Genesis 38:15 BSB — MannaFest

Genesis 38:15

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she had covered her face.

KJV

When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.

⋯

Commentary

3 voices

Ephrem the Syrian

COMMENTARY ON GENESIS 34:4 (373)

While Tamar was making supplication to God for these things, behold, Judah came out and saw her. The prayer of Tamar inclined him, contrary to his usual habit, [to go] to a harlot. When she saw him, she was veiled, for she was afraid.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)

When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot,.... By her posture and the place she was in: because she had covered her face; with her veil, that he did not know her; for this is not given as a reason why he took her to be an harlot; the reason of this was, because she sat in the public road; but having covered her face he could not discern who she was, and therefore, from the other circumstance, concluded that she was an harlot, and sat there to prostitute herself to any that passed by.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

Thought her to be a harlot - See the original of this term, Gen 34:31 (note). The Hebrew is זונה zonah, and signifies generally a person who prostitutes herself to the public for hire, or one who lives by the public; and hence very likely applied to a publican, a tavern-keeper, or hostess, Jos 2:1; translated by the Septuagint, and in the New Testament, πορνη, from περναω, to sell, which certainly may as well apply to her goods as to her person.

Voices on this verse

loading…

Original language & word study

7 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
וַיִּרְאֶ֣הָ	vai.yir.'E.ha	and he saw her	H7200 →
יְהוּדָ֔ה	ye.hu.Dah	Judah	H3063 →
וַֽיַּחְשְׁבֶ֖הָ	vai.yach.she.Ve.ha	and he considered her	H2803 →
לְזוֹנָ֑ה	le.zo.Nah	to a prostitute	H2181 →
כִּ֥י	ki	for	H3588 →
כִסְּתָ֖ה	khi.se.Tah	she had covered	H3680 →
פָּנֶֽיהָ׃	pa.Nei.ha	face her	H6440 →