Genesis 38:11
New International Version
Judah then said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s household until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, just like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s household.

New Living Translation
Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Go back to your parents’ home and remain a widow until my son Shelah is old enough to marry you.” (But Judah didn’t really intend to do this because he was afraid Shelah would also die, like his two brothers.) So Tamar went back to live in her father’s home.

English Standard Version
Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, till Shelah my son grows up”—for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father’s house.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.

King James Bible
Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

New King James Version
Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.

New American Standard Bible
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”; for he thought, “I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

NASB 1995
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up"; for he thought, “I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

NASB 1977
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”; for he thought, “I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”; for he thought, “I am afraid lest he also die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

Amplified Bible
Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow at your father’s house until Shelah my [youngest] son is grown”; [but he was deceiving her] for he thought that [if Shelah should marry her] he too might die like his brothers did. So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

Christian Standard Bible
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He might die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He might die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.

American Standard Version
Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow in thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown up; for he said, Lest he also die, like his brethren. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Yehuda said to Tamar his daughter in law, “Remain in widowhood in your father's house until Shela my son grows, because he said, “Lest he should die also as his brothers”, and Tamar went and she dwelt in her father's house.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Judas said to Thamar, his daughter-in-law, Sit thou a widow in the house of thy father-in-law, until Selom my son be grown; for he said, lest he also die as his brethren; and Thamar departed, and sat in the house of her father.

Contemporary English Version
Judah did not want the same thing to happen to his son Shelah, and he told Tamar, "Go home to your father and live there as a widow until my son Shelah is grown." So Tamar went to live with her father.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore Juda said to Thamar his daughter in law: Remain a widow in thy father's house, till Sela my son grow up: for he was afraid lest he also might die, as his brethren did. She went her way and dwelt in her father's house.

English Revised Version
Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow in thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown up: for he said, Lest he also die, like his brethren. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Return to your father's home. Live as a widow until my son Shelah grows up." He thought that this son, too, might die like his brothers. So Tamar went to live in her father's home.

Good News Translation
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Return to your father's house and remain a widow until my son Shelah grows up." He said this because he was afraid that Shelah would be killed, as his brothers had been. So Tamar went back home.

International Standard Version
After this, Judah told his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Go live as a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up." But he was really thinking, "…otherwise, Shelah might die like his brothers." So Tamar left and lived in her father's house.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law: 'Remain a widow in thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown up'; for he said: 'Lest he also die, like his brethren.' And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

Literal Standard Version
And Judah says to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Abide [as] a widow at your father’s house, until my son Shelah grows up”; for he said, “Lest he die—even he—like his brothers”; and Tamar goes and dwells at her father’s house.

Majority Standard Bible
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.

New American Bible
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”—for he feared that Shelah also might die like his brothers. So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.

NET Bible
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Live as a widow in your father's house until Shelah my son grows up." For he thought, "I don't want him to die like his brothers." So Tamar went and lived in her father's house.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”—for he feared that he too would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.

New Heart English Bible
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Remain a widow in your father�s house until my son Shelah is grown up." For he thought, "I do not want him to die too, like his brothers. "So Tamar went and lived in her father�s house.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son shall be grown; (for he said, Lest perhaps he die also as his brethren did:) and Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

World English Bible
Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up;” for he said, “Lest he also die, like his brothers.” Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

Young's Literal Translation
And Judah saith to Tamar his daughter-in-law, 'Abide a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son groweth up;' for he said, 'Lest he die -- even he -- like his brethren;' and Tamar goeth and dwelleth at her father's house.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judah and Tamar
10What he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, so He put Onan to death as well. 11Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house. 12After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had finished mourning, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah.…

Cross References
Genesis 38:14
she removed her widow's garments, covered her face with a veil to disguise herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that although Shelah had grown up, she had not been given to him as a wife.

Ruth 1:11
But Naomi replied, "Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?

Ruth 1:12
Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons,

Ruth 1:13
would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me."


Treasury of Scripture

Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at your father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brothers did. And Tamar went and dwelled in her father's house.

till Shelah.

Ruth 1:11,13
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? …

in her.

Leviticus 22:13
But if the priest's daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and is returned unto her father's house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father's meat: but there shall no stranger eat thereof.

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Afraid Daughter Daughter-In-Law Die Dwelt Father's Grown Grows House Judah Peradventure Perhaps Shelah Tamar Thought Widow
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Afraid Daughter Daughter-In-Law Die Dwelt Father's Grown Grows House Judah Peradventure Perhaps Shelah Tamar Thought Widow
Genesis 38
1. Judah begets Er, Onan, and Shelah.
6. Er's marriage with Tamar, and death.
8. The trespass of Onan.
11. Tamar is reserved for Shelah.
12. Judah's wife dies.
13. Tamar deceives Judah.
27. She bears twins, Pharez and Zarah.














(11) For he said, lest he also die.--It is evident from this that Judah, for reasons which, in Genesis 38:26, he acknowledged to be insufficient, wished to evade the duty of giving a third son to Tamar. It does not follow that he blamed her for their deaths; for the loss of two sons in succession might well frighten him. Philippsohn says that it became the rule, that if a woman lost two husbands, the third brother was not bound to marry her, and she was even called Katlannith. the murderess. (But see St. Matthew 22:25-26, where no such custom is acknowledged.)

Verse 11. - Then said Judah to Tamer his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow - alma-nah, from alam, to be solitary, forsaken, signifies one bereft of a husband, hence a widow (cf. Exodus 22:21) - at thy father's house (cf. Leviticus 22:13), till Shelah my son be grown. It is implied that this was merely a pretext on the part of Judah, and that he did not really intend to give his third son to Tamar, considering her an unlucky woman (Delitzsch, Keil, Kalisch), or, at least, not at present, under the impression that the deaths of Er and Onan had been occasioned by their too early marriages (Lange). The reason of his failure to release Tamar from her widowhood is added in the ensuing clause. For he said (sc. in his heart), Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamer went and dwelt in her father's house.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Judah
יְהוּדָה֩ (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to his daughter-in-law
כַּלָּת֜וֹ (kal·lā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3618: Daughter-in-law, bride

Tamar,
לְתָמָ֨ר (lə·ṯā·mār)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8559: Tamar -- daughter-in-law of Judah, also two Israelite women, also a place South of the Dead Sea

“Live
שְׁבִ֧י (šə·ḇî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

as a widow
אַלְמָנָ֣ה (’al·mā·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 490: A widow, a desolate place

in your father’s
אָבִ֗יךְ (’ā·ḇîḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 1: Father

house
בֵית־ (ḇêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

my son
בְנִ֔י (ḇə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

Shelah
שֵׁלָ֣ה (šê·lāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7956: Shelah -- a son of Judah

grows up.”
יִגְדַּל֙ (yiḡ·dal)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1431: To grow up, become great

For
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he thought,
אָמַ֔ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“He
ה֖וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

may
פֶּן־ (pen-)
Conjunction
Strong's 6435: Removal, lest

die
יָמ֥וּת (yā·mūṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

too,
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

like his brothers.”
כְּאֶחָ֑יו (kə·’e·ḥāw)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

So Tamar
תָּמָ֔ר (tā·mār)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8559: Tamar -- daughter-in-law of Judah, also two Israelite women, also a place South of the Dead Sea

went
וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ (wat·tê·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

to live
וַתֵּ֖שֶׁב (wat·tê·šeḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in her father’s
אָבִֽיהָ׃ (’ā·ḇî·hā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1: Father

house.
בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT Law: Genesis 38:11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 38:10
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