genesis-38:16-18-web

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 38:17

And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock —literally, a kid of the goats ( Genesis 38:20 ; cf. 15:1 ). And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it? —literally, if thou wilt give me a pledge until thy sending (sc. then I consent to thy proposal). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 38:18

.— And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet,— the chotham, or signet, was either worn on the finger, δακτυλίον ( LXX .) or suspended round the neck by a pithil , or silk string. Its impression was a sign of property and a means of security (cf. Matthew 27:66 ; John 3:33 ; Ephesians 1:13 , &c.;). Among the ancient Babylonians it was customary for every one to wear such a ring (Herod; 1.195); and modern Arabians in towns wear a seal-ring on the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 38:1-30

- The Family of Judah1. עדלם ‛ǎdûllâm, ‘Adullam, “righteousness.” חירה chı̂yrâh Chirah, “nobility?”2. שׁוּע shûa‛, Shua‘, “luck, riches, cry.”3. ער ‛êr, ‘Er, “watching.”4. אונן 'ônân, Onan, “strong.”5. שׁלה shēlâh, Shelah, “request? rest.” כזיב kezı̂yb Kezib, “falsehood.”6. תמר tāmār, Tamar, “palm.”12. תמנה tı̂mnâh, Timnah, “counted or assigned.”14. עינים 'êynayı̂m, ‘Enaim, “two fountains.”29. פרץ perets, Perets, “breach.”This strange narrative is an episode in the history of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 38:17-21

Genesis 38:17-21 . A kid from the flock A goodly price at which her chastity and honour were valued! Had the consideration been a thousand rams, and ten thousands of rivers of oil, it had not been a valuable consideration. The favour of God, the purity of the soul, the peace of the conscience, and the hope of heaven, are too precious to be exposed to sale at any such rates. It is a good account, if it be but true, of any place, that which they here gave, that there is no harlot in this... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:1-30

Judah and his descendants (38:1-30)Back in Canaan, Jacob’s family had further troubles. Judah, Jacob’s fourth eldest son, had three sons, the eldest of whom had married. When this son died childless, Judah, according to the custom of the time, asked his next son Onan to have a temporary sexual relationship with the widow Tamar, with the hope that by him Tamar might produce a child. Legally, this child would be considered son of the dead man and so would carry on the family name and inheritance.... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 38:15-18

"When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she had covered her face. And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Come, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee: for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me? And he said, I will send thee a kid of goats from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it? And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy cord,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 38:18

Genesis 38:18. Thy signet, and thy bracelets, &c.— By the signet is meant the ring wherewith he sealed. The word rendered bracelets signifies wreaths for the arm or neck, twisted collars, or bracelets. So the Latin torques, from torqueo, to twist. Aquila and Symmachus, who render it by στρεπτον from στρεφω, to turn or twist, preserve the idea. See Parkhurst's Lexicon. REFLECTIONS.—They who have not the gift of continence should marry. We have here a shocking instance of the danger of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 38:18

18. signet, c.—Bracelets, including armlets, were worn by men as well as women among the Hebrews. But the Hebrew word here rendered "bracelets," is everywhere else translated "lace" or "ribbon" so that as the signet alone was probably more than an equivalent for the kid, it is not easy to conjecture why the other things were given in addition, except by supposing the perforated seal was attached by a ribbon to the staff. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 38:12-30

When Judah deceived Jacob (Genesis 37:31-32), a goat and an item of clothing featured in the trick, and here a goat and an item of clothing again figure in Tamar’s deception of Judah. Tamar’s strategy for obtaining her right was not commendable. She played the role of a common whore (Heb. zona). Judah’s Canaanite friend described her as a shrine prostitute later (Genesis 38:21, Heb. qedesa), but he probably said this to elevate her social status in the eyes of the other men he was addressing.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 38:1-30

The History of JudahThe sins recorded in this chapter testify eloquently to the great need the world had of the Greatest of the descendants of Judah, who came to teach the virtue of purity and the sanctity of family life. The honesty and truthfulness of the historian are shown in his not concealing the dark spots in the history of Judah, whose descendants attained to such greatness. The direct purpose of the narrative is to show the ancestry of David, who was descended from Pharez the son of... read more