Genesis 38 2

Genesis 38:2 kjv

And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.

Genesis 38:2 nkjv

And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her.

Genesis 38:2 niv

There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her and made love to her;

Genesis 38:2 esv

There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her,

Genesis 38:2 nlt

There he saw a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua, and he married her. When he slept with her,

Genesis 38 verses

Genesis 38 2 meaning

Genesis 38:2 describes Judah's choice to marry a woman from Canaan, specifically the daughter of a man named Shuah. This act signifies Judah's separation from his family's customs and principles concerning marriage within their kin or faith. The phrase "took her, and went in unto her" denotes the establishment of a marital relationship and its consummation, leading to the beginning of his family line with her.

Genesis 38 2 Context

Genesis chapter 38 serves as a seemingly abrupt interlude in the main narrative of Joseph, inserted between Joseph's sale into slavery (Gen 37) and his rise in Egypt (Gen 39). This narrative detour focuses on Judah, showcasing his actions, character, and family line during the period when his brothers believed Joseph was dead. It highlights Judah's moral degradation and a deviation from the patriarchal covenant, particularly through his marriage to a Canaanite woman, which implicitly foreshadows later prohibitions against intermarriage with foreign nations. The chapter emphasizes divine sovereignty, as God works through imperfect human choices to preserve the Messianic line, even one marked by significant sin and hardship, culminating in the birth of Perez through Tamar, which ultimately leads to David and later to Christ.

Genesis 38 2 Word analysis

• וַיַּרְא (vay-yar'): "And he saw" (verb from ra'ah, 'to see').
  • Significance: More than just observing. It implies a conscious act of taking notice, perhaps with intent or attraction, leading to the subsequent actions. It signifies a choice.
• שָׁם (shām): "there"
  • Significance: Indicates Judah's location outside the patriarchal familial sphere, among the Canaanites. It contrasts with "in the land of Canaan" from a larger perspective but emphasizes being away from his immediate family and its traditions.
• בַת-אִישׁ כְּנַעֲנִי (bat-'îsh K'na'aniy): "a daughter of a certain Canaanite"
  • "daughter of": Indicates her identity is tied to her father, who is specifically noted as "a Canaanite man."
  • "Canaanite": Refers to a member of the pre-Israelite inhabitants of the land. In later biblical law, marrying Canaanites was expressly forbidden (Exod 34:15-16, Deut 7:3-4) due to their pagan religious practices and potential to corrupt Israel's devotion to God. This choice by Judah highlights a significant departure from Abraham's and Isaac's marital practices and principles.
• וּשְׁמוֹ שׁוּעַ (ū-šᵊmô Šûaʿ): "whose name was Shuah"
  • Significance: Naming the father, Shuah, rather than the daughter, emphasizes his status as a "Canaanite," grounding the problem in her lineage rather than just her individual character. The daughter's name is not given, further foregrounding her ethnicity.
• וַיִּקָּחֶהָ (vay-yiq-qāḥehā): "and he took her"
  • Meaning: From the verb laqah, 'to take, seize, acquire.' In this context, with a female object, it typically means to take as a wife, i.e., to marry.
  • Significance: Implies a formal, though culturally non-Hebrew, marriage arrangement. This was not a casual encounter but the establishment of a binding union. It also points to Judah's autonomy from his family in this significant decision.
• וַיָּבֹא אֵלֶיהָ (vay-yāḇō' 'êleyhā): "and went in unto her"
  • Euphemism: This phrase is a common biblical euphemism for sexual intercourse, specifically for conjugal relations within marriage.
  • Significance: Indicates the consummation of the marriage.

Genesis 38 2 Bonus section

This verse illustrates an early departure from the spiritual purity expected of the patriarchs' lineage. The patriarchal narratives often include detailed accounts of marriage arrangements, usually involving efforts to find wives from Abraham's extended family (e.g., Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah/Rachel), specifically to avoid the local Canaanite population. Judah's choice highlights his increasing independence from his family's traditions and perhaps a sense of bitterness or disillusionment after the Joseph incident. This period for Judah (Gen 38) reveals a character still developing, marked by moral lapses, but also by later transformation as seen in his mature leadership in Egypt and plea for Benjamin (Gen 44). The verse implicitly serves as an early narrative justification for later, more explicit prohibitions against intermarriage found throughout the Torah, warning against the dilution of spiritual identity.

Genesis 38 2 Commentary

Genesis 38:2 marks a pivotal moment in Judah's personal journey, presenting a stark contrast to the divine covenant promised to his forefathers. His marriage to a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shuah, was an act of significant compromise. While marriage between different ethnic groups wasn't explicitly forbidden to the patriarchs (Abraham sent for a wife for Isaac from his own kin, and Isaac commanded Jacob likewise), the emerging divine standard for Abraham's lineage was distinct separation from the pagan peoples of Canaan, whose abominable practices are later detailed in Mosaic law. Judah's action reflects a spiritual and cultural drift, potentially driven by the desire for immediate gratification or a disregard for the sacred lineage's purity. It foreshadows Israel's repeated struggles with idolatry and assimilation when they mingle with foreign nations. Yet, even through this flawed choice, God's sovereign plan for the Messianic line would endure, demonstrating His ability to work despite human sin and misjudgment.