38:1

Fourth Reading
Around this time, Judah left his brothers. He became friends with a man of Adullam by the name of Chirah. 
Vayehi ba'et hahi vayered Yehudah me'et echav vayet ad-ish Adulami ushmo Chirah.

אוַֽיְהִי֙ בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔וא וַיֵּ֥רֶד יְהוּדָ֖ה מֵאֵ֣ת אֶחָ֑יו וַיֵּ֛ט עַד־אִ֥ישׁ עֲדֻלָּמִ֖י וּשְׁמ֥וֹ חִירָֽה:

38:2

There Judah met the daughter of a merchant named Shua. He married her and came to her. 
Vayar-sham Yehudah bat-ish Kna'ani ushmo Shu'a vayikacheha vayavo eleyha.

בוַיַּרְא־שָׁ֧ם יְהוּדָ֛ה בַּת־אִ֥ישׁ כְּנַֽעֲנִ֖י וּשְׁמ֣וֹ שׁ֑וּעַ וַיִּקָּחֶ֖הָ וַיָּבֹ֥א אֵלֶֽיהָ:

38:3

She became pregnant and had a son. He named the child Er. 
Vatahar vateled ben vayikra et-shmo Er.

גוַתַּ֖הַר וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֑ן וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ עֵֽר:

38:4

She became pregnant again, and had another son. She named him Onan. 
Vatahar od vateled ben vatikra et-shmo Onan.

דוַתַּ֥הַר ע֖וֹד וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֑ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ אוֹנָֽן:

38:5

She gave birth once again to a son, and she named him Shelah. [Judah] was in Keziv when she gave birth to [this child]. 
Vatosef od vateled ben vatikra et-shmo Shelah vehayah viChsiv belidetah oto.

הוַתֹּ֤סֶף עוֹד֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ שֵׁלָ֑ה וְהָיָ֥ה בִכְזִ֖יב בְּלִדְתָּ֥הּ אֹתֽוֹ:

38:6

Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar. 
Vayikach Yehudah ishah le-Er bechoro ushmah Tamar.

ווַיִּקַּ֧ח יְהוּדָ֛ה אִשָּׁ֖ה לְעֵ֣ר בְּכוֹר֑וֹ וּשְׁמָ֖הּ תָּמָֽר:

38:7

Judah's first-born Er was evil in God's eyes, and God made him die. 
Vayehi Er bechor Yehudah ra be'eyney Adonay vayemitehu Adonay.

זוַיְהִ֗י עֵ֚ר בְּכ֣וֹר יְהוּדָ֔ה רַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיְמִתֵ֖הוּ יְהֹוָֽה:

38:8

Judah said to Onan, 'Marry your brother's wife, and thus fulfill theduty of a brother-in-law to her. You will then raise children to keep your brother's [name] alive.' 
Vayomer Yehudah le-Onan bo el-eshet achicha veyabem otah vehakem zera le-achicha.

חוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוּדָה֙ לְאוֹנָ֔ן בֹּ֛א אֶל־אֵ֥שֶׁת אָחִ֖יךָ וְיַבֵּ֣ם אֹתָ֑הּ וְהָקֵ֥ם זֶ֖רַע לְאָחִֽיךָ:

38:9

Onan, however, realized that the children would not carry his name. Therefore, whenever he came to his brother's wife, helet [the seed] go to waste on the ground, so as not to have children in his brother's name. 
Vayeda Onan ki lo lo yihyeh hazara vehayah im-ba el-eshet achiv veshichet artsah levilti netan-zera le-achiv.

טוַיֵּ֣דַע אוֹנָ֔ן כִּ֛י לֹּ֥א ל֖וֹ יִֽהְיֶ֣ה הַזָּ֑רַע וְהָיָ֞ה אִם־בָּ֨א אֶל־אֵ֤שֶׁת אָחִיו֙ וְשִׁחֵ֣ת אַ֔רְצָה לְבִלְתִּ֥י נְתָן־זֶ֖רַע לְאָחִֽיו:

38:10

What he did was evil in God's eyes, and He also made him die.
Vayera be'eyney Adonay asher asah vayamet gam-oto.

