translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: GEN

label: NET translator note

text: Heb “went down from.”


text: Heb “and he turned aside unto.”


text: Heb “a man, an Adullamite.”


text: Heb “a man, a Canaanite.”


text: Heb “and his name was Shua.”


text: Heb “and he took her.”


text: Or “she conceived” (also in the following verse).


label: NET textual note

text: Some mss read this verb as feminine, “she called,” to match the pattern of the next two verses. But the MT, “he called,” should probably be retained as the more difficult reading. tn Heb “and he called his name.” The referent (Judah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “and she added again and she gave birth.” The first verb and the adverb emphasize that she gave birth once more.


text: Or “and he [i.e., Judah] was in Kezib when she gave birth to him.”


text: Heb “and Judah took.”


text: Heb “go to.” The expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.


text: The imperative with the prefixed conjunction here indicates purpose.


text: Heb “offspring.”


text: Heb “would not be his,” that is, legally speaking. Under the levirate system the child would be legally considered the child of his deceased brother.


text: The construction shows that this was a repeated practice and not merely one action. sn The text makes it clear that the purpose of the custom was to produce an heir for the deceased brother. Onan had no intention of doing that. But he would have sex with the girl as much as he wished. He was willing to use the law to gratify his desires, but was not willing to do the responsible thing.


text: Heb “he went to.” This expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.


text: Heb “he spoiled [his semen] to the ground.” Onan withdrew prematurely and ejaculated on the ground to prevent his brother’s widow from becoming pregnant.


text: Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord ) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “said.”


text: Heb “Otherwise he will die, also he, like his brothers.” sn I don’t want him to die like his brothers . This clause explains that Judah had no intention of giving Shelah to Tamar for the purpose of the levirate marriage. Judah apparently knew the nature of his sons, and feared that God would be angry with the third son and kill him as well.


text: Heb “and he went up to the shearers of his sheep, he and.”


text: Heb “And it was told to Tamar, saying.”


text: The active participle indicates the action was in progress or about to begin.


text: The Hebrew text simply has “because,” connecting this sentence to what precedes. For stylistic reasons the words “she did this” are supplied in the translation and a new sentence begun.


text: Heb “she saw that Shelah had grown up, but she was not given to him as a wife.”


text: Heb “he reckoned her for a prostitute,” which was what Tamar had intended for him to do. She obviously had some idea of his inclinations, or she would not have tried this risky plan.


text: Heb “I will go to you.” The imperfect verbal form probably indicates his desire here. The expression “go to” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.


text: Heb “until you send.”


text: Heb “and he went to her.” This expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.


text: Heb “and she arose and left,” the first verb in the pair emphasizing that she wasted no time.


text: Heb “sent by the hand of his friend.” Here the name of the friend (“Hirah”) has been included in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand.”


text: Heb “he”; the referent (Judah’s friend Hirah the Adullamite) has been specified in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “the men of her place,” that is, who lived at the place where she had been.


text: The words “the things” have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.


text: Heb “we will become contemptible.” The Hebrew word בּוּז ( buz ) describes the contempt that a respectable person would have for someone who is worthless, foolish, or disreputable.


text: Heb “it was told to Judah, saying.”


text: Or “has been sexually promiscuous.” The verb may refer here to loose or promiscuous activity, not necessarily prostitution.


text: Heb “and also look, she is with child by prostitution.”


text: Heb “she was being brought out and she sent.” The juxtaposition of two clauses, both of which place the subject before the predicate, indicates synchronic action.


text: Heb “who these to him.”


text: Or “ recognize; note.” This same Hebrew verb ( נָכַר , nakhar ) is used at the beginning of v. 26 , where it is translated “recognized.”


text: Traditionally “more righteous”; cf. NCV, NRSV, NLT “more in the right.” sn She is more upright than I . Judah had been irresponsible and unfaithful to his duty to see that the family line continued through the levirate marriage of his son Shelah. Tamar fought for her right to be the mother of Judah’s line. When she was not given Shelah and Judah’s wife died, she took action on her own to ensure that the line did not die out. Though deceptive, it was a desperate and courageous act. For Tamar it was within her rights; she did nothing that the law did not entitle her to do. But for Judah it was wrong because he thought he was going to a prostitute. See also Susan Niditch, “The Wronged Woman Righted: An Analysis of ,” HTR 72 (1979): 143-48.


text: Heb “and he did not add again to know her.” Here “know” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.


text: The word “child” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.


text: Heb “Look, his brother came out.” By the use of the particle הִנֵּה ( hinneh , “look”), the narrator invites the reader to view the scene through the midwife’s eyes. The words “before him” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.


text: Heb “How you have made a breach for yourself!” The Hebrew verb translated “make a breach” frequently occurs, as here, with a cognate accusative. The event provided the meaningful name Perez, “he who breaks through.”