Genesis 38 23

Genesis 38:23 kjv

And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.

Genesis 38:23 nkjv

Then Judah said, "Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her."

Genesis 38:23 niv

Then Judah said, "Let her keep what she has, or we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you didn't find her."

Genesis 38:23 esv

And Judah replied, "Let her keep the things as her own, or we shall be laughed at. You see, I sent this young goat, and you did not find her."

Genesis 38:23 nlt

"Then let her keep the things I gave her," Judah said. "I sent the young goat as we agreed, but you couldn't find her. We'd be the laughingstock of the village if we went back again to look for her."

Genesis 38 verses

Genesis 38 23 meaning

Genesis 38:23 conveys Judah's immediate decision to abandon the attempt to recover his pledge (his seal, cord, and staff) from the woman he believed to be a cultic prostitute, after his servant Hirah failed to find her. His primary motivation for this surrender is his intense fear of public humiliation and becoming an object of scorn or disgrace within the community. He justifies his inability to retrieve the pledge by stating that he did indeed send the payment (a young goat) but that the woman could not be located. This verse marks Judah’s decision to cut his losses and avoid scandal, rather than rectifying the underlying illicit encounter.

Genesis 38 23 Context

Genesis chapter 38 serves as a distinct interlude within the broader Joseph narrative (between Genesis 37 and 39), intentionally placed to highlight the moral state of Jacob's family and Judah's specific failings, even as God's covenant promises are being fulfilled. This chapter chronicles Judah's personal journey, marked by separation from his brothers and a series of morally compromising decisions. Prior to verse 23, Judah has arranged a marriage for his eldest son Er, who then dies, followed by Onan, who also dies, both for their wickedness in the Lord's sight, in connection to their responsibility to Tamar. Judah then withheld his youngest son Shelah from Tamar, fearing he too would die. Tamar, recognizing Judah’s unwillingness to fulfill his obligation of levirate marriage or to grant her the progeny she was entitled to, cleverly disguises herself as a harlot and waits by the road. Judah encounters her, promises a kid as payment, and leaves his personal seal, cord, and staff as a pledge. Verse 23 follows Judah's subsequent attempt to retrieve these valuable personal items, sending his friend Hirah the Adullamite, who returns unsuccessful, claiming no "harlot" was found in that location. Judah's statement in verse 23 reveals his fear of public disgrace outweighing his concern for retrieving his pledge or recognizing the full implications of his actions. This narrative underscores God's ability to work through flawed individuals and unconventional circumstances to fulfill His purposes, particularly concerning the lineage of Abraham and the Messiah.

Genesis 38 23 Word Analysis

• Then Judah said:
  • וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה֙ (wayyo’mer yehûḏāh): Standard narrative past tense "and he said." Indicates a direct quotation of Judah's words, underscoring his internal thought process and immediate reaction to Hirah's failed mission. Judah's decision is presented as final in his mind.
• 'Let her keep them,
  • תִּֽקַּח לָהּ֙ (tiqqakh lah): This phrase can be translated "let her take for herself" or "let her keep for herself." It indicates Judah's resignation and surrender of the pledge (his signet, cord, and staff). The phrase suggests he gives up ownership or claim to them, considering them a loss. The Hebrew idiom reinforces the idea of permanent retention.
  • Significance: Reveals Judah's pragmatism over personal integrity. He is ready to forfeit valuable, personally identifiable items rather than prolong the search and risk exposure. This signifies a cost-benefit calculation where the risk of public shame far outweighs the material loss.
• lest we be a reproach;
  • פֶּן־נִֽהְיֶה֙ לָבֽוּז (pen-nihyeh lābūz): "Lest we become contempt/scorn/public disgrace."
    • פֶּן (pen): "lest," "so that not," expressing fear or warning. This word directly highlights Judah's motivation.
    • נִֽהְיֶה֙ (nihyeh): "we become" or "we should be." Plural pronoun indicates his concern for himself and his associates, perhaps his household or even the collective reputation.
    • לָבֽוּז (lābūz): From the root bûz, meaning "scorn, contempt, derision, disgrace, reproach." This is a strong word indicating public humiliation, mocking, and losing respect.
  • Significance: This is the pivot point of Judah's decision. His fear of lābūz (public disgrace) is profound in ancient Near Eastern society, where honor and shame were paramount. This dread reveals his focus on external perception rather than internal moral rectitude. He fears not the sin itself, but its discovery.
• behold, I sent this kid,
  • הִנֵּ֤ה שָׁלַ֨חְתִּי֙ הַגְּדִ֤י הַזֶּה֙ (hinnēh shālaḥtī haggeḏī hazzeh): "Behold, I sent this kid/goat."
    • הִנֵּה (hinnēh): "Behold," "look." An emphatic particle used to draw attention to a statement, often expressing certainty or presenting a fact. Judah emphasizes his due diligence regarding the payment.
    • שָׁלַ֨חְתִּי֙ (shālaḥtī): "I sent." Judah highlights his personal action in fulfilling his part of the illicit deal.
    • הַגְּדִ֤י הַזֶּה֙ (haggeḏī hazzeh): "This kid/young goat." The promised payment for the harlot.
  • Significance: Judah attempts to rationalize his surrender of the pledge by shifting responsibility for the failure to Hirah or the elusive woman. He implies, "I did my part by sending the payment; it's not my fault we couldn't find her." This self-justification deflects blame and aims to preserve his reputation by appearing to have honored his word, despite the ignominious context.
• and you have not found her.'"
  • וְאַתָּ֖ה לֹ֣א מְצָאתָ֑הּ (wə’attāh lō’ məṣā’tāh): "And you (singular, referring to Hirah) did not find her."
    • אַתָּה (‘attāh): "you," specifically addressing Hirah.
    • לֹ֣א מְצָאתָ֑הּ (lō’ məṣā’tāh): "not found her." A simple, direct statement of fact that serves as the final, deciding factor for Judah to give up.
  • Significance: Judah's words imply frustration and an end to the matter. He places the finality on Hirah's failure, closing the door on any further attempts to recover the pledge. This brings the immediate phase of the Tamar/Judah encounter to a close, yet unwittingly sets the stage for the dramatic revelation of Tamar's pregnancy.

