King James Version

What Does Genesis 38:23 Mean?

Genesis 38:23 in the King James Version says “And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her. be sham...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 38 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her. be shamed: Heb. become a contempt”

Genesis 38:23 · KJV

Context

21

Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place. openly: or, in Enajim

22

And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.

23

And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her. be shamed: Heb. become a contempt

24

And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.

25

When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.

Read Genesis 38 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast no... This passage is part of the Joseph narrative, a masterfully crafted account demonstrating God's sovereign providence working through human choices and circumstances to accomplish His redemptive purposes. The Joseph cycle shows how God transforms evil intentions into instruments of salvation.

Central themes include divine providence orchestrating events toward redemptive ends, the testing and refinement of character through suffering and success, forgiveness overcoming betrayal and injustice, and the preservation of God's covenant people through famine. Joseph's rise from slavery to second-in-command of Egypt illustrates how God exalts the humble and uses seeming disasters for ultimate good.

Theologically, these chapters reveal: (1) God's meticulous sovereignty over all events, even evil human actions; (2) suffering as preparation for future service rather than punishment; (3) forgiveness as reflecting divine character and enabling reconciliation; (4) God's covenant faithfulness across generations ensuring the survival and blessing of His people; (5) how present suffering gains meaning when viewed from the perspective of God's larger purposes. Joseph's words "you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (50:20) epitomize biblical theodicy and providence.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse deepen our understanding of God's character and His relationship with creation?
  2. How should this truth about Messianic Line shape our daily decisions and priorities?
  3. In what ways does this narrative foreshadow or typify aspects of Christ's redemptive work?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר1 of 14

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוּדָה֙2 of 14

“And Judah”

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

תִּֽקַּֽח3 of 14

“Let her take”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

לָ֔הּ4 of 14
H0
פֶּ֖ן5 of 14
H6435

properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest

נִֽהְיֶ֣ה6 of 14
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

לָב֑וּז7 of 14

“it to her lest we be shamed”

H937

disrespect

הִנֵּ֤ה8 of 14
H2009

lo!

שָׁלַ֙חְתִּי֙9 of 14

“behold I sent”

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

הַגְּדִ֣י10 of 14

“this kid”

H1423

a young goat (from browsing)

הַזֶּ֔ה11 of 14
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וְאַתָּ֖ה12 of 14
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

לֹ֥א13 of 14
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

מְצָאתָֽהּ׃14 of 14

“and thou hast not found”

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 38:23 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 38:23 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Romans 6:21Revelation 16:152 Corinthians 4:2Ephesians 5:12Proverbs 6:332 Samuel 12:9

Test Your Knowledge

Genesis 38 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterGenesis Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Genesis 38 with CommentaryAll Genesis ChaptersComplete Genesis QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes