- Genesis 38:1
וַיְהִי בָּעֵת הַהִוא וַיֵּרֶד יְהוּדָה מֵאֵת אֶחָיו וַיֵּט עַד־אִישׁ עֲדֻלָּמִי וּשְׁמוֹ חִירָה׃
About that time Judah left his brothers and camped near a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah.
Targum Onkelos
וַהֲוָה בְּעִדָּנָא הַהוּא וּנְחַת יְהוּדָה מִלְּוָת אֲחוֹהִי וּסְטָא לְוָת גֻּבְרָא עֲדוּלְמָאָה וּשְׁמֵיהּ חִירָה׃
And it was at that time, that Yehudah descended from his brothers. He turned away [from them], until [he came to] a man, an Adullamite, whose name was Chirah.
- Genesis 38:2
וַיַּרְא־שָׁם יְהוּדָה בַּת־אִישׁ כְּנַעֲנִי וּשְׁמוֹ שׁוּעַ וַיִּקָּחֶהָ וַיָּבֹא אֵלֶיהָ׃
There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he took her to wife and cohabited with her.
Targum Onkelos
וַחֲזָא תַּמָּן יְהוּדָה בַּת גְּבַר כְּנַעֲנִי וּשְׁמֵיהּ שׁוּעַ וְנַסְבַּהּ וְעָל לְוָתַהּ׃
There Yehudah saw the daughter of a Canaanite man [merchant] whose name was Shu’a. He took her and consummated a marriage with her.
- Genesis 38:3
וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן וַיִּקְרָא אֶת־שְׁמוֹ עֵר׃
She conceived and bore a son, and he named him Er.
Targum Onkelos
וְעַדִּיאַת וִילֵידַת בַּר וּקְרָא יָת שְׁמֵיהּ עֵר׃
She conceived and gave birth to a son. He named him Er.
- Genesis 38:4
וַתַּהַר עוֹד וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן וַתִּקְרָא אֶת־שְׁמוֹ אוֹנָן׃
She conceived again and bore a son, and named him Onan.
Targum Onkelos
וְעַדִּיאַת עוֹד וִילֵידַת בַּר וּקְרָת יָת שְׁמֵיהּ אוֹנָן׃
She conceived again and gave birth to a son. She named him Onan.
- Genesis 38:5
וַתֹּסֶף עוֹד וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן וַתִּקְרָא אֶת־שְׁמוֹ שֵׁלָה וְהָיָה בִכְזִיב בְּלִדְתָּהּ אֹתוֹ׃
Once again she bore a son, and named him Shelah; he was at Chezib when she bore him.
Targum Onkelos
וְאוֹסֵיפַת עוֹד וִילֵידַת בַּר וּקְרָת יָת שְׁמֵיהּ שֵׁלָה וַהֲוָה בִּכְזִיב כַּד יְלֵידַת יָתֵיהּ׃
She conceived once again and gave birth to a son. She named him Sheilah. He [Yehudah] was in Keziv when she gave birth to him.
- Genesis 38:6
וַיִּקַּח יְהוּדָה אִשָּׁה לְעֵר בְּכוֹרוֹ וּשְׁמָהּ תָּמָר׃
Judah got a wife for Er his first-born; her name was Tamar.
Targum Onkelos
וּנְסֵיב יְהוּדָה אִתְּתָא לְעֵר בּוּכְרֵיהּ וּשְׁמַהּ תָּמָר׃
Yehudah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
- Genesis 38:7
וַיְהִי עֵר בְּכוֹר יְהוּדָה רַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה וַיְמִתֵהוּ יְהֹוָה׃
But Er, Judah’s first-born, was displeasing to GOD, and GOD took his life.
Targum Onkelos
וַהֲוָה עֵר בּוּכְרֵיהּ דִּיהוּדָה בִּישׁ קֳדָם יְיָ וַאֲמִיתֵיהּ יְיָ׃
Er, Yehudah’s firstborn was wicked in the eyes of [before] Adonoy, and Adonoy put him to death.