Word Groups/Phrases Analysis:

• "Let her keep them, lest we be a reproach": This encapsulates Judah's immediate assessment of the situation: material loss is acceptable if it prevents severe social discredit. It reflects a society highly conscious of public perception and the devastating impact of scandal on one's honor and standing. This priority reveals a self-centered approach, more concerned with image than genuine rectitude before God.
• "behold, I sent this kid, and you have not found her": This phrase serves as Judah's rationale for dropping the issue. He is implicitly saying, "I have done all I could; I tried to fulfill my part. Since she cannot be found, the problem is hers/Hirah's, not mine, and the pledge is unrecoverable without further risk." It's a statement of pragmatic futility rooted in a desire to mitigate reputational damage.

Genesis 38 23 Bonus Section

• The Weight of the Pledge: Judah's pledge (signet, cord, staff) was not just material property; it signified his identity, authority, and possibly his legal capacity. Losing these was a significant dishonor beyond the monetary value. The fact that he was willing to relinquish them underlines the profound weight of his fear of public disgrace.
• Judah's Moral Descent and Redemption Arc: This incident, where Judah prioritizes his reputation over responsibility and even internal honesty, marks a low point in his character development within Genesis. It stands in stark contrast to his later transformation (Gen 44:18-34) where he offers himself as a substitute for Benjamin, demonstrating genuine self-sacrificial love and a deeper concern for his family than himself. The lessons learned through the Tamar affair might have been instrumental in this later maturity, even if unconsciously at the time of verse 23.
• Divine Irony: The very act by which Judah seeks to avoid reproach ultimately becomes the instrument of his sin's public exposure (Tamar later uses the pledge to prove he is the father of her child). This illustrates a common biblical theme: human attempts to cover sin are often thwarted by divine providence, which brings truth to light. God uses even human folly and sin for His greater redemptive purposes, culminating in the birth of Perez, an ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ.

Genesis 38 23 Commentary

Genesis 38:23 presents Judah at a moral crossroads, choosing pragmatism over deeper inquiry or rectitude. Faced with the inability to recover his compromising pledge, his overriding concern is not the sin he committed with the woman he mistook for a harlot, but the potential exposure of that sin. His fear of "reproach" (public disgrace and scorn) dictates his decision to simply let the pledge go, calculating that the material loss is less damaging than a full-blown scandal. His terse justification — that he sent the payment and the woman couldn't be found — is an attempt to rationalize his retreat, painting himself as someone who attempted to fulfill his side of a dishonorable bargain. Unbeknownst to Judah, this very decision sets the stage for a dramatic divine irony where the secret he so desperately tried to bury will be powerfully brought to light, ultimately revealing his greater guilt in withholding Shelah from Tamar (v. 26). The verse subtly highlights that while men concern themselves with external appearances and the avoidance of human judgment, God's providential plan will ultimately reveal truth and work through imperfect individuals, even as it exposes their failings.