Tamar Bible Study | Genesis 38
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Who is Tamar in the Bible?
When I first heard the story of Tamar in the Bible I was a bit thrown. I’ve never heard a story like hers. Years later and it finally clicked. The story of Tamar in the Bible isn’t really about Tamar. It’s about God (surprise, surprise) and His faithfulness in the midst of injustice.
This article serves as a Tamar in the Bible summary; short and to the point with every thing you need to begin seeing the significance of the story of Tamar.
You’ll learn:
- Where to find the story of Tamar in the Bible
- What happened to Tamar
- Why her story matters
- and how that stories leads us to the faithfulness of God.
Click here to print the Tamar Bible Study Questions!
Where to find the story of Tamar in the Bible
Tamar is first introduced to us in Genesis 38 as Judah’s daughter-in-law.
Note: The Tamar in Genesis 38 is not the same as the Tamar in the chosen. This is Old Testament. That was Tamar New Testament.
Judah was a son of Jacob in the Bible. Some time before Jacob and all his sons and relatives relocated to Egypt (this is also Judah brother of Joseph) he began a family of his own. He married a Canaanite woman named Shua (Genesis 38:2).
Together Judah and Shua had three sons; Er, Onan, and Shelah (Genesis 38:3-5).
Then Judah took a wife for Er his first born, and her name was Tamar.
Genesis 38:6
Who is Tamar in the Bible? She is the daughter-in-law of Judah and wife of Er… And eventually Onan. Let me explain.
Tamar and the Sons of Judah
We don’t hear much about Er and Onan in the Bible. Scripture limits our knowledge of them to two just a couple verses.
But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord and the Lord killed Him.
And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.”
But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give and heir to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also.
Genesis 38:7-10
Er Son of Judah
Er and Onan were the two sons of Judah that greatly displeased God. Scripture goes as far as to call Er wicked (likely the result of enjoying Canaanite culture). His wickedness kept him and Tamar from being able to start a family of their own.
Onan and Tamar
While The Bible doesn’t describe Onan as wicked, Genesis 38:8-10 does tell us the God was not pleased with him. Basically, the story of Onan in the Bible is that he refused to produce and heir for Tamar. Which in today’s culture sounds like an odd thing to be upset about, but in biblical history this was a common law among the people of God (consider the story of Ruth).
It kept widows from being left with nothing and preserved the land rights and inheritance of families and tribes. By producing an heir, Onan and Tamar would have ensured that the wealth of Er stayed with Tamar and her family. Onan didn’t want to contribute to the wealth of his brother’s heir. If he was going to pass wealth to anyone it would be an heir of his own. Onan rejected God’s law. That rejection cost Onan his life.
What Happened to Tamar in the Bible?
Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah is is grown,” for he said, “lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.
Genesis 38:11
Tamar returned home with the understanding that it was for a season. When Shelah, the youngest son of Judah, was older she would return to the house of Judah and marry his Shelah. That’s what it looked like on the surface anyway.
As I’m sure you suspect, it didn’t play out that way. Years later a friend of Tamar sees Judah and his son in Timnah (Genesis 38:12-13). When the news makes it to Tamar she takes off her widows clothes, covers herself in a wrap and veil, and went to see for herself.
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot because she had covered her face. Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come into you” for he didn’t know it was his daughter-in-law…
Genesis 38:15-16
NOTE: The popular tale in Sunday School was that Tamar dressed herself as a prostitute with hopes of deceiving Judah into sleeping with her. That is a possibility but Scripture doesn’t actually describe it that way. While she did have her face covered (which culturally could imply that she was a prostitute) the Genesis 38:14 implies that Tamar was simply trying to go unseen or at the very least, unrecognized. While Judah saw her and assumed she was a prostitute (Genesis 38:15) we don’t know that she set out with that hope. Keep reading to learn what comes next in the biblical story of Tamar and Judah.
Judah’s Pledge to Tamar
When Judah saw Tamar he thought she was a prostitute and asked to sleep with her.
Tamar, the widow without an heir, saw an opportunity. If this was any other person walking by I doubt Tamar would have answered the same way she did Judah. She wasn’t looking to be with just any man. That would be unlawful. Saying yes to Judah on the other hand was within the limitations of the law and had the potential to provide the heir for Tamar that Judah withheld. This was a calculated yes. Genesis 38 gives us a glimpse at Tamar’s thought process.
…So she said, “what will you give me that you may come into me?”
And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.”
So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”
Then he said, “what pledge shall I give you?”
So she said, “your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.”
Genesis 38:16-19
Let’s stop here and just clarify, this pledge was not about the money.
Tamar needed to ensure that if she were to get pregnant she had a way of tying Judah to the baby. The only way the law would protect her was under the guise of producing an heir through her in-laws. Without this connection to Judah, she would be guilty of prostitution, a crime punishable by death.
Which is exactly what Judah confronted her without with he found out that she was pregnant.
Accused of Promiscuity
And it came to pass about three months after that Judah was told saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned.”
