Genesis 38:21 - Then he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the road?” They said, “There has been no prostitute here.”
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What does "Genesis 38:21" mean?
This verse is part of the story of Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38. To understand verse 21, we need the context of the surrounding verses:
Judah's Loss and Deception: Judah's wife dies, and after a period of mourning, he goes to Timnah for the shearing of his sheep.
Tamar's Plan: Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law (whose husband, Judah's son Er, had died), realizes that Judah isn't fulfilling his obligation to give her his youngest son, Shelah, as a husband to continue her late husband's line (a practice called levirate marriage). Therefore, she devises a plan.
Tamar's Disguise: Tamar removes her widow's garments and disguises herself as a prostitute. She sits at the entrance to Enaim, a town along the road that Judah will travel.
Judah's Encounter: Judah sees her, doesn't recognize her, and assumes she's a prostitute. He propositions her. They agree on a payment, but Judah doesn't have the money immediately. Tamar asks for a pledge (his signet ring, staff, and cord) until he can send payment.
Judah's Failed Payment: When Judah later sends a friend to pay the prostitute and retrieve his pledge, the friend can't find her.
The Meaning of Genesis 38:21
This verse describes Judah's friend's attempt to locate the woman he believes is a prostitute:
"Then he asked the men of her place...": Judah's friend goes to the local men of Enaim, where he believes the prostitute lives.
"...saying, 'Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the road?'": He's specifically asking for the woman who was acting as a prostitute at the entrance to the town.
"They said, 'There has been no prostitute here.'": The men of Enaim deny knowing of any prostitute in their town.
Significance:
Tamar's Deception Success: The local men's denial indicates that Tamar's disguise was effective, and she was successful in maintaining her secret identity. It also suggests that she was not a known local prostitute.
Complicates Judah's Position: This verse highlights how Judah is now in a complicated position. He has left his signet ring, staff, and cord with a woman he cannot find. This later becomes crucial when Tamar reveals that she is pregnant and produces these items as proof that Judah is the father.
Social Context: The verse provides insight into the social context, indicating that the presence of a prostitute, if acknowledged, would have been a known fact within the community.
In essence, this verse shows the failure of Judah's friend to find Tamar disguised as a prostitute, setting the stage for the revealing of Tamar's true identity and her confrontation with Judah.
Genesis 38:21 - Then he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the road?” They said, “There has been no prostitute here.”
What does "Genesis 38:21" mean?
This verse is part of the story of Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38. To understand verse 21, we need the context of the surrounding verses:
Judah's Loss and Deception: Judah's wife dies, and after a period of mourning, he goes to Timnah for the shearing of his sheep.
Tamar's Plan: Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law (whose husband, Judah's son Er, had died), realizes that Judah isn't fulfilling his obligation to give her his youngest son, Shelah, as a husband to continue her late husband's line (a practice called levirate marriage). Therefore, she devises a plan.
Tamar's Disguise: Tamar removes her widow's garments and disguises herself as a prostitute. She sits at the entrance to Enaim, a town along the road that Judah will travel.
Judah's Encounter: Judah sees her, doesn't recognize her, and assumes she's a prostitute. He propositions her. They agree on a payment, but Judah doesn't have the money immediately. Tamar asks for a pledge (his signet ring, staff, and cord) until he can send payment.
Judah's Failed Payment: When Judah later sends a friend to pay the prostitute and retrieve his pledge, the friend can't find her.
The Meaning of Genesis 38:21
This verse describes Judah's friend's attempt to locate the woman he believes is a prostitute:
"Then he asked the men of her place...": Judah's friend goes to the local men of Enaim, where he believes the prostitute lives.
"...saying, 'Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the road?'": He's specifically asking for the woman who was acting as a prostitute at the entrance to the town.
"They said, 'There has been no prostitute here.'": The men of Enaim deny knowing of any prostitute in their town.
Significance:
Tamar's Deception Success: The local men's denial indicates that Tamar's disguise was effective, and she was successful in maintaining her secret identity. It also suggests that she was not a known local prostitute.
Complicates Judah's Position: This verse highlights how Judah is now in a complicated position. He has left his signet ring, staff, and cord with a woman he cannot find. This later becomes crucial when Tamar reveals that she is pregnant and produces these items as proof that Judah is the father.
Social Context: The verse provides insight into the social context, indicating that the presence of a prostitute, if acknowledged, would have been a known fact within the community.
In essence, this verse shows the failure of Judah's friend to find Tamar disguised as a prostitute, setting the stage for the revealing of Tamar's true identity and her confrontation with Judah.