Genesis 38:6
New International Version
Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

New Living Translation
In the course of time, Judah arranged for his firstborn son, Er, to marry a young woman named Tamar.

English Standard Version
And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

Berean Standard Bible
Now Judah acquired a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

King James Bible
And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.

New King James Version
Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

New American Standard Bible
Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

NASB 1995
Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

NASB 1977
Now Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

Amplified Bible
Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn; her name was Tamar.

Christian Standard Bible
Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

American Standard Version
And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar.

Contemporary English Version
Later, Judah chose Tamar as a wife for Er, his oldest son.

English Revised Version
And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Judah chose a wife for his firstborn son Er. Her name was Tamar.

Good News Translation
For his first son Er, Judah got a wife whose name was Tamar.

International Standard Version
Judah found a wife for his oldest son Er. Her name was Tamar.

Majority Standard Bible
Now Judah acquired a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

NET Bible
Judah acquired a wife for Er his firstborn; her name was Tamar.

New Heart English Bible
And Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, whose name was Tamar.

World English Bible
Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Judah takes a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name [is] Tamar;

Young's Literal Translation
And Judah taketh a wife for Er, his first-born, and her name is Tamar;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Judah will take a wife for Er his first-born, and her name Tamar.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Juda took a wife for Her his firstborn, whose name was Thamar.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Judah gave a wife to his first born Er, whose name was Tamar.

New American Bible
Judah got a wife named Tamar for his firstborn, Er.

New Revised Standard Version
Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn; her name was Tamar.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Judah took a wife for Er, his first-born, whose name was Tamar.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yehuda took a woman for Eyr, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Judas took a wife for Er his first-born, whose name was Thamar.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judah and Tamar
5Then she gave birth to another son and named him Shelah; it was at Chezib that she gave birth to him. 6Now Judah acquired a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death.…

Cross References
Matthew 1:3
Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.

Ruth 4:12
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.”

1 Chronicles 2:4
Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.

Numbers 26:19
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.

Deuteronomy 25:5-6
When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her. / The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

Matthew 22:24
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.

Mark 12:19
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.

Luke 20:28
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.

1 Corinthians 5:1
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.

1 Corinthians 7:39
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

Romans 7:2
For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.

Leviticus 18:16
You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.

Leviticus 20:21
If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless.

Deuteronomy 25:7-10
But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.” / Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak with him. If he persists and says, “I do not want to marry her,” / his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal, spit in his face, and declare, “This is what is done to the man who will not maintain his brother’s line.” ...

Genesis 46:12
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.


Treasury of Scripture

And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.

took.

Genesis 21:21
And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

Genesis 24:3
And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Tamar.

Matthew 1:3
And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

Jump to Previous
Er First Firstborn First-Born Judah Tamar Wife
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Er First Firstborn First-Born Judah Tamar Wife
Genesis 38
1. Judah begets Er, Onan, and Shelah.
6. Er's marriage with Tamar, and death.
8. The trespass of Onan.
11. Tamar is reserved for Shelah.
12. Judah's wife dies.
13. Tamar deceives Judah.
27. She bears twins, Pharez and Zarah.














Now Judah
The name "Judah" comes from the Hebrew "Yehudah," meaning "praise." Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, and his lineage is significant as it leads to King David and ultimately to Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This verse marks a pivotal moment in Judah's life, as his actions and decisions will have far-reaching consequences for his family and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

got a wife
The act of obtaining a wife for his son reflects the cultural practices of the time, where marriages were often arranged by the parents. This was a means of ensuring alliances and the continuation of family lineage. In the Hebrew context, marriage was not just a personal union but a communal and covenantal act, deeply rooted in the social and religious fabric of the society.

for Er, his firstborn
The term "firstborn" in Hebrew is "bekor," which carries significant weight in biblical times. The firstborn son held a place of honor and responsibility, often receiving a double portion of the inheritance and the leadership of the family. Er's position as the firstborn underscores the importance of his marriage and the expectation for him to carry on Judah's lineage.

and her name was Tamar
The name "Tamar" means "palm tree" in Hebrew, symbolizing beauty and fruitfulness. Tamar's introduction into the narrative is crucial, as she becomes a key figure in the continuation of Judah's line. Her account is one of resilience and righteousness, as she navigates the challenges and injustices she faces. Tamar's actions later in the chapter highlight her determination to fulfill her role in God's covenantal promise, despite the obstacles she encounters.

Verse 6. - And Judah took a wife (cf. Genesis 21:21; Genesis 24:4) for Er his firstborn, - "by the early marriage of his sons Judah seems to have intended to prevent in them a germinating corruption (Lange) - whose name as Tamar - "Palm tree" (Gesenius). Though the name was Shemitic, it does not follow that the person was. Cf. Melchisedeck and Abimelech. Yet she is not expressly called a Canaanite, though it is more than probable she was. Lange conjectures that she may have been of Philistine descent, and thinks the narrative intends to convey the impression that she was a woman of extraordinary character.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now Judah
יְהוּדָ֛ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

acquired
וַיִּקַּ֧ח (way·yiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

a wife
אִשָּׁ֖ה (’iš·šāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

for Er,
לְעֵ֣ר (lə·‘êr)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6147: Er -- two men of Judah

his firstborn,
בְּכוֹר֑וֹ (bə·ḵō·w·rōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

and her name
וּשְׁמָ֖הּ (ū·šə·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8034: A name

was Tamar.
תָּמָֽר׃ (tā·mār)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8559: Tamar -- daughter-in-law of Judah, also two Israelite women, also a place South of the Dead Sea


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OT Law: Genesis 38:6 Judah took a wife for Er his (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 38:5
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