TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 38
Translation and Transliteration of
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1About that time Yehuda left his brothers and camped near a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah.
vai-HEE ba-AYT ha-HEE va-YAY-red y'-hu-DAH may-AYT e-KHAV va-YAYT ad EESH a-du-la-MEE ush-MO khee-RAH
אוַֽיְהִי֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔וא וַיֵּ֥רֶד יְהוּדָ֖ה מֵאֵ֣ת אֶחָ֑יו וַיֵּ֛ט עַד־אִ֥ישׁ עֲדֻלָּמִ֖י וּשְׁמ֥וֹ חִירָֽה׃
38:1 Yehuda left his brothers
Though the story of Yehuda and his daughter-in-law Tamar seems to interrupt the narrative of the Yosef stories, Jewish tradition teaches that its placement here is deliberate. In beautiful shorthand, the Midrash explains the connection: “While the tribes were busy with the sale of Yosef; Reuven, Yosef and Yaakov were busy with their sackcloth and mourning; Yehuda was busy taking a wife; and God was busy creating the light of the Mashiach.” Like a puppet master operating behind the scenes and hidden from view, Hashem is pulling the strings and directing events without the knowledge or understanding of the participants themselves. From the union between Yehuda and Tamar, the Davidic dynasty and ultimately the Mashiach himself would emerge. Precisely when life seems to be completely unraveling, Hashem is directing events with His infinite wisdom, and is carefully nurturing our redemption.
2There Yehuda saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and cohabited with her.
vai-YAR-sham y'-hu-DAH bat-ISH k'-na-a-NEE u-SHO-a vai-yi-ka-KHE-ha vai-YA-vo e-LE-ha
בוַיַּרְא־שָׁ֧ם יְהוּדָ֛ה בַּת־אִ֥ישׁ כְּנַעֲנִ֖י וּשְׁמ֣וֹ שׁ֑וּעַ וַיִּקָּחֶ֖הָ וַיָּבֹ֥א אֵלֶֽיהָ׃
3She conceived and bore a son, and he named him Er.
va-TA-har va-TAY-led BEN va-yik-RA et-SHE-mo ER
גוַתַּ֖הַר וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֑ן וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ עֵֽר׃
4She conceived again and bore a son, and named him Onan.
va-TA-har OD va-TAY-led BEN va-tik-RA et-SHE-mo o-NAN
דוַתַּ֥הַר ע֖וֹד וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֑ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ אוֹנָֽן׃
5Once again she bore a son, and named him Sheila; he was at Chezib when she bore him.
va-TOS-sef OD va-TE-led BEN va-tik-RA et SHE-mo SHE-la, v'-ha-YA vikh-ZIV b'-lid-TAH o-TO
הוַתֹּ֤סֶף עוֹד֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ שֵׁלָ֑ה וְהָיָ֥ה בִכְזִ֖יב בְּלִדְתָּ֥הּ אֹתֽוֹ׃
6Yehuda got a wife for Er his first-born; her name was Tamar.
vai-YI-kakh y'-hu-DAH i-SHAH l'-ER b'-kho-RO, u-sh'-MAH ta-MAR
ווַיִּקַּ֧ח יְהוּדָ֛ה אִשָּׁ֖ה לְעֵ֣ר בְּכוֹר֑וֹ וּשְׁמָ֖הּ תָּמָֽר׃
7But Er, Yehuda's first-born, was displeasing to Hashem, and Hashem took his life.
vai-HI, AYR b'-KOR y'-hu-DA, RA b'-ay-NAY a-do-NAI, va-y'-mi-TE-hu a-do-NAI
זוַיְהִ֗י עֵ֚ר בְּכ֣וֹר יְהוּדָ֔ה רַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיְמִתֵ֖הוּ יְהֹוָֽה׃
8Then Yehuda said to Onan, “Join with your brother's wife and do your duty by her as a brother-in-law, and provide offspring for your brother.”