- Genesis 38:8
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה לְאוֹנָן בֹּא אֶל־אֵשֶׁת אָחִיךָ וְיַבֵּם אֹתָהּ וְהָקֵם זֶרַע לְאָחִיךָ׃
Then Judah said to Onan, “Join with your brother’s wife and do your duty by her as a brother-in-law, and provide offspring for your brother.”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר יְהוּדָה לְאוֹנָן עוֹל לְוָת אִתַּת אֲחוּךְ וְיַבֵּם יָתַהּ וַאֲקֵים זַרְעָא לַאֲחוּךְ׃
Yehudah said to Onan, Consummate marriage with your brother’s wife, and fulfill the yibum rite with her, and establish seed for your brother.
- Genesis 38:9
וַיֵּדַע אוֹנָן כִּי לֹּא לוֹ יִהְיֶה הַזָּרַע וְהָיָה אִם־בָּא אֶל־אֵשֶׁת אָחִיו וְשִׁחֵת אַרְצָה לְבִלְתִּי נְתׇן־זֶרַע לְאָחִיו׃
But Onan, knowing that the offspring would not count as his, let [the semen] go to waste whenever he joined with his brother’s wife, so as not to provide offspring for his brother.
Targum Onkelos
וִידַע אוֹנָן אֲרֵי לָא עַל שְׁמֵיהּ מִתְקְרֵי זַרְעָא וְהָוֵי כַּד עָלֵיל לְוָת אִתַּת אֲחוּהִי וּמְחַבֵּיל אוֹרְחֵיהּ עַל אַרְעָא בְּדִיל דְּלָא לְאָקָמָא זַרְעָא לַאֲחוּהִי׃
Onan knew that the descendants would not be his [called by his name]. Whenever he cohabited with his brother’s wife, he let it go to waste [destroyed his way] on the ground, in order not to give [establish] progeny to his brother.
- Genesis 38:10
וַיֵּרַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וַיָּמֶת גַּם־אֹתוֹ׃
What he did was displeasing to GOD, who took his life also.
Targum Onkelos
וּבְאֵישׁ קֳדָם יְיָ דַּעֲבַד וַאֲמִית אַף יָתֵיהּ׃
What he did was evil in the eyes of [before] Adonoy, and He also put him to death.
- Genesis 38:11
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה לְתָמָר כַּלָּתוֹ שְׁבִי אַלְמָנָה בֵית־אָבִיךְ עַד־יִגְדַּל שֵׁלָה בְנִי כִּי אָמַר פֶּן־יָמוּת גַּם־הוּא כְּאֶחָיו וַתֵּלֶךְ תָּמָר וַתֵּשֶׁב בֵּית אָבִיהָ׃
Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Stay as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”—for he thought, “He too might die like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר יְהוּדָה לְתָמָר כַּלְּתֵיהּ תִּיבִי אַרְמְלָא בֵּית אֲבוּיִךְ עַד דְּיִרְבֵּי שֵׁלָה בְרִי אֲרֵי אֲמַר דִּלְמָא יְמוּת אַף הוּא כַּאֲחוֹהִי וַאֲזַלַת תָּמָר וִיתֵיבַת בֵּית אֲבוּהָא׃
Yehudah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Sheilah is of age. He said, Lest he also die like his brothers. Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.