Genesis 38:24
When I read this verse, the first thing that jumps out at me is the hypocrisy of Judah. Had he not also played the harlot? Yet he is so quick to condemn Tamar without even talking to her. Had he talked to her privately he might have spared himself some public shame. Tamar was prepared to justify herself.
“When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, ‘By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.’ And she said, ‘Please determine whose these are – the signet and cord, and staff.”
Genesis 38:25
Tamar presented Judah with evidence that required him to take accountability for his actions. Not simply for sleeping with her, but also for rejecting the law – withholding his son from her, not allowing them to be married, and keeping them from producing an heir.
In a moment of humility, Judah accepts responsibility.
“So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous that I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son…”
Genesis 38:26
NOTE: This moment is HUGE in the story of Judah. One thing that always catches my eye when studying the Bible is the growth of the people in it. Judah went from selling his brother (Joseph) into slavery, marrying a Canaanite, rebellion against the law, sleeping with (what he thought was a prostitute)… to humbling himself in front of the same woman he accused, offering himself a surety for his youngest brother’s well-being on the long journey to Egypt, and even offering himself as a slave in Pharoah’s prison instead of his younger brother. God changes hearts! It’s incredible to watch.
Tamar’s Sons and the Tribe of Judah
When it came time to give birth Tamar and Judah were blessed with twins (Genesis 38:27). Perez and Zerah. You can find the lineage of Perez in Matthew chapter 1. Surprise! It leads to Jesus!
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet until Shiloh comes and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”
Genesis 49:10
Lessons from Tamar in the Bible
What is important about Tamar in the Bible isn’t so much her story but God’s presence through it. We hear all the time that God is a God of justice. With all the chaos around us sometimes we start to doubt He even sees the injustice being done to us.
Tamar’s story is a reminder that He does. Nothing is hidden from Him.
Er’s wickedness wasn’t hidden. Onan’s rebellion wasn’t hidden. Judah’s deception wasn’t hidden. While God dealt with each of those issues in His own way and time, He was just in all of it. And the one on the receiving end of all their wrong doing, she was seen too. God gifted her the justice do to her and then some.
What is the lesson in Genesis 38 that we dare not forget? God is just and God is faithful. The fact that God used the Tamar and Judah story as a means of fulfilling his promise to bring a Messiah into the world is… awesome (for lack of a better word).
While God’s story continues, this is where our summary of Genesis 38 ends. Enjoy frequently asked questions about Tamar in the section below! For a really fun retelling of the story of Tamar and Judah I highlight recommend this book by Francie Rivers!
FAQ’s About the Story of Tamar
Was Tamar Hebrew? Some speculate that Tamar was a Canaanite like Judah’s wife. In my opinion, Scripture doesn’t reflect that. The story of Tamar is deeply imbedded in Hebrew law. Tamar’s knowledge and application of law is a hint that she herself was Hebrew.
Did Judah marry Tamar? Scripture doesn’t explicitly say that Tamar and Judah ever married. However, tradition to the idea after Judah revealed himself as the father of Tamar’s son that they chose to marry, but were never intimate again (Genesis 38:26). Tamar the widow became Tamar, wife of Judah.
Where can we find the Tamar Bible verse? Genesis 38
Where can we find the Onan Bible story? The story of Tamar and Onan can be found in Genesis 38:8-10
What is the meaning of Tamar in the Bible? Tamar in Hebrew means “date” or “date tree”. Dates are known for being sweet. Trees are often symbolic of life, lineage, and family. When I think about Tamar’s story and the meaning of her name I can’t help but be reminded of the sweet news of the gospel and God’s covenant with man. A Messiah would come from the line of Judah (see Genesis 49:10 bringing hope to every family on earth.
Learn more about the different covenants in the Bible here.
Why is Genesis 38 important? It points to the beginning of the Tribe of Judah, the tribe the promised Messiah comes from. It’s also teaches about chore characteristics of God; his faithfulness, justice, omniscience, and intent for people.
Who was Tamar to David? According to the genealogies in Matthew and Luke, Tamar is the great (to the 9th) grandmother of David. She is the beginning of the line of Judah that David is born into.
Judah and Tamar Bible Study Questions!
Below is a list of Bible Study questions for the story of Tamar in the Bible Genesis 38. Click here to print your own copy for free!
- Who was Judah? What do we know about Judah in the Bible?
- Who did Judah marry?
- How many sons did Judah have?
- Who is Tamar? Who did she marry?
- What happened to Tamar’s first husband?
- Describe the conlfict between Onan and Tamar.
- Why did God kill Onan?
- What reason(s) did Judah give for not allowing his last son (Shelah) to be married?
- How did Tamar respond to Judah’s request to “go home”?
- How did Tamar respond to news that Judah and his son were in town?
- Why was the veil necessary for Tamar’s venture?
- What did Judah do when he saw Tamar?
- How did Judah respnd to Tamar’s pregnancy?
- What did Tamar have that connected Judah to her unborn child?
- Did Tamar marry Judah?
- What happened to Shelah?
- What are the names of Tamar’s son?
- How is Tamar related to Jesus?
- How does Tamar’s story point to the love of God and hope of the gospel?
- What is the significance of Genesis 38?
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