Genesis 38 17

Genesis 38:17 kjv

And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?

Genesis 38:17 nkjv

And he said, "I will send a young goat from the flock." So she said, "Will you give me a pledge till you send it?"

Genesis 38:17 niv

"I'll send you a young goat from my flock," he said. "Will you give me something as a pledge until you send it?" she asked.

Genesis 38:17 esv

He answered, "I will send you a young goat from the flock." And she said, "If you give me a pledge, until you send it ? "

Genesis 38:17 nlt

"I'll send you a young goat from my flock," Judah promised. "But what will you give me to guarantee that you will send the goat?" she asked.

Genesis 38 verses

Genesis 38 17 meaning

Genesis 38:17 details the terms of an illicit encounter between Judah and Tamar, disguised as a harlot. Judah promises to send "a kid from the flock" as payment. Tamar, however, wisely demands "a pledge" as a guarantee, which she will hold until the promised payment is delivered. This verse establishes the collateral exchange that becomes central to the chapter's later unfolding drama, highlighting Tamar's strategic forethought.

Genesis 38 17 Context

Genesis chapter 38 interjects the ongoing Joseph narrative, spotlighting Judah's personal journey. Having separated from his brothers and family, Judah marries and has three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er and Onan are divinely judged for their wickedness and die childless, leaving Er's widow, Tamar, awaiting the levirate duty from Shelah. Judah, however, withholds Shelah, fearing his death as well, thereby denying Tamar her right to perpetuate the family line. In response, and with a keen understanding of her right and Judah's failure, Tamar disguises herself as a harlot (though some scholars indicate a cultic prostitute by the road's locale, the text uses a common term for prostitute, zōnâ) and strategically positions herself to intercept Judah during a sheep-shearing feast. Verse 17 occurs immediately after Judah propositions her, laying the groundwork for the terms of their engagement. This exchange of a future payment (a kid) for an immediate guarantee (pledge) is crucial for Tamar's plan, allowing her to later expose Judah and secure her position within the family, thus ensuring the continuation of Judah's lineage, from which the Messiah would eventually come.

Word Analysis

• And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock.

  • And he said (וַיֹּאמֶר, wayyōʾmer): A standard Hebrew narrative transition, indicating Judah's direct verbal response.
  • I will send (אֲנִי אֲשַׁלֵּחַ, ʾănî ʾašalleaḥ): Judah's emphatic promise of future delivery. The repetition of the pronoun ʾănî (I) adds weight, signaling his personal assurance, even though it's given under deceptive circumstances.
  • thee (לָךְ, lāḵ): Refers directly to Tamar.
  • a kid (גְּדִי, g'dī): Specifically, a young goat. In ancient societies, a kid was a common domestic animal, used for meat, sacrificial offerings, or as an item of value in transactions. Its association with deceit (e.g., Jacob with Esau in Gen 27:9, or Joseph's blood-stained coat in Gen 37:31) provides a subtle narrative foreshadowing of the deception inherent in this encounter.
  • from the flock (עִזִּים, 'izzîm): Denotes "goats." It emphasizes that the promised payment is a specific, living animal from Judah's personal wealth, establishing a concrete, traceable asset.

• And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?

  • And she said (וַתֹּאמֶר, wattōʾmer): Introduces Tamar's reply, revealing her assertiveness and strategic mind.
  • Wilt thou give me (תִּתֶּן־לִי, titten-lî): Tamar's direct question, demanding immediate collateral. Her proactive query takes control of the exchange's terms.
  • a pledge (עֵרָבוֹן, 'ērāḇôn): This pivotal Hebrew term signifies an "earnest," "guarantee," or "security deposit." It is an object of value handed over as assurance that a future obligation will be met. The word has deep theological resonance, as its Greek equivalent, arrabōn (ἀρραβών), is used in the New Testament to describe the Holy Spirit as the "earnest" or guarantee of the believer's inheritance and salvation (2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:14). For Tamar, the pledge provides undeniable proof of Judah's identity, essential for her carefully laid plan.
  • till thou send it? (עַד בֹּאָהֶךָ, 'ad boʾaheḵā): Literally, "until your coming" (with it). Tamar clarifies that the pledge is temporary security, to be held until the kid is actually delivered. This specifies the condition for its return and implies that Judah must follow through.

• Words-group by Words-group Analysis:

  • "kid from the flock" vs. "a pledge": Judah' offers a temporary, consumable good for an immediate service. Tamar demands a permanent, identifiable piece of personal collateral (implied to be valuable possessions like a signet, cord, and staff in subsequent verses), shifting the power dynamic and ensuring his accountability.
  • "I will send thee" vs. "Wilt thou give me a pledge": Judah's initial promise suggests a simple transaction. Tamar's insistence on a pledge indicates a sophisticated awareness of how to secure a binding agreement, showcasing her astute calculation and mistrust of Judah's verbal word, given his prior failure to uphold his obligations to her.

Genesis 38 17 Commentary

Genesis 38:17, though brief, encapsulates Tamar's decisive action and the crucial strategic element of her plan. Judah, caught in his desire, easily offers a common form of payment. However, Tamar's demand for a "pledge" elevates the interaction beyond a fleeting liaison. This specific request—for a verifiable guarantee—reveals her intention was never merely illicit gain but calculated consequence. The pledge itself is the very instrument by which Judah's moral failure will be exposed and his identity irrefutably proven. This seemingly small detail orchestrates a significant divine turning point: it forces Judah's later confession of Tamar's righteousness, highlights his moral degradation, and crucially, ensures the continuation of the messianic lineage through Judah's offspring with Tamar. God sovereignly uses even human deception and sin to bring about His perfect plan.

Bonus Section

The "pledge" (עֵרָבוֹן, 'ērāḇôn) in Gen 38:17 not only served as security for Judah's promised payment but also held immense forensic significance. Judah's personal items—his signet, cord, and staff (Gen 38:18)—were distinct identifiers, similar to an ancient personal ID or signature. These were not generic objects, and their possession by Tamar provided incontrovertible evidence of Judah's involvement, making his subsequent recognition of her strategic cunning undeniable. This detail emphasizes Tamar's deep forethought and the irreversible trap she set, leading to Judah's acknowledgment of her superior righteousness.