Deep Dive

Genesis 38:2

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There Judah saw the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua, and he took her as a wife and slept with her.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 2

This chapter gives us an account of Judah and his family, and such an account it is that one would wonder that, of all Jacob's sons, our Lord should spring out of Judah, Heb 7:14. If we were to form a character of him by this story, we should not say, "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise," Gen 49:8. But God will show that his choice is of grace and not of merit, and that Christ came into the world to save sinners, even the chief, and is not ashamed, upon their repentance, to be allied to them, also that the worth and worthiness of Jesus Christ are personal, of himself, and not derived from his ancestors. Humbling himself to be "made in the likeness of sinful flesh," he was pleased to descend from some that were infamous. How little reason had the Jews, who were so called from this Judah, to boast, as they did, that they were not born of fornication! Joh 8:41. We have, in this chapter, I. Judah's marriage and issue, and the untimely death of his two eldest sons (Gen 38:1-11). II. Judah's incest with his daughter-in-law Tamar, without his knowing it (Gen 38:12-23). III. His confusion, when it was discovered (Gen 38:24-26). IV. The birth of his twin sons, in whom his family was built up (Gen 38:27, etc.).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 2

יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… כְּנַעַנִי (Kᵉnaʻanîy, H3669) — a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… שׁוּעַ (Shûwaʻ, H7770) — Shua, a Canaanite לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

I Chronicles 2:3rank 5

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, who put him to death.

Genesis 24:3rank 4

and I will have you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I am dwelling,

II Corinthians 6:14rank 2

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

Genesis 6:4rank 2

The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and afterward as well—when the sons of God had relations with the daughters of men. And they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown.

Judges 16:1rank 2

One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went in to spend the night with her.

Genesis 46:12rank 2

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.

Judges 14:2rank 2

So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”

Genesis 6:2rank 2

the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.

II Samuel 11:2rank 2

One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman.

Genesis 34:2rank 2

When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the region, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force.

Commentaries

Original language

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