Genesis 38:17 - He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?”
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Genesis 38:17" mean?
This verse is part of the story of Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38. Here's a breakdown of the verse and its meaning within the context of the story:
Context: Judah's son, Er, was married to Tamar but died before they had children. According to the custom of the time (levirate marriage), Judah's second son, Onan, was supposed to impregnate Tamar to continue Er's line. Onan refused and was killed by God. Judah, fearing he would lose his last son, Shelah, told Tamar to wait until Shelah grew up. However, Judah did not intend for Shelah to marry Tamar. After a long time, Judah's wife died.
"He said, 'I will send you a young goat from the flock.'" Judah, now a widower, was going to Timnah to shear his sheep. Tamar, hearing this, realized Judah had no intention of letting Shelah marry her, and she needed to act to secure her future and produce an heir. She removed her widow's garments, veiled herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim on the road to Timnah. Judah, not recognizing her (he assumed she was a prostitute), approached her for sexual relations. Judah agrees to pay her with a young goat from his flock. In that time, livestock, like a goat, was a form of currency.
"She said, 'Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?'" Tamar doesn't trust Judah to actually send the goat. She asks for collateral or a guarantee that he will fulfill his promise to pay. She's essentially saying, "I need something from you now to ensure you'll pay me later."
Significance: Tamar's request for a pledge is crucial. She's not just after money; she's after Judah's identity and proof of their encounter. This is her plan to ensure she can prove Judah is the father of her child, thereby securing her place in his family and fulfilling the obligation of levirate marriage. This pledge later becomes her way of exposing Judah's hypocrisy and forcing him to acknowledge his responsibility.
In summary, the verse illustrates Tamar's cunning and resourcefulness in a patriarchal society that had left her vulnerable. She uses the situation to her advantage, securing a pledge that will later be used to reveal Judah's actions and secure her future. The goat is a commodity that Judah offered, but Tamar knew she needed more, and asked for a pledge.
Genesis 38:17 - He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?”
What does "Genesis 38:17" mean?
This verse is part of the story of Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38. Here's a breakdown of the verse and its meaning within the context of the story:
Context: Judah's son, Er, was married to Tamar but died before they had children. According to the custom of the time (levirate marriage), Judah's second son, Onan, was supposed to impregnate Tamar to continue Er's line. Onan refused and was killed by God. Judah, fearing he would lose his last son, Shelah, told Tamar to wait until Shelah grew up. However, Judah did not intend for Shelah to marry Tamar. After a long time, Judah's wife died.
"He said, 'I will send you a young goat from the flock.'" Judah, now a widower, was going to Timnah to shear his sheep. Tamar, hearing this, realized Judah had no intention of letting Shelah marry her, and she needed to act to secure her future and produce an heir. She removed her widow's garments, veiled herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim on the road to Timnah. Judah, not recognizing her (he assumed she was a prostitute), approached her for sexual relations. Judah agrees to pay her with a young goat from his flock. In that time, livestock, like a goat, was a form of currency.
"She said, 'Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?'" Tamar doesn't trust Judah to actually send the goat. She asks for collateral or a guarantee that he will fulfill his promise to pay. She's essentially saying, "I need something from you now to ensure you'll pay me later."
Significance: Tamar's request for a pledge is crucial. She's not just after money; she's after Judah's identity and proof of their encounter. This is her plan to ensure she can prove Judah is the father of her child, thereby securing her place in his family and fulfilling the obligation of levirate marriage. This pledge later becomes her way of exposing Judah's hypocrisy and forcing him to acknowledge his responsibility.
In summary, the verse illustrates Tamar's cunning and resourcefulness in a patriarchal society that had left her vulnerable. She uses the situation to her advantage, securing a pledge that will later be used to reveal Judah's actions and secure her future. The goat is a commodity that Judah offered, but Tamar knew she needed more, and asked for a pledge.