hamul occur before the emigration of their great-grandfather to Egypt. For as Judah was not more than four years older than Joseph (cf. <a href="/genesis/29-35.htm">Genesis 29:35</a> with Genesis 30:25), his age at the time of Joseph's sale could not have been more than twenty-one. But placing Judah's marriage at the earliest possible date, viz., in his fifteenth year, only substitutes an interval of twenty-eight years instead of one of twenty-two, in which Judah's son Er must be born, grow up to manhood, (say at fifteen) marry, die, and leave his widow Tamar, who, after marrying with Onan and waiting for Shelah (which would consume at least another year), must become the mother of twin sons by her father-in-law (for which another year would be required), and must see the elder of the two married at ten years of age, if his sons are to be born upon the soft of Canaan. On either hypothesis, therefore, it seems indispensable to hold that Judah's grandsons were born in Egypt; and in this case there is little gained by putting Judah's marriage earlier than Joseph s sale, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> in Judah's twenty-first year. <span class="cmt_word">That Judah went down</span> - from Hebron (<a href="/genesis/37-14.htm">Genesis 37:14</a>), or the mountains (Keil), towards the south (Aben Ezra, Rosenmüller) <span class="cmt_word">from his brethren</span>, - setting up a separate and independent establishment apart from them; "not only immediately after Joseph was sold, but also on account of it," "in a fit of impenitent anger" (Kurtz), in a spirit of remorse (Lange) - <span class="cmt_word">and turned in to a certain Adullamite</span>, - literally, <span class="accented">and pitched</span> (sc. his tent, <a href="/genesis/26-15.htm">Genesis 26:15</a>) <span class="accented">up to, as</span> far as, or close by, a man, <span class="accented">an Adullamite, i.e.</span> belonging to Adullam, a town in the Hebron valley (Joshua 15:85); in the time of the conquest the seat of a Canaanitish king (<a href="/joshua/12-15.htm">Joshua 12:15</a>), afterwards celebrated for its connection with the history of David (<a href="/1_samuel/22-1.htm">1 Samuel 22:1, 2</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/23-13.htm">2 Samuel 23:13</a>), subsequently mentioned in Scripture (<a href="/2_chronicles/11-7.htm">2 Chronicles 11:7</a>; <a href="/nehemiah/11-30.htm">Nehemiah 11:30</a>; <a href="/micah/1-15.htm">Micah 1:15</a>), but never successfully identified (<span class="accented">vide</span> ' Land and the Book,' pp. 606, 607; Robinson, 2:175) - <span class="cmt_word">whose name was Hirah</span> - "Nobility" (Gesenius). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/38-1.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">About</span><br /><span class="heb">וַֽיְהִי֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine 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">that</span><br /><span class="heb">הַהִ֔וא</span> <span class="translit">(ha·hi·w)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | 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">time,</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּעֵ֣ת</span> <span class="translit">(bā·‘êṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6256.htm">Strong's 6256: </a> </span><span class="str2">Time, now, when</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Judah</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוּדָ֖ה</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">left</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֵּ֥רֶד</span> <span class="translit">(way·yê·reḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3381.htm">Strong's 3381: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come or go down, descend</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his brothers</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶחָ֑יו</span> <span class="translit">(’e·ḥāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_251.htm">Strong's 251: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, )</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and settled</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֵּ֛ט</span> <span class="translit">(way·yêṭ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5186.htm">Strong's 5186: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend</span><br /><br /><span class="word">near</span><br /><span class="heb">עַד־</span> <span class="translit">(‘aḏ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> </span><span class="str2">As far as, even to, up to, until, while</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a man</span><br /><span class="heb">אִ֥ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">named</span><br /><span class="heb">וּשְׁמ֥וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(ū·šə·mōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8034.htm">Strong's 8034: </a> </span><span class="str2">A name</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Hirah,</span><br /><span class="heb">חִירָֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(ḥî·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2437.htm">Strong's 2437: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hirah -- a friend of Judah</span><br /><br /><span class="word">an Adullamite.</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲדֻלָּמִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·ḏul·lā·mî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5726.htm">Strong's 5726: </a> </span><span class="str2">Adullamite -- inhabitant of Adullam</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/38-1.htm">Genesis 38:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/38-1.htm">Genesis 38:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/38-1.htm">Genesis 38:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/38-1.htm">Genesis 38:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/38-1.htm">Genesis 38:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/38-1.htm">Genesis 38:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/38-1.htm">Genesis 38:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/38-1.htm">Genesis 38:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/38-1.htm">Genesis 38:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/38-1.htm">Genesis 38:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/38-1.htm">OT Law: Genesis 38:1 It happened at that time that Judah (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/37-36.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 37:36"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 37:36" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/38-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 38:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 38:2" /></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>