vai-YO-mer y'-hu-DAH l'-o-NAN, BO el E-shet a-KHE-kha v'-ya-BEM o-TAH, v'-ha-KEM ze-RA l'-a-KHE-kha
חוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוּדָה֙ לְאוֹנָ֔ן בֹּ֛א אֶל־אֵ֥שֶׁת אָחִ֖יךָ וְיַבֵּ֣ם אֹתָ֑הּ וְהָקֵ֥ם זֶ֖רַע לְאָחִֽיךָ׃
9But Onan, knowing that the seed would not count as his, let it go to waste whenever he joined with his brother's wife, so as not to provide offspring for his brother.
vai-YAY-da o-NAN kee LO lo YI-he-YEH ha-za-RA v'-ha-YA im-BA el e-SHET a-KHEE-v v'-shi-KHAYT ar-TZAH l'-vil-TEE ne-TAN-ze-RA l'-a-KHEE-v
טוַיֵּ֣דַע אוֹנָ֔ן כִּ֛י לֹּ֥א ל֖וֹ יִהְיֶ֣ה הַזָּ֑רַע וְהָיָ֞ה אִם־בָּ֨א אֶל־אֵ֤שֶׁת אָחִיו֙ וְשִׁחֵ֣ת אַ֔רְצָה לְבִלְתִּ֥י נְתׇן־זֶ֖רַע לְאָחִֽיו׃
10What he did was displeasing to Hashem, and He took his life also.
vai-YAY-ra b'-ay-NAY a-do-NAI a-SHER a-SA va-YA-met gam O-TO
יוַיֵּ֛רַע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה וַיָּ֖מֶת גַּם־אֹתֽוֹ׃
11Then Yehuda said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Stay as a widow in your father's house until my son Sheila grows up”—for he thought, “He too might die like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father's house.
vai-YO-mer y'-hu-DAH l'-ta-MAR ka-LA-to, she-VEE al-ma-NAH, vayt a-VEEKH, ad yi-G'-DAL she-LAH, b'-NEE, kee a-MAR, pen ya-MUT gam-HU, k'-e-KHA-yav, va-TAY-lekh ta-MAR, va-TAY-shev bayt a-VE-ha
יאוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָה֩ לְתָמָ֨ר כַּלָּת֜וֹ שְׁבִ֧י אַלְמָנָ֣ה בֵית־אָבִ֗יךְ עַד־יִגְדַּל֙ שֵׁלָ֣ה בְנִ֔י כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר פֶּן־יָמ֥וּת גַּם־ה֖וּא כְּאֶחָ֑יו וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ תָּמָ֔ר וַתֵּ֖שֶׁב בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיהָ׃
12A long time afterward, Shua's daughter, the wife of Yehuda, died. When his period of mourning was over, Yehuda went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, together with his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
vai-yir-BU ha-ya-MEEM va-TA-mot bat-SHU-a e-SHET y'-hu-DA, vai-n'-KHEM y'-hu-DA vai-YA-al al goz-Z'-zay tzo-NO, HU v'-khee-RAH ray-E-hu ha-a-du-LA-mee tim-NA-tah
יבוַיִּרְבּוּ֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים וַתָּ֖מׇת בַּת־שׁ֣וּעַ אֵֽשֶׁת־יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם יְהוּדָ֗ה וַיַּ֜עַל עַל־גֹּֽזְזֵ֤י צֹאנוֹ֙ ה֗וּא וְחִירָ֛ה רֵעֵ֥הוּ הָעֲדֻלָּמִ֖י תִּמְנָֽתָה׃
13And Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is coming up to Timnah for the sheepshearing.”
vai-YU-gad le-ta-MAR lay-MOR: hi-NEH kha-MIKH o-LEH tim-NA-ta la-GOZ tzo-NO
יגוַיֻּגַּ֥ד לְתָמָ֖ר לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֥ה חָמִ֛יךְ עֹלֶ֥ה תִמְנָ֖תָה לָגֹ֥ז צֹאנֽוֹ׃
14So she took off her widow's garb, covered her face with a veil, and, wrapping herself up, sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Sheila was grown up, yet she had not been given to him as wife.
