Font Size
Genesis 38:14-19
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Genesis 38:14-19
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
14 So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a shawl, and having wrapped herself sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah; for she was aware that, although Shelah was now grown up, she had not been given to him in marriage.(A) 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, since she had covered her face. 16 So he went over to her at the roadside and said, “Come, let me have intercourse with you,” for he did not realize that she was his daughter-in-law. She replied, “What will you pay me for letting you have intercourse with me?” 17 He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” “Very well,” she said, “provided you leave me a pledge until you send it.” 18 Judah asked, “What pledge should I leave you?” She answered, “Your seal and cord,[a] and the staff in your hand.” So he gave them to her and had intercourse with her, and she conceived by him. 19 After she got up and went away, she took off her shawl and put on her widow’s garments again.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 38:18 Seal and cord: the cylinder seal, through which a hole was bored lengthwise so that it could be worn from the neck by a cord, was a distinctive means of identification. Apparently one’s staff could also be marked with some sign of identification (cf. Nm 17:17–18).
Genesis 38:14-19
New International Version
Genesis 38:14-19
New International Version
14 she took off her widow’s clothes,(A) covered herself with a veil(B) to disguise herself, and then sat down(C) at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah.(D) For she saw that, though Shelah(E) had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife.
15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute,(F) for she had covered her face. 16 Not realizing(G) that she was his daughter-in-law,(H) he went over to her by the roadside and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.”(I)
“And what will you give me to sleep with you?”(J) she asked.
17 “I’ll send you a young goat(K) from my flock,” he said.
“Will you give me something as a pledge(L) until you send it?” she asked.
18 He said, “What pledge should I give you?”
“Your seal(M) and its cord, and the staff(N) in your hand,” she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.(O) 19 After she left, she took off her veil and put on her widow’s clothes(P) again.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.