- Genesis 38:12
וַיִּרְבּוּ הַיָּמִים וַתָּמׇת בַּת־שׁוּעַ אֵשֶׁת־יְהוּדָה וַיִּנָּחֶם יְהוּדָה וַיַּעַל עַל־גֹּזְזֵי צֹאנוֹ הוּא וְחִירָה רֵעֵהוּ הָעֲדֻלָּמִי תִּמְנָתָה׃
A long time afterward, Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died. When his period of mourning was over, Judah went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, together with his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
Targum Onkelos
וּסְגִיאוּ יוֹמַיָּא וּמֵיתַת בַּת שׁוּעַ אִתַּת יְהוּדָה וְאִתְנַחַם יְהוּדָה וּסְלֵיק עַל גָּזְזֵי עָנֵיהּ הוּא וְחִירָה רָחֲמֵיהּ עֲדֻלְמָאָה לְתִמְנָת׃
Many days passed, and Shu’a’s daughter, the wife of Yehudah died. Yehudah sought consolation, and went up to his sheep-shearers—he and his friend, Chirah the Adullamite—to Timnah.
- Genesis 38:13
וַיֻּגַּד לְתָמָר לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה חָמִיךְ עֹלֶה תִמְנָתָה לָגֹז צֹאנוֹ׃
And Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is coming up to Timnah for the sheepshearing.”
Targum Onkelos
וְאִתְחַוַּא לְתָמָר לְמֵימַר הָא חֲמוּיִךְ סָלֵיק לְתִמְנָת לְמִגַּז עָנֵיהּ׃
Tamar was told, Behold your father-in-law has come to Timnah, to shear his sheep.
- Genesis 38:14
וַתָּסַר בִּגְדֵי אַלְמְנוּתָהּ מֵעָלֶיהָ וַתְּכַס בַּצָּעִיף וַתִּתְעַלָּף וַתֵּשֶׁב בְּפֶתַח עֵינַיִם אֲשֶׁר עַל־דֶּרֶךְ תִּמְנָתָה כִּי רָאֲתָה כִּי־גָדַל שֵׁלָה וְהִוא לֹא־נִתְּנָה לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה׃
So she took off her widow’s garb, covered her face with a veil, and, wrapping herself up, sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, yet she had not been given to him as wife.
Targum Onkelos
וְאַעְדִּיאַת לְבוּשֵׁי אַרְמְלוּתַהּ מִנַּהּ וְאִתְכַּסִּיאַת בְּעִיפָא וְאִתַּקַּנַת וִיתֵיבַת בְּפָרָשׁוּת עֵינַיִם דְּעַל אוֹרַח תִּמְנָת אֲרֵי חֲזָת אֲרֵי רְבָא שֵׁלָה וְהִיא לָא אִתְיְהֵיבַת לֵיהּ לְאִתּוּ׃
She took off her widow’s garb, covered herself with a veil, and disguised [adorned] herself. She sat at the crossroads which is on the road to Timnah, for she saw that Sheilah had come of age and she had not been given to him for a wife.
- Genesis 38:15
וַיִּרְאֶהָ יְהוּדָה וַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָ לְזוֹנָה כִּי כִסְּתָה פָּנֶיהָ׃
When Judah saw her, he took her for a prostitute; for she had covered her face.
Targum Onkelos
וַחֲזַהּ יְהוּדָה וְחַשְׁבַּהּ כְּנָפְקַת בָּרָא אֲרֵי כַסִּיאַת אַפַּהָא׃
Yehudah saw her and thought she was a harlot [like one who goes outside], because she had covered her face.
- Genesis 38:16
וַיֵּט אֵלֶיהָ אֶל־הַדֶּרֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר הָבָה־נָּא אָבוֹא אֵלַיִךְ כִּי לֹא יָדַע כִּי כַלָּתוֹ הִוא וַתֹּאמֶר מַה־תִּתֶּן־לִי כִּי תָבוֹא אֵלָי׃
So he turned aside to her by the road and said, “Here, let me sleep with you”—for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. “What,” she asked, “will you pay for sleeping with me?”
Targum Onkelos
וּסְטָא לְוָתַהּ לְאוֹרְחָא וַאֲמַר הַבִי כְעַן אֵיעוֹל לְוָתִיךְ אֲרֵי לָא יְדַע אֲרֵי כַלְּתֵיהּ הִיא וַאֲמַרַת מָא תִּתֵּין לִי אֲרֵי תֵיעוֹל לְוָתִי׃
He turned aside to her on the road, and said, Please [Now], let me be with you, for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, What will you give me for the privilege of being with me?