va-TA-sar bi-g'-DAY al-m'-nu-ta, me-a-LE-ha va-t'-KHAS ba-tsa-EF, va-tit-a-LAF, va-tay-SHEV b'-pe-TAKH ay-NA-yim a-SHER al-de-REKH ti-m'-NA-ta, KI ra-A-ta KI-ga-DAL she-LA, v'-HEE lo ni-t'-NAH lo l'-i-SHAH
ידוַתָּ֩סַר֩ בִּגְדֵ֨י אַלְמְנוּתָ֜הּ מֵֽעָלֶ֗יהָ וַתְּכַ֤ס בַּצָּעִיף֙ וַתִּתְעַלָּ֔ף וַתֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ בְּפֶ֣תַח עֵינַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־דֶּ֣רֶךְ תִּמְנָ֑תָה כִּ֤י רָאֲתָה֙ כִּֽי־גָדַ֣ל שֵׁלָ֔ה וְהִ֕וא לֹֽא־נִתְּנָ֥ה ל֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
15When Yehuda saw her, he took her for a harlot; for she had covered her face.
vai-yi-RE-ha y'-hu-DAH va-yakh-sh'-VE-ha l'-zo-NAH, KEE ki-s'-TAH pa-NE-ha
טווַיִּרְאֶ֣הָ יְהוּדָ֔ה וַֽיַּחְשְׁבֶ֖הָ לְזוֹנָ֑ה כִּ֥י כִסְּתָ֖ה פָּנֶֽיהָ׃
16So he turned aside to her by the road and said, “Here, let me sleep with you”—for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. “What,” she asked, “will you pay for sleeping with me?”
vai-YET e-LE-kha el ha-DE-rekh va-YO-mer ha-VA-na a-VO e-LA-yikh, KEE lo ya-DA, KEE kha-LA-to he-VU, va-TO-mer ma-ti-TEN-lee, KEE ta-VO e-LAI.
טזוַיֵּ֨ט אֵלֶ֜יהָ אֶל־הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הָֽבָה־נָּא֙ אָב֣וֹא אֵלַ֔יִךְ כִּ֚י לֹ֣א יָדַ֔ע כִּ֥י כַלָּת֖וֹ הִ֑וא וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ מַה־תִּתֶּן־לִ֔י כִּ֥י תָב֖וֹא אֵלָֽי׃
17He replied, “I will send a kid from my flock.” But she said, “You must leave a pledge until you have sent it.”
vai-YO-mer a-NO-khee a-sha-LAKH g'-dee-IZ-zim min ha-tso-AN, va-TO-mer im ti-TAYN e-ra-VON ad shol-KHE-kha
יזוַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָנֹכִ֛י אֲשַׁלַּ֥ח גְּדִֽי־עִזִּ֖ים מִן־הַצֹּ֑אן וַתֹּ֕אמֶר אִם־תִּתֵּ֥ן עֵרָב֖וֹן עַ֥ד שׇׁלְחֶֽךָ׃
18And he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your seal and cord, and the staff which you carry.” So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she conceived by him.
vai-YO-mer, MA ha-e-ra-VON a-SHER e-TEN-lakh? va-TO-mer, kho-tam-KHA u-f'-ti-LE-kha u-mat-TE-kha a-SHER b'-ya-DE-kha? vai-YI-ten-la va-YA-vo e-LE-ha va-ta-HAR LO
יחוַיֹּ֗אמֶר מָ֣ה הָעֵֽרָבוֹן֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶתֶּן־לָךְ֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר חֹתָֽמְךָ֙ וּפְתִילֶ֔ךָ וּמַטְּךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וַיִּתֶּן־לָ֛הּ וַיָּבֹ֥א אֵלֶ֖יהָ וַתַּ֥הַר לֽוֹ׃
19Then she went on her way. She took off her veil and again put on her widow's garb.
