Genesis 38:18-20
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
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.
20 Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to recover the pledge from the woman; but he did not find her.
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- 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).
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