Genesis 38:5 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 38:5 kjv
And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
Genesis 38:5 nkjv
And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.
Genesis 38:5 niv
She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah. It was at Kezib that she gave birth to him.
Genesis 38:5 esv
Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him.
Genesis 38:5 nlt
And when she gave birth to a third son, she named him Shelah. At the time of Shelah's birth, they were living at Kezib.
Genesis 38 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 29:35 | "And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah." | Birth of Judah, patriarch of the line. |
| Gen 38:2-3 | "And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite... and he called his name Er." | Context of Judah's marriage and first son. |
| Gen 38:4 | "She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan." | Second son born, further lineage details. |
| Gen 46:12 | "The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah..." | Shelah listed in Jacob's household upon entering Egypt. |
| Num 26:20 | "And the sons of Judah according to their clans: Er, Onan, Shelah..." | Shelah's family branch confirmed in census. |
| 1 Chr 2:3 | "The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah..." | Genealogical record affirming Shelah's lineage. |
| Deut 25:5-6 | "If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger..." | Law of levirate marriage, background to Gen 38. |
| Ruth 4:10 | "Moreover, Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought... that the name of the dead may not be cut off..." | Practical application of levirate duty. |
| Gen 49:10 | "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes..." | Prophecy confirming the Messiah's lineage through Judah. |
| Matt 1:3 | "Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron..." | Shelah's family central to Messiah's genealogy. |
| Heb 7:14 | "For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah..." | New Testament affirmation of Christ's tribe. |
| Ruth 4:11-12 | "May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah..." | Importance of lineage continuity for blessing. |
| Josh 15:44 | "And Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah..." | Biblical mention of Chezib (Achzib) as a town. |
| Mic 1:14 | "The houses of Achzib will be a deception to the kings of Israel." | Prophetic association of Achzib (Chezib) with deceit. |
| Gen 32:30 | "So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face..." | Naming places due to significant events. |
| Gen 19:22 | "Hurry, escape there, for I can do nothing till you reach it.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar." | Place names reflecting events/meanings. |
| Prov 12:22 | "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are His delight." | Moral implication of deceit (related to Chezib's meaning). |
| Deut 7:3-4 | "You shall not intermarry with them... for they would turn away your sons from following me..." | Warning against intermarriage, relevant to Judah's Canaanite wife. |
| Ex 34:15-16 | "Lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they play the harlot after their gods... and you take of their daughters for your sons..." | Prohibition against assimilation through intermarriage. |
| Isa 11:1 | "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit." | Messianic hope originating from Judah's line. |
| Rom 9:6-8 | "For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring..." | God's sovereign choice in maintaining the covenant. |
Genesis 38 verses
Genesis 38 5 meaning
Genesis 38:5 records the birth of Shelah, the third son of Judah and his Canaanite wife. Following the death of his older brothers, Er and Onan, Shelah's birth became critical for the continuation of Judah's lineage. The verse specifically notes his name and the location of his birth, "Chezib," both of which carry significant symbolic weight within the unfolding narrative of Judah's family and the broader messianic line.
Genesis 38 5 Context
Genesis chapter 38 serves as a distinct interlude within the broader Joseph narrative (Chapters 37 and 39). This deliberate interruption highlights the crucial importance of Judah's lineage. Judah, the son of Jacob and Leah, had married a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua (Gen 38:2), a practice that would later be strictly prohibited for Israelites. The verse follows the accounts of Er and Onan, Judah’s first two sons, both of whom perished by divine judgment for their wickedness (Gen 38:7, 38:10). The birth of Shelah therefore marks the continuation of Judah’s family, who would now be the only living male heir. Custom and implied familial duty dictated that Shelah, upon reaching maturity, would perform levirate marriage with Tamar, his deceased brothers' widow, to raise an heir for his deceased brother and prevent the family line from being cut off. This specific birth is foundational for the dramatic events of the remainder of the chapter, ultimately preserving the vital lineage through which the Messiah would descend.