- Genesis 38:17
וַיֹּאמֶר אָנֹכִי אֲשַׁלַּח גְּדִי־עִזִּים מִן־הַצֹּאן וַתֹּאמֶר אִם־תִּתֵּן עֵרָבוֹן עַד שׇׁלְחֶךָ׃
He replied, “I will send a kid from my flock.” But she said, “You must leave a pledge until you have sent it.”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר אֲנָא אֲשַּׁלַּח גַּדְיָא בַר עִזֵּי מִן עָנָא וַאֲמַרַת אִם תִּתֵּין מִשְׁכּוֹנָא עַד דְּתִשְׁלַח׃
He said, I will send you a kid from the flock. She said, [Only] if you give me some security until you send it.
- Genesis 38:18
וַיֹּאמֶר מָה הָעֵרָבוֹן אֲשֶׁר אֶתֶּן־לָךְ וַתֹּאמֶר חֹתָמְךָ וּפְתִילֶךָ וּמַטְּךָ אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדֶךָ וַיִּתֶּן־לָהּ וַיָּבֹא אֵלֶיהָ וַתַּהַר לוֹ׃
And he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your seal and cord, and the staff that you carry.” So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she conceived by him.
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר מָא מִשְׁכּוֹנָא דְּאֶתֵּין לִיךְ וַאֲמַרַת עִזְקְתָךְ וְשׁוֹשִׁפָּךְ וְחוּטְרָךְ דְּבִידָךְ וִיהַב לַהּ וְעָאל לְוָתַהּ וְעַדִּיאַת לֵיהּ׃
He said, What security shall I give you? She said, Your signet ring, your wrap, and your staff that is in your hand. He gave them to her and was with her, and she became pregnant by him.
- Genesis 38:19
וַתָּקׇם וַתֵּלֶךְ וַתָּסַר צְעִיפָהּ מֵעָלֶיהָ וַתִּלְבַּשׁ בִּגְדֵי אַלְמְנוּתָהּ׃
Then she went on her way. She took off her veil and again put on her widow’s garb.
Targum Onkelos
וְקַמַת וַאֲזַלַת וְאַעְדִּיאַת עִיפַהּ מִנַּהּ וּלְבַשַׁת לְבוּשֵׁי אַרְמְלוּתַהּ׃
She got up and went away. She took off her veil, and put on her widow’s garb.
- Genesis 38:20
וַיִּשְׁלַח יְהוּדָה אֶת־גְּדִי הָעִזִּים בְּיַד רֵעֵהוּ הָעֲדֻלָּמִי לָקַחַת הָעֵרָבוֹן מִיַּד הָאִשָּׁה וְלֹא מְצָאָהּ׃
Judah sent the kid by his friend the Adullamite, to redeem the pledge from the woman; but he could not find her.
Targum Onkelos
וּשְׁלַח יְהוּדָה יָת גַּדְיָא בַּר עִזֵּי בְּיַד רָחֲמֵיהּ עֲדֻלְמָאָה לְמִסַּב מִשְׁכּוֹנָא מִיְּדָא דְּאִתְּתָא וְלָא אַשְׁכְּחַהּ׃
Yehudah sent the goat-kid with his friend the Adullamite, to retrieve the security from the woman, but he could not find her.
- Genesis 38:21
וַיִּשְׁאַל אֶת־אַנְשֵׁי מְקֹמָהּ לֵאמֹר אַיֵּה הַקְּדֵשָׁה הִוא בָעֵינַיִם עַל־הַדָּרֶךְ וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֹא־הָיְתָה בָזֶה קְדֵשָׁה׃
He inquired of the locals, “Where is the ‘attendant,’ the one at Enaim, by the road?” But they said, “There has been no ‘attendant’ here.”