va-TA-kom va-TE-lekh va-TA-sar t'-ee-FAH may-a-LE-ha va-TIL-bash bi-g'-day al-m'-nu-ta-HA
יטוַתָּ֣קׇם וַתֵּ֔לֶךְ וַתָּ֥סַר צְעִיפָ֖הּ מֵעָלֶ֑יהָ וַתִּלְבַּ֖שׁ בִּגְדֵ֥י אַלְמְנוּתָֽהּ׃
20Yehuda sent the kid by his friend the Adullamite, to redeem the pledge from the woman; but he could not find her.
vai-YISH-lakh y'-hu-DA et g'-DI ha-i-ZEEM b'-yad re-E-hu ha-a-du-la-MEE la-ka-KHAT ha-e-ra-VON mi-yad ha-i-SHAH v'-lo m'-tza-AH
כוַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח יְהוּדָ֜ה אֶת־גְּדִ֣י הָֽעִזִּ֗ים בְּיַד֙ רֵעֵ֣הוּ הָֽעֲדֻלָּמִ֔י לָקַ֥חַת הָעֵרָב֖וֹן מִיַּ֣ד הָאִשָּׁ֑ה וְלֹ֖א מְצָאָֽהּ׃
21He inquired of the people of that town, “Where is the cult prostitute, the one at Enaim, by the road?” But they said, “There has been no prostitute here.”
vai-YISH-al et an-SHAY me-ko-MAH lay-MOR: a-YEH ha-ke-DE-sha hi-VA-e-NA-yim al ha-DA-rekh, vai-YO-mer-U: lo-ha-YA-ta va-ZEH ke-DE-sha
כאוַיִּשְׁאַ֞ל אֶת־אַנְשֵׁ֤י מְקֹמָהּ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אַיֵּ֧ה הַקְּדֵשָׁ֛ה הִ֥וא בָעֵינַ֖יִם עַל־הַדָּ֑רֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ לֹא־הָיְתָ֥ה בָזֶ֖ה קְדֵשָֽׁה׃
22So he returned to Yehuda and said, “I could not find her; moreover, the townspeople said: There has been no prostitute here.”
vai-YA-shov el y'-hu-DAH, vai-YO-mer lo m'-tza-TEE-ha, v'-GAM an-SHAY ha-ma-KOM a-M'-RU lo ha-Y'-ta va-ZEH k'-de-SHA
כבוַיָּ֙שׇׁב֙ אֶל־יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לֹ֣א מְצָאתִ֑יהָ וְגַ֨ם אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמָּקוֹם֙ אָֽמְר֔וּ לֹא־הָיְתָ֥ה בָזֶ֖ה קְדֵשָֽׁה׃
23Yehuda said, “Let her keep them, lest we become a laughingstock. I did send her this kid, but you did not find her.”
vai-YO-mer y'-hu-DAH ti-KAKH-LAH pen ni-HE-yeh la-VOOZ, hi-NEH sha-LAKH-tee ha-GE-dee ha-ZEH, v'-a-TAH lo m'-tza-TAH
כגוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוּדָה֙ תִּֽקַּֽח־לָ֔הּ פֶּ֖ן נִהְיֶ֣ה לָב֑וּז הִנֵּ֤ה שָׁלַ֙חְתִּי֙ הַגְּדִ֣י הַזֶּ֔ה וְאַתָּ֖ה לֹ֥א מְצָאתָֽהּ׃
24About three months later, Yehuda was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the harlot; in fact, she is with child by harlotry.” “Bring her out,” said Yehuda, “and let her be burned.”
vai-HI, k'-mi-sh'-LOSH kho-da-SHEEM, va-YU-gad li-Y'-hu-DAH lay-MOR: za-N'-TAH ta-MAR ka-la-TE-kha, v'-GAM hi-NEH ha-RAH liz-nu-NEEM, va-YO-mer y'-hu-DAH, ho-tzee-U-ha v'-ti-sa-REF
כדוַיְהִ֣י ׀ כְּמִשְׁלֹ֣שׁ חֳדָשִׁ֗ים וַיֻּגַּ֨ד לִֽיהוּדָ֤ה לֵֽאמֹר֙ זָֽנְתָה֙ תָּמָ֣ר כַּלָּתֶ֔ךָ וְגַ֛ם הִנֵּ֥ה הָרָ֖ה לִזְנוּנִ֑ים וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָ֔ה הוֹצִיא֖וּהָ וְתִשָּׂרֵֽף׃
25As she was being brought out, she sent this message to her father-in-law, “I am with child by the man to whom these belong.” And she added, “Examine these: whose seal and cord and staff are these?”
