Genesis 38:13
Genesis 38:13 in Multiple Translations
When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,”
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnah to shear his sheep.
And when Tamar had news that her father-in-law was going up to Timnah to the wool-cutting,
Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going to Timnah to shear his sheep.”
And it was tolde Tamar, saying, beholde, thy father in lawe goeth vp to Timnah, to shere his sheepe.
And it is declared to Tamar, saying, 'Lo, thy husband's father is going up to Timnath to shear his flock;'
Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”
And it was told to Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnath, to shear his sheep.
And it was told Thamar that her father in law was come up to Thamnas to shear his sheep.
Someone said to Tamar, “Your father-in-law is going to the fields near the city of Timnah to help the men who are shearing his sheep.”
Then somebody told that woman Tamar, “Your dead husband’s father is going to Timnah to visit his work-men. They are cutting the wool off his sheep there.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 38:13
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Genesis 38:13 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יֻּגַּ֥ד
לְ/תָמָ֖ר
לֵ/אמֹ֑ר
הִנֵּ֥ה
חָמִ֛י/ךְ
עֹלֶ֥ה
תִמְנָ֖תָ/ה
לָ/גֹ֥ז
צֹאנֽ/וֹ
וַ/יֻּגַּ֥ד
nâgad
H5046
to tell
Conj | V-Hophal-ConsecImperf-3ms
לְ/תָמָ֖ר
Tâmâr
H8559
Tamar
Prep | N-proper
לֵ/אמֹ֑ר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
הִנֵּ֥ה
hinnêh
H2009
behold
Part
חָמִ֛י/ךְ
châm
H2524
father-in-law
N-ms | Suff
עֹלֶ֥ה
ʻâlâh
H5927
to ascend
V-Qal
תִמְנָ֖תָ/ה
Timnâh
H8553
Timnah
N-proper | Suff
לָ/גֹ֥ז
gazâz
H1494
to shear
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
צֹאנֽ/וֹ
tsôʼn
H6629
Sheep (Gate)
N-cs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 38:13
וַ/יֻּגַּ֥ד
nâgad
H5046
"to tell"
Conj | V-Hophal-ConsecImperf-3ms
To tell or declare something openly, as in Genesis 3:11 where God asks Adam to tell the truth. It means to stand boldly and announce something to someone present. In Exodus 32:27, Moses tells the Levites to declare their actions to the people.
Definition: 1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known 1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare 1a1) to tell, announce, report 1a2) to declare, make known, expound 1a3) to inform of 1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim 1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess 1a5a) messenger (participle) 1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported
Usage: Occurs in 344 OT verses. KJV: bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter. See also: Genesis 3:11; 1 Samuel 14:33; 2 Kings 9:15.
לְ/תָמָ֖ר
Tâmâr
H8559
"Tamar"
Prep | N-proper
Tamar was the name of three women and a place in the Bible, including the wife of Judah's son Er. The name means palm tree and is also associated with the city of Tadmor
Definition: Tamar = "palm-tree" Sothernmost tip of Judah Another name of tad.mor (תַּדְמֹר "Tadmor" H8412)
Usage: Occurs in 23 OT verses. KJV: Tamar. See also: Genesis 38:6; 2 Samuel 13:8; Ezekiel 48:28.
לֵ/אמֹ֑ר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
הִנֵּ֥ה
hinnêh
H2009
"behold"
Part
This Hebrew word is an expression that means 'behold' or 'look', often used to draw attention to something. It appears in Genesis and Isaiah, and is translated as 'behold' or 'lo' in the KJV.
Definition: behold, lo, see, if
Usage: Occurs in 799 OT verses. KJV: behold, lo, see. See also: Genesis 1:29; Genesis 42:35; Deuteronomy 19:18.
חָמִ֛י/ךְ
châm
H2524
"father-in-law"
N-ms | Suff
A father-in-law is the father of your spouse, like a relative by marriage. This term is used in the Bible to describe family relationships.
Definition: father-in-law, husband's father
Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: father in law. See also: Genesis 38:13; 1 Samuel 4:19; 1 Samuel 4:21.
עֹלֶ֥ה
ʻâlâh
H5927
"to ascend"
V-Qal
To ascend means to go up or rise, like the smoke from an altar going up to God, as described in many Bible passages, including Leviticus and Psalms.
