Genesis 38:13
New International Version
When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,”

New Living Translation
Someone told Tamar, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

English Standard Version
And when Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,”

Berean Standard Bible
When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,”

King James Bible
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

New King James Version
And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

New American Standard Bible
And Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

NASB 1995
It was told to Tamar, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

NASB 1977
And it was told to Tamar, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then it was told to Tamar, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

Amplified Bible
Tamar was told, “Listen, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

Christian Standard Bible
Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

American Standard Version
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnah to shear his sheep.

Contemporary English Version
Tamar found out that her father-in-law Judah was going to Timnah to shear his sheep.

English Revised Version
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father in law goeth up to Timnah to shear his sheep.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As soon as Tamar was told that her father-in-law was on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,

Good News Translation
Someone told Tamar that her father-in-law was going to Timnah to shear his sheep.

International Standard Version
"Look!" somebody reported to Tamar, "Your father-in-law is going to Timnah to shear his sheep."

Majority Standard Bible
When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,”

NET Bible
Tamar was told, "Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep."

New Heart English Bible
And Tamar was told, saying, "Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep."

Webster's Bible Translation
And it was told to Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnath, to shear his sheep.

World English Bible
Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it is declared to Tamar, saying, “Behold, your husband’s father is going up to Timnath to shear his flock”;

Young's Literal Translation
And it is declared to Tamar, saying, 'Lo, thy husband's father is going up to Timnath to shear his flock;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be announced to Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law going up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it was told Thamar that her father in law was come up to Thamnas to shear his sheep.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And it was reported to Tamar that her father-in-law had gone up to Timnah to shear the sheep.

New American Bible
Then Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is on his way up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

New Revised Standard Version
When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold your father-in-law is going up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they told Tamar and they said to her, “Behold, your father in law went up to Tamnath to shear his flock”,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it was told Tamar, saying: 'Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnah to shear his sheep.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it was told Thamar his daughter-in-law, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Thamna, to shear his sheep.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judah and Tamar
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. 13When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,” 14she 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.…

Cross References
Ruth 1:11-13
But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands? / 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, / would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it is much more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”

Deuteronomy 25:5-10
When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her. / The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. / But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.” ...

Matthew 1:3
Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.

Leviticus 22:13
But if a priest’s daughter with no children becomes widowed or divorced and returns to her father’s house, she may share her father’s food as in her youth. But no outsider may share it.

Numbers 27:8-11
Furthermore, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, you are to transfer his inheritance to his daughter. / If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. / If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. ...

1 Chronicles 2:4
Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.

Matthew 22:24
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.

Mark 12:19
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.

Luke 20:28
“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.

Deuteronomy 25:5
When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her.

Genesis 38:11
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.

Genesis 38:26
Judah recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again.

Genesis 46:12
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.

1 Samuel 25:44
But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

2 Samuel 13:13
Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.”


Treasury of Scripture

And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold your father in law goes up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

Timnath.

Judges 14:1
And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.

shear.

Genesis 31:19
And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.

1 Samuel 25:2,11
And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel…

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Declared Father-In-Law Flock Husband's Law News Shear Sheep Tamar Timnah Timnath Way
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Declared Father-In-Law Flock Husband's Law News Shear Sheep Tamar Timnah Timnath Way
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.














When Tamar was told
This phrase introduces the pivotal moment of awareness for Tamar. The Hebrew root for "told" is "נָגַד" (nagad), which means to declare or make known. This implies that Tamar received a deliberate communication, highlighting the importance of the information she was about to act upon. In the cultural context, news and messages were often conveyed orally, emphasizing the significance of spoken word in ancient societies. Tamar's awareness sets the stage for her decisive actions, reflecting her agency and determination within the narrative.

Your father-in-law
The term "father-in-law" refers to Judah, a key figure in the lineage of Israel. In Hebrew, "חָם" (cham) is used, denoting a familial relationship that carries both legal and social implications. Judah's role as Tamar's father-in-law is central to the unfolding events, as it underscores the obligations and expectations within the family structure. This relationship is crucial in understanding the cultural and legal backdrop of levirate marriage, where a brother-in-law was expected to marry the widow of his deceased brother to preserve the family line.

is going up to Timnah
The phrase "going up" is significant, as it reflects the geographical and spiritual ascent often associated with travel in biblical narratives. The Hebrew verb "עָלָה" (alah) means to go up or ascend, suggesting a purposeful journey. Timnah, a location in the tribal territory of Judah, was known for its agricultural activities, particularly sheep shearing. This journey to Timnah is not merely a physical movement but also a narrative device that sets the stage for the unfolding drama between Judah and Tamar.

to shear his sheep
Sheep shearing was a significant economic and social event in ancient times, often accompanied by festivities and gatherings. The Hebrew word for "shear" is "גָּזַז" (gazaz), indicating the act of cutting or trimming. This activity was crucial for the livelihood of pastoral communities, as it provided wool for clothing and trade. The mention of sheep shearing situates the narrative in a specific time of year, likely spring, and highlights the routine yet essential aspects of agrarian life. It also serves as a backdrop for the encounter between Judah and Tamar, where ordinary events lead to extraordinary outcomes in the biblical story.

Verse 13. - And it was told Tamer, saying, Behold thy father in-law - חָם, a father-in-law, from חָמָה, unused, to join together. Of. γαμβρός for γαμερός, a son-in-law, or generally one connected lay marriage, from γαμέω - goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When Tamar
לְתָמָ֖ר (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

was told,
וַיֻּגַּ֥ד (way·yug·gaḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hofal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

“Your father-in-law
חָמִ֛יךְ (ḥā·mîḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 2524: Husband's father

is going up
עֹלֶ֥ה (‘ō·leh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

to Timnah
תִמְנָ֖תָה (ṯim·nā·ṯāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8553: Timnah -- 'territory', two cities in Judah

to shear
לָגֹ֥ז (lā·ḡōz)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1494: To cut off, to shear a, flock, shave the hair, to destroy an enemy

his sheep,”
צֹאנֽוֹ׃ (ṣō·nōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock


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OT Law: Genesis 38:13 It was told Tamar saying Behold your (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 38:12
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