Targum Onkelos
וּשְׁאֵיל יָת אֲנָשֵׁי אַתְרַהּ לְמֵימַר אָן מְקַדַּשְׁתָּא דְּהִיא בְעֵינַיִם עַל אוֹרְחָא וַאֲמַרוּ לֵית הָכָא מְקַדַּשְׁתָּא׃
He asked the men of her place, Where is the harlot that was at the junction, on the road? They said, There was [is] no harlot here.
- Genesis 38:22
וַיָּשׇׁב אֶל־יְהוּדָה וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא מְצָאתִיהָ וְגַם אַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם אָמְרוּ לֹא־הָיְתָה בָזֶה קְדֵשָׁה׃
So he returned to Judah and said, “I could not find her; moreover, the locals said: There has been no ‘attendant’ here.”
Targum Onkelos
וְתָב לְוָת יְהוּדָה וַאֲמַר לָא אַשְׁכַּחְתַּהּ וְאַף אֲנָשֵׁי אַתְרָא אֲמַרוּ לֵית הָכָא מְקַדַּשְׁתָּא׃
He returned to Yehudah and said, I did not find her, and the men of her place also said that there was [is] no harlot there [here].
- Genesis 38:23
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה תִּקַּח־לָהּ פֶּן נִהְיֶה לָבוּז הִנֵּה שָׁלַחְתִּי הַגְּדִי הַזֶּה וְאַתָּה לֹא מְצָאתָהּ׃
Judah said, “Let her keep them, lest we become a laughingstock. I did send her this kid, but you did not find her.”
Targum Onkelos
וַאֲמַר יְהוּדָה תִּסַּב לַהּ דִּלְמָא נְהֵי חוֹךְ הָא שַׁדַּרִית גַּדְיָא הָדֵין וְאַתְּ לָא אַשְׁכַּחְתַּהּ׃
Yehudah said, Let her take it, lest we are humiliated [become a laughingstock]. Behold I sent her this kid, and you could not find her.
- Genesis 38:24
וַיְהִי ׀ כְּמִשְׁלֹשׁ חֳדָשִׁים וַיֻּגַּד לִיהוּדָה לֵאמֹר זָנְתָה תָּמָר כַּלָּתֶךָ וְגַם הִנֵּה הָרָה לִזְנוּנִים וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוּדָה הוֹצִיאוּהָ וְתִשָּׂרֵף׃
About three months later, Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the whore; in fact, she is pregnant from whoredom.” “Bring her out,” said Judah. “She should be burned!”
Targum Onkelos
וַהֲוָה כְּתַלָּתוּת יַרְחַיָּא וְאִתְחַוַּא לִיהוּדָה לְמֵימַר זַנִּיאַת תָּמָר כַּלְּתָךְ וְאַף הָא מְעַדְּיָא מִזְּנוּתַהּ וַאֲמַר יְהוּדָה אַפְּקוּהָא וְתִתּוֹקַד׃
About three months later, Yehudah was told, Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has been promiscuous, moreover, her promiscuity has resulted in pregnancy. Yehudah said, Take her out and let her be burned.
- Genesis 38:25
הִוא מוּצֵאת וְהִיא שָׁלְחָה אֶל־חָמִיהָ לֵאמֹר לְאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־אֵלֶּה לּוֹ אָנֹכִי הָרָה וַתֹּאמֶר הַכֶּר־נָא לְמִי הַחֹתֶמֶת וְהַפְּתִילִים וְהַמַּטֶּה הָאֵלֶּה׃
As she was being brought out, she sent this message to her father-in-law: “It’s by the man to whom these belong that I’m pregnant.” And she added, “Examine these: whose seal and cord and staff are these?”