יוַיֵּ֛רַע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה וַיָּ֖מֶת גַּם־אֹתֽוֹ:

38:11

Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, 'Live as a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah is grown.' He was putting her off because he was concerned that [Shelah], too, would die like his brothers. Tamar left and lived in her father's house. 
Vayomer Yehudah le-Tamar kalato shvi almanah veyt-avich ad-yigdal Shelah vni ki amar pen-yamut gam-hu ke'echav vatelech Tamar vateshev beyt aviha.

יאוַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָה֩ לְתָמָ֨ר כַּלָּת֜וֹ שְׁבִ֧י אַלְמָנָ֣ה בֵית־אָבִ֗יךְ עַד־יִגְדַּל֙ שֵׁלָ֣ה בְנִ֔י כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר פֶּן־יָמ֥וּת גַּם־ה֖וּא כְּאֶחָ֑יו וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ תָּמָ֔ר וַתֵּ֖שֶׁב בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיהָ:

38:12

A long time passed, and Judah's wife, the daughter of Shua, died. Judah sought consolation, and he went to supervise his sheep shearers in Timna, together with his friend, Chirah the Adullamite. 
Vayirbu hayamim vatamot bat-Shu'a eshet-Yehudah vayinachem Yehudah vaya'al al-gozezey tsono hu veChirah re'ehu ha'Adulami Timnatah.

יבוַיִּרְבּוּ֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים וַתָּ֖מָת בַּת־שׁ֣וּעַ אֵֽשֶׁת־יְהוּדָ֑ה וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם יְהוּדָ֗ה וַיַּ֜עַל עַל־גֹּֽזְזֵ֤י צֹאנוֹ֙ ה֗וּא וְחִירָ֛ה רֵעֵ֥הוּ הָֽעֲדֻלָּמִ֖י תִּמְנָֽתָה:

38:13

Tamar was told that her father-in-law was going to Timna to shear his sheep. 
Vayugad le-Tamar lemor hineh chamich oleh Timnatah lagoz tsono.

יגוַיֻּגַּ֥ד לְתָמָ֖ר לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֥ה חָמִ֛יךְ עֹלֶ֥ה תִמְנָ֖תָה לָגֹ֥ז צֹאנֽוֹ:

38:14

She took off her widow's garb, and covered herself with a veil. Thus disguised, she sat at the entrance of Twin Wells (Eynayim) on the road to Timna. She had seen that Shelah had grown, and she had not been given to him as a wife. 
Vatasar bigdey almenutah me'aleyha vatechas batsa'if vatit'alaf vateshev befetach Eynayim asher al-derech Timnatah ki ra'atah ki-gadal Shelah vehi lo-nitnah lo le'ishah.

ידוַתָּ֩סַר֩ בִּגְדֵ֨י אַלְמְנוּתָ֜הּ מֵֽעָלֶ֗יהָ וַתְּכַ֤ס בַּצָּעִיף֙ וַתִּתְעַלָּ֔ף וַתֵּ֨שֶׁב֙ בְּפֶ֣תַח עֵינַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־דֶּ֣רֶךְ תִּמְנָ֑תָה כִּ֤י רָֽאֲתָה֙ כִּֽי־גָדַ֣ל שֵׁלָ֔ה וְהִ֕וא לֹֽא־נִתְּנָ֥ה ל֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה:

38:15

Judah saw her, and because she had covered her face, he assumed that she was a prostitute. 
Vayir'eha Yehudah vayachsheveha lezonah ki chistah paneyha.

טווַיִּרְאֶ֣הָ יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיַּחְשְׁבֶ֖הָ לְזוֹנָ֑ה כִּ֥י כִסְּתָ֖ה פָּנֶֽיהָ:

38:16

He turned aside to her on the road, not realizing that she was his own daughter-in law.

'Hello there,' he said. 'Let me come to you.'

'What will you give me if you come to me?' 
Vayet eleyha el-haderech vayomer havah-na avo elayich ki lo yada ki chalato hi vatomer mah-titen-li ki tavo elay.

טזוַיֵּ֨ט אֵלֶ֜יהָ אֶל־הַדֶּ֗רֶךְ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הָֽבָה־נָּא֙ אָב֣וֹא אֵלַ֔יִךְ כִּ֚י לֹ֣א יָדַ֔ע כִּ֥י כַלָּת֖וֹ הִ֑וא וַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ מַה־תִּתֶּן־לִ֔י כִּ֥י תָב֖וֹא אֵלָֽי:

38:17

'I will send you a kid from the flock.'