hee-MU-tzayt v'-hee sha-l'-KHA el kha-MEE-ha lay-MOR l'-EESH a-SHER ay-LEH lo a-NO-khee ha-RAH va-TOM-er ha-KER-NA l'-MEE ha-KHO-temet v'-ha-p'-tee-LEEM v'-ha-ma-TEH ha-ay-LEH
כההִ֣וא מוּצֵ֗את וְהִ֨יא שָׁלְחָ֤ה אֶל־חָמִ֙יהָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁר־אֵ֣לֶּה לּ֔וֹ אָנֹכִ֖י הָרָ֑ה וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַכֶּר־נָ֔א לְמִ֞י הַחֹתֶ֧מֶת וְהַפְּתִילִ֛ים וְהַמַּטֶּ֖ה הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
26Yehuda recognized them, and said, “She is more in the right than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Sheila.” And he was not intimate with her again.
vai-YA-kayR y'-hu-DA va-YO-mer tza-D'-KA mi-ME-ni, kee-al-KAYN lo n'-ta-TEE-ha l'-she-LAH b'-NEE, v'-lo ya-SAF OD l'-da-a-TAH
כווַיַּכֵּ֣ר יְהוּדָ֗ה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ צָֽדְקָ֣ה מִמֶּ֔נִּי כִּֽי־עַל־כֵּ֥ן לֹא־נְתַתִּ֖יהָ לְשֵׁלָ֣ה בְנִ֑י וְלֹֽא־יָסַ֥ף ע֖וֹד לְדַעְתָּֽהּ׃
27When the time came for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb!
vai-HI b'-ET lid-TAH, v'-hi-NEH t'-o-MEEM b'-vit-NAH
כזוַיְהִ֖י בְּעֵ֣ת לִדְתָּ֑הּ וְהִנֵּ֥ה תְאוֹמִ֖ים בְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃
28While she was in labor, one of them put out his hand, and the midwife tied a crimson thread on that hand, to signify: This one came out first.
vai-HI v'-lid-TAH va-YI-ten YAHD va-TI-kakh ha-m'-ya-LE-det va-TIK-shor al YA-do sha-NEE lay-MOR: ZEH ya-TZA ree-SHO-nah
כחוַיְהִ֥י בְלִדְתָּ֖הּ וַיִּתֶּן־יָ֑ד וַתִּקַּ֣ח הַמְיַלֶּ֗דֶת וַתִּקְשֹׁ֨ר עַל־יָד֤וֹ שָׁנִי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר זֶ֖ה יָצָ֥א רִאשֹׁנָֽה׃
29But just then he drew back his hand, and out came his brother; and she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named Peretz.
vai-HI, k'-MAY-shiv ya-DO, v'-hi-NEH ya-TZAY a-KHEE-v, va-TO-mer, mah pa-RATZ-ta a-LE-kha pa-RETZ, va-YIK-ra sh'-MO pa-RETZ
כטוַיְהִ֣י ׀ כְּמֵשִׁ֣יב יָד֗וֹ וְהִנֵּה֙ יָצָ֣א אָחִ֔יו וַתֹּ֕אמֶר מַה־פָּרַ֖צְתָּ עָלֶ֣יךָ פָּ֑רֶץ וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ פָּֽרֶץ׃
30Afterward his brother came out, on whose hand was the crimson thread; he was named Zerach.
v'-a-KHAR ya-TZAH a-KHEE-v, a-SHER al ya-DO ha-SHA-nee, va-YIK-ra SHE-mo za-RACH. (S)
לוְאַחַר֙ יָצָ֣א אָחִ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־יָד֖וֹ הַשָּׁנִ֑י וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ זָֽרַח׃