Judah’s pledge of a young goat, and Tamar’s insistence on a pledge, sets the stage for the succession of the line of Christ through their offspring.
Judah, the fourth son of Jacob who lived around the early second millennium BC, encounters a veiled Tamar in the region of Timnah after his wife’s death. When confronted with her demand for payment, Scripture tells us that He said, “Therefore, I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Moreover, will you give a pledge until you send it?” (v.17). This exchange takes place after Tamar, who was Judah’s daughter-in-law, posed as a prostitute to ensure the continuation of the family line, a practice tied to the cultural expectation of providing offspring in a levirate-type arrangement. By offering a young goat, Judah attempts to pay for her services, but Tamar insists on receiving tangible items as collateral, revealing her plan to establish proof of paternity.
Judah’s promise to send a goat underscores the seriousness of his intention to compensate Tamar, though he does not recognize her as his daughter-in-law. In accordance with ancient customs, valuable livestock represented a significant form of currency, signifying that Judah was attempting to settle the matter honorably in his own eyes. Yet, Tamar’s demand for a pledge—namely Judah’s seal, cord, and staff—anticipates the moment when he would later be confronted with his own personal items to confirm he was the father of Tamar’s child. This event occurs in the land of Canaan, a region that would become central for the tribe of Judah, eventually producing Boaz, King David, and the Messiah (;).
By including Tamar in Judah’s line, God demonstrated His power to redeem messy situations for His redemptive purposes. Their offspring, Perez, became an ancestor in the lineage leading to King David and to Jesus Christ. Judah’s act in Genesis 38 is a key moment that illustrates both human frailty and God’s unwavering commitment to His covenant promises. The narrative foreshadows the ultimate redemption provided through Jesus, the great Kinsman Redeemer, who would come from Judah’s tribe to offer salvation to the world.
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Genesis 38:17 meaning
Judah, the fourth son of Jacob who lived around the early second millennium BC, encounters a veiled Tamar in the region of Timnah after his wife’s death. When confronted with her demand for payment, Scripture tells us that He said, “Therefore, I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Moreover, will you give a pledge until you send it?” (v.17). This exchange takes place after Tamar, who was Judah’s daughter-in-law, posed as a prostitute to ensure the continuation of the family line, a practice tied to the cultural expectation of providing offspring in a levirate-type arrangement. By offering a young goat, Judah attempts to pay for her services, but Tamar insists on receiving tangible items as collateral, revealing her plan to establish proof of paternity.
Judah’s promise to send a goat underscores the seriousness of his intention to compensate Tamar, though he does not recognize her as his daughter-in-law. In accordance with ancient customs, valuable livestock represented a significant form of currency, signifying that Judah was attempting to settle the matter honorably in his own eyes. Yet, Tamar’s demand for a pledge—namely Judah’s seal, cord, and staff—anticipates the moment when he would later be confronted with his own personal items to confirm he was the father of Tamar’s child. This event occurs in the land of Canaan, a region that would become central for the tribe of Judah, eventually producing Boaz, King David, and the Messiah (;).
By including Tamar in Judah’s line, God demonstrated His power to redeem messy situations for His redemptive purposes. Their offspring, Perez, became an ancestor in the lineage leading to King David and to Jesus Christ. Judah’s act in Genesis 38 is a key moment that illustrates both human frailty and God’s unwavering commitment to His covenant promises. The narrative foreshadows the ultimate redemption provided through Jesus, the great Kinsman Redeemer, who would come from Judah’s tribe to offer salvation to the world.