Bible/Genesis/38

Genesis 38:2

38:1 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.

KJV

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Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her, and went in to her.

And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.

And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in to her.

38:3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.

What does Genesis 38:2 mean?

Genesis 38:2 is a verse in the book of Genesis, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh), רָאָה (râʼâh), בַּת (bath). It connects to 11 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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And
JudahיְהוּדָהYᵉhûwdâh/yeh-hoo-daw'/H3063Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
sawרָאָהrâʼâh/raw-aw'/H7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
there
a
daughterבַּתbath/bath/H1323a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
of
a
certainאִישׁʼîysh/eesh/H376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
Canaanite,כְּנַעַנִיKᵉnaʻanîy/ken-ah-an-ee'/H3669a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing for their neighbors the Ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile caravans)
whose
nameשֵׁםshêm/shame/H8034an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
was
Shuah;שׁוּעַShûwaʻ/shoo'-ah/H7770Shua, a Canaanite
and
he
took
her,לָקַחlâqach/law-kakh'/H3947to take (in the widest variety of applications)
and
went
inבּוֹאbôwʼ/bo/H935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
unto
her.

Commentary on Genesis 38:2

HENRY_FULL · Genesis 38:2
ere to form a character of him by this story, we should not say, "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise," ch. xlix. 8 . But God will show that his choice is of grace and not of merit, and that Christ came into the world to save sinners, even the chief, and is not ashamed, upon their repentance, to be allied to them, also that the worth and worthiness of Jesus Christ are personal, of himself, and not derived from his ancestors. Humbling himself to be "made in the likeness of sinful flesh," he was pleased to descend from some that were infamous. How little reason had the Jews, who were so called from this Judah, to boast, as they did, that they were not born of fornication! John viii. 41 . We have, in this chapter, I. Judah's marriage and issue, and the untimely death of his two eldest sons, ver. 1-11 . II. Judah's incest with his daughter-in-law Tamar, without his knowing it, ver. 12-23 . III. His confusion, when it was discovered, ver. 24-26 . IV. The birth of his twin sons, in whom his family was built up, ver. 27 , &c. Judah's Profligacy. ( b. c. 1717.) 1 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 And Judah saw ther

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 3:6

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. pleasant: Heb. a desire

Genesis 6:2

That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

Genesis 6:4

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Genesis 24:3

And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Genesis 34:2

And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. defiled: Heb. humbled her

Genesis 46:12

And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.

Judges 14:2

And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.

Judges 16:1

Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her. harlot: Heb. a woman an harlot

2 Samuel 11:2

And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

1 Chronicles 2:3

The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.

2 Corinthians 6:14

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

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Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Genesis 38:2.

Genesis 11:29

And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

Genesis 16:13

And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

Genesis 19:8

Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

Genesis 2:19

And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. Adam: or, the man

Genesis 24:29

And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.

Genesis 24:3

And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Genesis 24:37

And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:

Genesis 3:6

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. pleasant: Heb. a desire

Frequently asked questions

What does Genesis 38:2 say?

Genesis 38:2 (King James Version) reads: "And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her."

Is Genesis 38:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Genesis 38:2 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Genesis.

Who wrote the book of Genesis?

The book of Genesis is traditionally attributed to Moses.

Reflect

As you read Genesis 38:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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