Definition: : rise/go 1) to go up, ascend, climb 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go up, ascend 1a2) to meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat 1a3) to go up, come up (of animals) 1a4) to spring up, grow, shoot forth (of vegetation) 1a5) to go up, go up over, rise (of natural phenomenon) 1a6) to come up (before God) 1a7) to go up, go up over, extend (of boundary) 1a8) to excel, be superior to 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be taken up, be brought up, be taken away 1b2) to take oneself away 1b3) to be exalted 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to bring up, cause to ascend or climb, cause to go up 1c2) to bring up, bring against, take away 1c3) to bring up, draw up, train 1c4) to cause to ascend 1c5) to rouse, stir up (mentally) 1c6) to offer, bring up (of gifts) 1c7) to exalt 1c8) to cause to ascend, offer 1d) (Hophal) 1d1) to be carried away, be led up 1d2) to be taken up into, be inserted in 1d3) to be offered 1e) (Hithpael) to lift oneself
Usage: Occurs in 817 OT verses. KJV: arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. See also: Genesis 2:6; Exodus 34:4; Joshua 7:6.
תִמְנָ֖תָ/ה
Timnâh
H8553
"Timnah"
N-proper | Suff
Timnah is a place in Palestine, mentioned in the Bible as a town in the hill country of Judah, meaning portion. It appears in the book of Joshua and Judges.
Definition: § Timnath or Timnah or Thimnathah = "portion" a town in the hill country of Judah
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: Timnah, Timnath, Thimnathah. See also: Genesis 38:12; Joshua 19:43; 2 Chronicles 28:18.
לָ/גֹ֥ז
gazâz
H1494
"to shear"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a
This verb means to shear or cut something, like sheep or hair. It can also mean to destroy an enemy, as seen in some psalms. The KJV Bible translates it as 'cut off' or 'shear'.
Definition: 1) to shear, mow 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to shear 1a2) shearer (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be cut off, be destroyed
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: cut off (down), poll, shave, (sheep-) shear(-er). See also: Genesis 31:19; 1 Samuel 25:11; Isaiah 53:7.
צֹאנֽ/וֹ
tsôʼn
H6629
"Sheep (Gate)"
N-cs | Suff
This word refers to a flock of sheep or goats, and is sometimes used to describe people in a figurative sense. It is also associated with the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, a significant location in biblical times.
Definition: This name means sheep and goats Also named: probatikos (προβατικός "Sheep Gate" G4262)
Usage: Occurs in 247 OT verses. KJV: (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds). See also: Genesis 4:2; Deuteronomy 28:31; Psalms 44:12.
Study Notes — Genesis 38:13
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Judah and Tamar
11Then 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.
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. 15When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.Genesis 38:13 Summary
This verse tells us that Tamar was informed about her father-in-law Judah's plans to go to Timnah to shear his sheep. This news was important to Tamar because she was waiting for Judah to give her to his son Shelah as a wife, as promised. Tamar's story teaches us about the importance of trusting in God's timing and plans, even when things seem to be taking a long time, as seen in Psalm 27:14. By waiting on God and seeking His guidance, we can avoid making rash decisions and instead follow His path for our lives, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Tamar need to be told that her father-in-law was going up to Timnah to shear his sheep?
Tamar needed to be informed because she was waiting for Judah to fulfill his promise to give her to his son Shelah as a wife, as seen in Genesis 38:11, and this event provided an opportunity for her to take action.
What was the significance of Timnah in this story?
Timnah was the location where Judah's sheepshearers were, and it was on the way to this place that Tamar would encounter Judah, leading to a pivotal moment in the story, as seen in Genesis 38:12-14.
How did Tamar find out about Judah's plans to go to Timnah?
The Bible does not specify exactly how Tamar was told about Judah's plans, but it is clear that she received this information and used it to her advantage, as seen in Genesis 38:13-14.
What can we learn from Tamar's actions in this verse?
Tamar's actions demonstrate her determination and resourcefulness, but also her desperation and potentially questionable morals, serving as a reminder of the complexities of human nature and the need for guidance from God, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6.
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in your life when you have felt like you were waiting for something to happen, like Tamar waiting for Judah to fulfill his promise?
- How do you think Tamar felt when she heard that Judah was going to Timnah, and what emotions might have driven her actions?
- What role do you think patience and trust in God's timing should play in our decision-making, especially in situations like Tamar's?
- In what ways can we apply the lesson of trusting in God's sovereignty, as seen in Psalm 37:7, to our own lives and decisions?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 38:13
And it was told Tamar,.... By some of her neighbours, or by some of Judah's family; saying, behold, thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep; which might be told her as an indifferent
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 38:13
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 38:13
Genesis 38:13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.Ver. 13. To shear his sheep.] And so to put by his sorrow, as Jonathan did his anger, by going into the field to shoot. At sheep shearings they had feasts.
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 38:13
13. shear his sheep] Sheep-shearing was an occasion of festivity, and often of licentiousness. See note on Genesis 31:19. Cf. 1 Samuel 25:2 ff.; 2 Samuel 13:23 f.