Genesis 38 5 Word analysis
- And she conceived again,: The Hebrew phrase vatosef vateled (וַתֹּסֶף וַתֵּלֶד) literally means "and she added to bear" or "and she continued and she bore." This emphasizes the repeated act of conception and birth, highlighting the ongoing effort to secure a surviving male heir for Judah, especially after the loss of two sons.
- and bore a son,: A straightforward declaration of the birth of a male child, significant for the patrilineal continuity inherent in ancient Hebrew culture and essential for the family line in this specific context.
- and called his name Shelah:: The name Shelah (שֵׁלָה, Shēlāh) is open to multiple interpretations, often suggesting "request," "petition," "peace," or even "projectile/missile." The naming may reflect the parents' longing for a son to endure, a plea for tranquility after earlier family tragedies, or a sense of "sending forth" this new heir. Its connection to "petition" could also imply the fulfillment of Judah's hopes for an enduring male heir.
- and he was at Chezib,: Chezib (כְּזִיב, Kezib) is a significant geographical detail. The name itself means "deceit," "lying," "failure," or "disappointment." This choice of location for Shelah's birth carries powerful thematic resonance. It subtly foreshadows the forthcoming actions of Judah, specifically his failure to uphold his word and obligation to Tamar regarding Shelah (Gen 38:11, 14), which necessitates Tamar's decisive, yet deceptive, intervention. The place name ironically underscores the moral landscape of Judah's family at this critical juncture.
- when she bore him.: This phrase directly links the birth event to the specific location of Chezib. It implies that the circumstance and environment of his birth—a place named "Deceit"—are part of Shelah’s inherent narrative, subtly underscoring the spiritual and moral context of Judah’s actions in that period.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And she conceived again, and bore a son, and called his name Shelah": This grouping illustrates the continuity of Judah's family despite initial tragedies. The act of "conceiving again" and "bearing a son" emphasizes the necessity and perhaps determination to secure a lineage. The naming of Shelah is an intentional act, potentially imbuing the child with a hope for petition or peace after familial turmoil.
- "Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bore him": This phrase dramatically connects Shelah's very existence with the loaded meaning of his birth locale. The immediate juxtaposition of "Shelah" with "Chezib" is not merely geographic detail but serves as an important narrative signpost, prefiguring Judah’s eventual breach of trust and the theme of deception that will characterize his interactions related to Tamar, contrasting God’s unwavering covenant promise.
Genesis 38 5 Bonus section
The interruption of the Joseph narrative by Genesis 38, particularly this verse concerning Shelah's birth at Chezib, underscores a significant theological principle: God's covenant fidelity operates even amid profound human failings and moral compromises. This chapter preempts any notion that the Abrahamic promises hinge on the perfect obedience of its beneficiaries; instead, it showcases God's sovereign work to maintain the Messianic line. The seemingly mundane details of Shelah's name and birthplace are divinely woven into a narrative tapestry illustrating redemption through a less-than-ideal family, foreshadowing Judah’s transformation and his tribe's future preeminence in Israel.
Genesis 38 5 Commentary
Genesis 38:5, though concise, serves as a crucial theological anchor within the narrative of Judah's family. The birth of Shelah marks the ongoing fulfillment of God's covenant promises, despite the repeated failures and moral ambiguities of His chosen people. Judah's marriage to a Canaanite woman and the subsequent naming of Shelah in Chezib (meaning "deceit") paint a grim picture of the family's spiritual state. This contextual backdrop accentuates divine faithfulness. The location's name foreshadows Judah's unfaithfulness in fulfilling his obligation to Tamar, yet through Judah's lineage, marred by such human frailties, God providentially maintains the line from which the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would ultimately descend. The verse quietly underscores the consistent theme of divine grace operating through human imperfection, affirming that God’s redemptive plan progresses irrespective of, and often in spite of, human sin.