'But you must give me something for security until you send it.' 
Vayomer anochi ashalach gdi-izim min-hatson vatomer im-titen eravon ad sholchecha.

יזוַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָֽנֹכִ֛י אֲשַׁלַּ֥ח גְּדִֽי־עִזִּ֖ים מִן־הַצֹּ֑אן וַתֹּ֕אמֶר אִם־תִּתֵּ֥ן עֵֽרָב֖וֹן עַ֥ד שָׁלְחֶֽךָ:

38:18

'What do you want for security?'

'Your seal, your wrap, and the staff in your hand,' she replied.

He gave them to her and came to her, making her pregnant. 
Vayomer mah ha'eravon asher eten-lach vatomer chotamcha uftilecha umatcha asher beyadecha vayiten-lah vayavo eleyha vatahar-lo.

יחוַיֹּ֗אמֶר מָ֣ה הָעֵֽרָבוֹן֘ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶתֶּן־לָךְ֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר חֹתָֽמְךָ֙ וּפְתִילֶ֔ךָ וּמַטְּךָ֖ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וַיִּֽתֶּן־לָ֛הּ וַיָּבֹ֥א אֵלֶ֖יהָ וַתַּ֥הַר לֽוֹ:

38:19

She got up and left, taking off her veil and putting her widow's garb back on. 
Vatakom vatelech vatasar tse'ifah me'aleyha vatilbash bigdey almenutah.

יטוַתָּ֣קָם וַתֵּ֔לֶךְ וַתָּ֥סַר צְעִיפָ֖הּ מֵֽעָלֶ֑יהָ וַתִּלְבַּ֖שׁ בִּגְדֵ֥י אַלְמְנוּתָֽהּ:

38:20

Judah sent the young kid with his friend the Adullamite in order to get the security back from the woman, but [his friend] could not find her. 
Vayishlach Yehudah et-gedi ha'izim beyad re'ehu ha'Adulami lakachat ha'eravon miyad ha'ishah velo metsa'ah.

כוַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח יְהוּדָ֜ה אֶת־גְּדִ֣י הָֽעִזִּ֗ים בְּיַד֙ רֵעֵ֣הוּ הָֽעֲדֻלָּמִ֔י לָקַ֥חַת הָעֵֽרָב֖וֹן מִיַּ֣ד הָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה וְלֹ֖א מְצָאָֽהּ:

38:21

[The friend] asked the local people, 'where is the religious prostitute? She was near Twin Wells (Eynayim), alongside the road.'

'There was no religious prostitute here,' they replied. 
Vayish'al et-anshey mekomah lemor ayeh hakdeshah hi va'Eynayim al-hadarech vayomeru lo-hayetah vazeh kedeshah.

כאוַיִּשְׁאַ֞ל אֶת־אַנְשֵׁ֤י מְקֹמָהּ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אַיֵּ֧ה הַקְּדֵשָׁ֛ה הִ֥וא בָֽעֵינַ֖יִם עַל־הַדָּ֑רֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ לֹֽא־הָֽיְתָ֥ה בָזֶ֖ה קְדֵשָֽׁה:

38:22

He returned to Judah and said, 'I could not find [the woman]. The local men said that there was no sacred prostitute there.' 
Vayashav el-Yehudah vayomer lo metsatiha vegam anshey hamakom amru lo-hayetah vazeh kedeshah.

כבוַיָּ֨שָׁב֙ אֶל־יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לֹ֣א מְצָאתִ֑יהָ וְגַ֨ם אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמָּקוֹם֙ אָֽמְר֔וּ לֹא־הָֽיְתָ֥ה בָזֶ֖ה קְדֵשָֽׁה:

38:23

'Let her keep [the security],' replied Judah. 'We don't want to become a laughingstock. I tried to send her the kid, but you couldn't find her.' 
Vayomer Yehudah tikach-lah pen nihyeh lavuz hineh shalachti hagdi hazeh ve'atah lo metsatah.

כגוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוּדָה֙ תִּקַּח־לָ֔הּ פֶּ֖ן נִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָב֑וּז הִנֵּ֤ה שָׁלַ֨חְתִּי֙ הַגְּדִ֣י הַזֶּ֔ה וְאַתָּ֖ה לֹ֥א מְצָאתָֽהּ:

38:24

Some three months passed, and Judah was told, 'Your daughter-in-law has been behaving loosely. She has become pregnant from her looseness.'