Targum Onkelos
הִיא מִתַּפְקָא וְהִיא שְׁלַחַת לַחֲמוּהָא לְמֵימַר לִגְבַר דְּאִלֵּין דִּילֵיהּ מִנֵּיהּ אֲנָא מְעַדְּיָא וַאֲמַרַת אִשְׁתְּמוֹדַע כְּעַן לְמַן עִזְקְתָא וְשׁוֹשִׁפַּיָּא וְחוּטְרָא הָאִלֵּין׃
She was being taken out, and she sent [word] to her father-in-law saying, By the man to whom these belong [from him] am I pregnant. She said, Please [Now] recognize to whom this signet, wrap and staff belong.
- Genesis 38:26
וַיַּכֵּר יְהוּדָה וַיֹּאמֶר צָדְקָה מִמֶּנִּי כִּי־עַל־כֵּן לֹא־נְתַתִּיהָ לְשֵׁלָה בְנִי וְלֹא־יָסַף עוֹד לְדַעְתָּהּ׃
Judah recognized them, and said, “She is more in the right than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he was not intimate with her again.
Targum Onkelos
וְאִשְׁתְּמוֹדַע יְהוּדָה וַאֲמַר זַכָּאָה מִנִּי מְעַדְּיָא אֲרֵי עַל כֵּן לָא יְהַבְתַּהּ לְשֵׁלָה בְרִי וְלָא אוֹסֵיף עוֹד לְמִדְּעַהּ׃
Yehudah recognized them and said, She is righteous, [it is] from me [that she conceived], inasmuch that I did not give her to my son Sheilah. He was not intimate with her any more.
- Genesis 38:27
וַיְהִי בְּעֵת לִדְתָּהּ וְהִנֵּה תְאוֹמִים בְּבִטְנָהּ׃
When the time came for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb!
Targum Onkelos
וַהֲוָה בְעִדָּן מֵילְדַהּ וְהָא תְיוֹמִין בִּמְעַהָא׃
When the time came for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb.
- Genesis 38:28
וַיְהִי בְלִדְתָּהּ וַיִּתֶּן־יָד וַתִּקַּח הַמְיַלֶּדֶת וַתִּקְשֹׁר עַל־יָדוֹ שָׁנִי לֵאמֹר זֶה יָצָא רִאשֹׁנָה׃
While she was in labor, one of them put out a hand, and the midwife tied a crimson thread on that hand, to signify: This one came out first.
Targum Onkelos
וַהֲוָה בְּמֵילְדַהּ וִיהַב יְדָא וּנְסֵיבַת חָיְתָא וּקְטַרַת עַל יְדֵיהּ זְהוֹרִיתָא לְמֵימַר דֵּין נְפַק קַדְמוּתָא׃
As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand. The midwife took it and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, This one emerged first.
- Genesis 38:29
וַיְהִי ׀ כְּמֵשִׁיב יָדוֹ וְהִנֵּה יָצָא אָחִיו וַתֹּאמֶר מַה־פָּרַצְתָּ עָלֶיךָ פָּרֶץ וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ פָּרֶץ׃
But just then it drew back its hand, and out came its brother; and she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named Perez.
Targum Onkelos
וַהֲוָה כַּד אֲתֵיב יְדֵיהּ וְהָא נְפַק אֲחוּהִי וַאֲמַרַת מָא תְּקוֹף סַגִּי עֲלָךְ לְמִתְקַף וּקְרָא שְׁמֵיהּ פָּרֶץ׃
When he put back his hand, behold his brother emerged, and she said, With what [great] strength you have pushed yourself. He named him Peretz.
- Genesis 38:30
וְאַחַר יָצָא אָחִיו אֲשֶׁר עַל־יָדוֹ הַשָּׁנִי וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ זָרַח׃
Afterward his brother came out, on whose hand was the crimson thread; he was named Zerah.
Targum Onkelos
וּבָתַר כֵּן נְפַק אֲחוּהִי דְּעַל יְדֵיהּ זְהוֹרִיתָא וּקְרָא שְׁמֵיהּ זָרַח׃
Then his brother emerged—the one upon whose hand was the scarlet thread. He named him Zorach.