Genesis 38:1 kjv

And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.

Genesis 38:1 nkjv

It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah.

Genesis 38:1 niv

At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah.

Genesis 38:1 esv

It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.

Genesis 38:1 nlt

About this time, Judah left home and moved to Adullam, where he stayed with a man named Hirah.

Genesis 38 verses

Genesis 38 1 Meaning

Genesis 38:1 serves as an unexpected narrative interlude, abruptly shifting focus from Joseph's narrative to Judah's personal life. This verse marks the point in time when Judah separated from his brothers and allied himself with an Adullamite, a Canaanite, named Hirah. It immediately sets the scene for a series of events that expose Judah's moral compromises and later, through God's providence, unexpectedly connect to the messianic lineage.

Genesis 38 1 Context

This verse dramatically interrupts the linear narrative of Joseph's life (chapters 37, 39-50). The precise chronological relationship to the surrounding chapters is not explicit, but it appears to cover a significant span of time after Joseph was sold into slavery. The literary placement of Chapter 38 serves several crucial purposes: it illustrates Judah's moral development and struggles prior to his crucial leadership role in Egypt (Gen 43-44); it explains the origins of Perez, a significant ancestor in the Messianic line, long before the Mosaic Law. Culturally, it reflects the patriarchal custom of seeking wives and establishing households, though Judah's choices here contrast sharply with the meticulousness of Abraham and Isaac in seeking appropriate wives for their heirs. Historically, it offers a glimpse into early interactions between the nascent Israelite family and the settled Canaanite population. The events herein, though morally ambiguous from a divine law perspective yet to be fully revealed, are part of God's overarching plan to establish the twelve tribes and specifically to bring forth the lineage of the Messiah through Judah.

Genesis 38 1 Word analysis

• It came to pass (וַיְהִי - va·yə·hî): A very common Hebrew narrative connective, often used to introduce new events or significant shifts in the story. Here, it signals an immediate pivot away from the preceding narrative.

• at that time (בָּעֵת הַהִיא - bā·‘êt ha·hî’): This phrase indicates a period generally linked to the immediate past but without specifying exact contemporaneity. It often introduces a seemingly digressive but relevant sequence of events, allowing for a temporal gap between Judah's role in selling Joseph and his subsequent actions. It signifies a chronological but not necessarily instantaneous connection.

• that Judah (יְהוּדָה - yə·hū·ḏāh): His name means "praised" or "let Him be praised," from the Hebrew verb יָדָה (yada), "to praise." This chapter is rich in irony given the praiseworthy destiny of his tribe (Gen 49:8-12) versus his morally compromising actions here. It highlights God's choice of imperfect individuals to carry forward His perfect plans.

• went down (יָרַד - yā·raḏ): Literally "descended" or "went down." Geographically, Adullam (in the Shephelah) is lower than Hebron, where the patriarchs often sojourned. Theological scholars also interpret this as a symbolic descent, representing Judah's moral decline and separation from the familial and spiritual standards of his patriarchs.

• from his brothers (מֵאֵת אֶחָיו - mê·’êṯ ’e·ḥāw): This indicates a separation from the immediate patriarchal family unit. It could be due to shame over Joseph's sale, a desire for independence, or a general drift. This severance highlights Judah forging his own path, rather than staying aligned with the patriarchal ways.

• and turned aside (וַיֵּט - way·yêṭ): Literally "to turn aside," "deviate," "swerve." It implies an intentional departure from the direct path, a deliberate detour from the main family line or from accepted norms. This action is pivotal to his encounter in Adullam.

• to a certain Adullamite (עֲדֻלָּמִי - ʿă·ḏul·lā·mî): Adullam was a city in the Shephelah (lowlands) of Judah, a Canaanite area. Association with Canaanites was generally viewed negatively for the Israelites (e.g., Abraham's strictness with Isaac's wife). This association signifies Judah's embrace of a different culture and, potentially, its customs, far removed from the covenant community.

• whose name was Hirah (חִירָה - ḥî·rāh): The inclusion of the name solidifies the setting and relationship. Hirah is mentioned as a "friend" or "companion," indicating a bond formed outside the traditional family ties. This emphasizes Judah's choice to find fellowship among non-Abrahamic peoples.

• "went down from his brothers, and turned aside": This phrase vividly portrays Judah's departure. It is both a physical movement and a significant shift in his relationships and lifestyle. It represents a detachment from the familial ties and possibly the spiritual legacy he inherited, venturing into uncharted moral and social territory.

Genesis 38 1 Bonus section

• The strategic placement of Genesis 38 interrupts the flowing Joseph narrative, creating a literary "parenthesis" that serves to both mature Judah's character off-stage (prior to his crucial leadership role in Genesis 43-44) and providentially introduce the key ancestral link through Perez to David and subsequently to Jesus.
• The Adullamite association highlights a potential threat of cultural assimilation and moral compromise early in the history of the Israelites, a theme that will re-emerge frequently in later books like Judges and Kings regarding interaction with foreign nations.
• The "turning aside" (way·yêṭ) parallels later instances of Israelites turning aside from God's commands (e.g., the root נטה is often used for deviating from a path). Judah's journey represents a personal choice that foreshadows the nation's struggles.

Genesis 38 1 Commentary

Genesis 38:1 acts as a crucial pause in the grand narrative of Joseph, deliberately placed to showcase the concurrent unfolding of Judah's character and lineage. Judah's "going down" and "turning aside" from his brothers reflect not only a geographical relocation to Canaanite Adullam but also a moral drift from the high standards of the patriarchs. His willingness to align with Canaanites and later, through this chapter, to marry a Canaanite woman and father sons with her, stands in stark contrast to Abraham's concern for Isaac's wife or Jacob's own family dynamics. Yet, this very chapter, born of human frailty and misdirection, becomes the divinely appointed conduit through which the messianic line, leading ultimately to Christ, will flow. It powerfully illustrates God's sovereign plan working through the messiness of human choices and imperfections, demonstrating His faithfulness even when His people are unfaithful. This foundational narrative reveals that God often uses unconventional paths and flawed vessels to accomplish His eternal purposes.