'Take her out and have her burned,' said Judah. 
Vayehi kemishlosh chodashim vayugad li-Yehudah lemor zantah Tamar kalatecha vegam hineh harah liznunim vayomer Yehudah hotsi'uha vetisarech.

כדוַיְהִ֣י | כְּמִשְׁל֣שׁ חֳדָשִׁ֗ים וַיֻּגַּ֨ד לִֽיהוּדָ֤ה לֵאמֹר֨ זָֽנְתָה֙ תָּמָ֣ר כַּלָּתֶ֔ךָ וְגַ֛ם הִנֵּ֥ה הָרָ֖ה לִזְנוּנִ֑ים וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָ֔ה הֽוֹצִיא֖וּהָ וְתִשָּׂרֵֽף:

38:25

When she was being taken out, she sent [the security] to her father-in-law with the message, 'I am pregnant by the man who is the owner of these articles.' [When Judah came to her,] she said, 'If you would, identify [these objects]. Who is the owner of this seal, this wrap, and this staff?' 
Hi mutset vehi shalchah el-chamiha lemor le'ish asher-eleh lo anochi harah vatomer haker-na lemi hachotemet vehaptilim vehamateh ha'eleh.

כההִ֣וא מוּצֵ֗את וְהִ֨יא שָֽׁלְחָ֤ה אֶל־חָמִ֨יהָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְאִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁר־אֵ֣לֶּה לּ֔וֹ אָֽנֹכִ֖י הָרָ֑ה וַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ הַכֶּר־נָ֔א לְמִ֞י הַֽחֹתֶ֧מֶת וְהַפְּתִילִ֛ים וְהַמַּטֶּ֖ה הָאֵֽלֶּה:

38:26

Judah immediately recognized them. 'She is more innocent than I am!' he said. 'She did it because I did not give her to my son Shelah.' He was not intimate with her anymore. 
Vayaker Yehudah vayomer tsadkah mimeni ki-al-ken lo-netatiha le-Shelah veni velo-yasaf od ledatah.

כווַיַּכֵּ֣ר יְהוּדָ֗ה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ צָֽדְקָ֣ה מִמֶּ֔נִּי כִּֽי־עַל־כֵּ֥ן לֹֽא־נְתַתִּ֖יהָ לְשֵׁלָ֣ה בְנִ֑י וְלֹֽא־יָסַ֥ף ע֖וֹד לְדַעְתָּֽהּ:

38:27

When the time came for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb. 
Vayehi be'et lidetah vehineh te'omim bevitnah.

כזוַיְהִ֖י בְּעֵ֣ת לִדְתָּ֑הּ וְהִנֵּ֥ה תְאוֹמִ֖ים בְּבִטְנָֽהּ:

38:28

As she was in labor, one of them put out an arm. The midwife grasped it and tied a crimson thread on it. 'This one came out first,' she announced. 
Vayehi velidetah vayiten-yad vatikach hameyaledet vatikshor al-yado shani lemor zeh yatsa rishonah.

כחוַיְהִ֥י בְלִדְתָּ֖הּ וַיִּתֶּן־יָ֑ד וַתִּקַּ֣ח הַֽמְיַלֶּ֗דֶת וַתִּקְשֹׁ֨ר עַל־יָד֤וֹ שָׁנִי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר זֶ֖ה יָצָ֥א רִֽאשֹׁנָֽה:

38:29

He pulled his hand back, and then his brother came out. 'You have asserted yourself with such pushiness (peretz)!' she said. [Judah] named the child Peretz. 
Vayehi kemeshiv yado vehineh yatsa achiv vatomer mah-paratsta aleycha parets vayikra shmo Parets.

כטוַיְהִ֣י | כְּמֵשִׁ֣יב יָד֗וֹ וְהִנֵּה֙ יָצָ֣א אָחִ֔יו וַתֹּ֕אמֶר מַה־פָּרַ֖צְתָּ עָלֶ֣יךָ פָּ֑רֶץ וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ פָּֽרֶץ:

38:30

His brother, with the crimson thread on his hand, was then born. [Judah] named him Zerach. 
Ve'achar yatsa achiv asher al-yado hashani vayikra shemo Zarach.

לוְאַחַר֙ יָצָ֣א אָחִ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־יָד֖וֹ הַשָּׁנִ֑י וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ זָֽרַח: