2283. Thamar

Lexical Summary

Thamar: Thamar

Original Word: Θάμαρ
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Thamar
Pronunciation: THAH-mar
Phonetic Spelling: (tham'-ar)
KJV: Thamar
NASB: Tamar
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H8559 (תָּמָר - Tamar))]

1. Thamar (i.e. Tamar), an Israelitess

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Tamar

Of Hebrew origin (Tamar); Thamar (i.e. Tamar), an Israelitess -- Thamar.

see HEBREW Tamar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of Hebrew origin Tamar
Definition
Tamar, an Isr. woman
NASB Translation
Tamar (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2283: Θαμάρ

Θαμάρ (Treg. Θαμάρ), ἡ (טָמָר (i. e. palm-tree)), Tamar, proper name of a woman, the daughter-in-law of Judah, son of the patriarch Jacob (Genesis 38:6): Matthew 1:3.

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Occurrence in the New Testament

Matthew 1:3 records that “Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar”. This single appearance situates Θάμαρ (Thamar) among the four pre-Messianic women whom Matthew deliberately names in Jesus’ genealogy.

Old Testament Narrative Background

• Genesis 38 describes Tamar, a Canaanite widow of Judah’s son Er. After the deaths of Er and Onan, Judah withheld his third son, prompting Tamar to secure her levirate rights by veiling herself and conceiving through Judah.
• Genesis 38:26 records Judah’s confession: “She is more righteous than I.” The declaration vindicates Tamar’s actions within covenantal expectations of offspring preservation.
• Genesis 46:12; Ruth 4:12, 18–19; and 1 Chronicles 2:4 integrate Tamar’s sons, Perez and Zerah, into Israel’s tribal and royal genealogies.

Genealogical Significance in Salvation History

1. Continuity of Promise: Through Perez, Tamar becomes an ancestral link between the patriarchal promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:2–3) and the royal promises realized in David (Ruth 4:18–22) and ultimately Messiah (Matthew 1:1–16).
2. Legitimacy of Davidic Lineage: Perez is acknowledged as the forefather of the Bethlehemites (Ruth 4:18) and thus authenticates David’s lineage, reinforcing Matthew’s claim that Jesus is “Son of David” (Matthew 1:1).
3. Inclusion of the Marginalized: Tamar’s presence alongside Rahab, Ruth, and “the wife of Uriah” in Matthew 1 showcases God’s redemptive work through Gentiles, widows, and those marked by scandal, foreshadowing the gospel’s reach beyond ethnic Israel.

Theological Insights

• Covenant Faithfulness: Tamar’s determination protects the Abrahamic line when Judah falters, illustrating God’s providence even through human failure.
• Righteousness and Justice: Judah’s acknowledgment of Tamar’s greater righteousness (Genesis 38:26) illustrates a biblical standard wherein covenant obligations outweigh social stigma.
• Sovereign Grace: The Messiah’s family tree includes morally complex individuals, emphasizing that divine election and grace transcend human merit.

Ministry and Discipleship Implications

• Hope for the Broken: Tamar’s account assures believers that past sin or social disrepute does not bar participation in God’s purposes.
• Advocacy for the Vulnerable: Judah’s initial neglect of levirate duty warns leaders to protect the rights of widows and oppressed persons (James 1:27).
• Integrity and Confession: Judah’s eventual confession models repentance, a principle vital to personal restoration and church discipline (1 John 1:9).
• Gospel Outreach: Matthew’s inclusion of Tamar affirms evangelistic ministry to all nations and backgrounds (Matthew 28:19), illustrating that God weaves salvation history through diverse peoples.

Related Old Testament References

Genesis 38; Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:20–21; Ruth 4:12, 18–22; 1 Chronicles 2:4; Nehemiah 11:4–6.

Historical Context

Ancient Near Eastern levirate customs (Deuteronomy 25:5–10) aimed to preserve family inheritance and name. Tamar’s actions align with those norms, while Judah’s failure highlights the tension between divine expectations and societal practice in the patriarchal era.

Summary Statement

Θάμαρ (Strong’s 2283) encapsulates the intersection of divine promise, human frailty, and redemptive grace. Though named only once in the Greek New Testament, her legacy reverberates throughout Scripture, advancing the lineage that culminates in the birth of Jesus Christ and offering enduring lessons for faith and ministry.

Forms and Transliterations

Θαμαρ Θαμάρ Θάμαρ Thamar Thámar

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 1:3 N
GRK: ἐκ τῆς Θάμαρ Φαρὲς δὲ
NAS: and Zerah by Tamar, Perez
KJV: Zara of Thamar; and Phares
INT: of Tamar Perez moreover

Strong's Greek 2283
1 Occurrence

Θάμαρ — 1 Occ.