Genesis 38 18

Genesis 38:18 kjv

And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.

Genesis 38:18 nkjv

Then he said, "What pledge shall I give you?" So she said, "Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand." Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

Genesis 38:18 niv

He said, "What pledge should I give you?" "Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand," she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.

Genesis 38:18 esv

He said, "What pledge shall I give you?" She replied, "Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand." So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

Genesis 38:18 nlt

"What kind of guarantee do you want?" he replied. She answered, "Leave me your identification seal and its cord and the walking stick you are carrying." So Judah gave them to her. Then he had intercourse with her, and she became pregnant.

Genesis 38 verses

Genesis 38 18 meaning

Genesis 38:18 details the items Judah provides to Tamar as a pledge for a young goat. Judah asks for a pledge in return for the promised payment, and Tamar shrewdly requests his personal identifying markers: his signet, the cords attached to it (often referred to as bracelets in some translations), and his staff. Judah gives these personal objects, then lies with her, and she conceives. This exchange establishes Tamar's proof of Judah's paternity and provides critical identifying evidence later in the narrative.

Genesis 38 18 Context

Genesis chapter 38 serves as an interruption to the main narrative of Joseph's life. This chapter focuses on Judah, Jacob's fourth son, detailing his separation from his family, his marriage to a Canaanite woman, and his scandalous dealings with his daughter-in-law, Tamar. Following the deaths of Judah's first two sons (Er and Onan, for their wickedness), Judah delays fulfilling his obligation to give his third son, Shelah, to Tamar in levirate marriage. Seeing that Shelah would not be given, Tamar disguises herself as a temple prostitute (or common harlot, depending on translation and interpretation) and seduces Judah. Verse 18 is the critical moment in this encounter where Judah offers a young goat as payment, and Tamar, distrusting his word, demands physical items as a "pledge," specifically those that directly identify him. Historically, signet rings, personal cords, and staffs were unique and powerful symbols of a person's identity, status, and authority in ancient Near Eastern society. Their possession implied great trust or severe consequence if not redeemed. This narrative highlights the importance of preserving the tribal lineage, even through unorthodox means, which proves to be instrumental in the unfolding divine plan, culminating in the birth of Perez, an ancestor of King David and ultimately the Messiah.

Genesis 38 18 Word analysis

• And he said, What pledge shall I give thee?
  • What pledge: Hebrew mah-ʻeravon (מַה־עֵרָבוֹן). The word ʻeravon signifies an "earnest" or "down payment," a valuable item given as a guarantee that a future obligation will be fulfilled. It indicates a legally binding security, not merely a promise.
  • Significance: Judah proposes a form of legally binding transaction, believing he is dealing with a prostitute who will demand payment after services rendered. His question invites Tamar to state her desired guarantee.
• And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand.
  • Thy signet: Hebrew chotamekâ (חֹתָמֶךָ). Refers to a seal, typically a signet ring or cylinder seal, used to authenticate documents, mark ownership, or signify personal authority. It was a personal and unique identifier, equivalent to a signature today.
  • Significance: This item alone provides definitive proof of identity and authority. For Judah to give it was a mark of extreme casualness regarding the encounter or his profound desire to quickly end it and retrieve the items.
  • Thy bracelets: Hebrew uphthîlekâ (וּפְתִילֶךָ). The Hebrew word pəthîl means "cord" or "thread." While some translations use "bracelets" (e.g., KJV), it often refers to the cord from which a signet seal was worn around the neck, or perhaps tassels/cords on his garment. It served to hold the signet or as another personal identifier.
  • Significance: Whether a neck-cord or other ornament, this item further strengthens the evidence, linking the signet explicitly to Judah and increasing the irrefutable proof of his identity.
  • Thy staff: Hebrew umaṭṭekâ (וּמַטֶּךָ). A rod, stick, or staff, often a symbol of authority, status, or leadership. For a man of Judah's standing (a tribal patriarch), his staff was likely distinct and personally recognized.
  • Significance: The staff completes the trio of personal, highly recognizable items that collectively serve as unassailable evidence of Judah's identity. Judah gives up his visible markers of personhood and power.
  • that is in thine hand: Emphasizes the immediate, personal connection of the items to Judah. They are not merely his items in general, but the ones he is currently using or possessing, further removing any doubt as to their origin and ownership.
• And he gave them her, and went in unto her, and she conceived by him.
  • And he gave them her: A direct, physical transfer of the pledge, fulfilling Tamar's demand for surety before the sexual act.
  • And went in unto her: A common biblical euphemism for sexual intercourse (e.g., Gen 16:2, 30:3).
  • And she conceived by him: The immediate, divinely ordained consequence of the encounter, fulfilling Tamar's purpose in seeking offspring and God's plan for the lineage.

Genesis 38 18 Bonus section

• The strategic placement of Genesis 38, interrupting the Joseph narrative, is often understood as highlighting the differing character developments of Judah and Joseph. While Joseph maintained his purity and integrity in trials (Gen 39), Judah fell into moral decay and deception. This contrast sets the stage for Judah's later transformation and his role in saving the family in Genesis 44, positioning him for leadership despite this significant lapse.
• The incident illustrates that God's covenant promises are sovereign and do not rely on the perfection of His people. Despite Judah's actions, the line of the Messiah proceeds through Perez, Tamar's son (Matt 1:3). This prefigures a broader theme throughout Scripture that God uses imperfect vessels and even works through human sin to accomplish His perfect will.
• The narrative serves as a reminder of the cultural emphasis on continuing the family line and the severe plight of a childless widow in that society. Tamar's actions, though controversial, were aimed at fulfilling a societal and spiritual necessity: securing an heir for her deceased husband's lineage. Judah's eventual acknowledgment in Gen 38:26, "She is more righteous than I," validates Tamar's motivations in the cultural and legal context, though not condoning the method.

Genesis 38 18 Commentary

Genesis 38:18 is a pivotal moment in the dramatic encounter between Judah and Tamar. Judah, driven by immediate gratification and the need for quick resolution, offers a mere "pledge," yet Tamar, with foresight and determined intent to secure her rightful offspring, demands his most personal and identifiable items. The signet, staff, and connecting cord were not mere trinkets but powerful symbols of identity, authority, and status in the ancient world. For Judah, surrendering these items was a deeply compromising act, albeit one he initially believed would be temporary and discreet.

The quick progression from the demand for the pledge, to its transfer, to the sexual act, and finally to conception, underscores the direct and intentional nature of Tamar's plan and the swift, providential outcome. This verse highlights Tamar's shrewdness and resolve in pursuing her familial rights and underscores Judah's moral blindness at this point in his life. The immediate conception of an heir indicates the divine hand in bringing about this critical lineage for Israel, showing God's ability to work through complex human situations, even sin and deception, to accomplish His ultimate purposes for redemption and blessing.