When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
Parallel translations
- WEB When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
- BSB When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.
- NKJV When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face.
- NASB When Judah saw her, he assumed she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
- NLT Judah noticed her and thought she was a prostitute, since she had covered her face.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Judah mistakes the veiled Tamar for a prostitute.
Overview
Judah's readiness to solicit a roadside prostitute exposes his moral laxity. The veil conceals Tamar's identity, allowing her plan to unfold. The scene contrasts Judah's careless sin with the deeper purpose at work to preserve his line.
Cross-references & the web
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Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 38:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.