The Meaning of Genesis 38:24 Explained

Genesis 38:24

KJV: 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.

YLT: And it cometh to pass about three months after, that it is declared to Judah, saying, 'Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath committed fornication; and also, lo, she hath conceived by fornication:' and Judah saith, 'Bring her out -- and she is burnt.'

Darby: And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law has committed fornication, and behold, she is also with child by fornication. And Judah said, Bring her forth, that she may be burned.

ASV: 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 moreover, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 38:24 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Gen 38

1  Judah begets Er, Onan, and Shelah
6  Er's marriage with Tamar, and death
8  The trespass of Onan
11  Tamar is reserved for Shelah
12  Judah's wife dies
13  Tamar deceives Judah
27  She bears twins, Pharez and Zarah

What do the individual words in Genesis 38:24 mean?

And it came to pass about after three months that was told Judah saying has played the harlot Tamar your daughter-in-law and furthermore behold she [is] pregnant by harlotry So said Judah bring her out and let her be burned
וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כְּמִשְׁלֹ֣שׁ חֳדָשִׁ֗ים וַיֻּגַּ֨ד לִֽיהוּדָ֤ה לֵֽאמֹר֙ זָֽנְתָה֙ תָּמָ֣ר כַּלָּתֶ֔ךָ וְגַ֛ם הִנֵּ֥ה הָרָ֖ה לִזְנוּנִ֑ים וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָ֔ה הוֹצִיא֖וּהָ וְתִשָּׂרֵֽף

וַיְהִ֣י ׀  And  it  came  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְּמִשְׁלֹ֣שׁ  about  after  three 
Parse: Preposition-k, Preposition-m, Number, feminine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
חֳדָשִׁ֗ים  months 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: חֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: the new moon, month, monthly.
וַיֻּגַּ֨ד  that  was  told 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hofal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
לִֽיהוּדָ֤ה  Judah 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
לֵֽאמֹר֙  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
זָֽנְתָה֙  has  played  the  harlot 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: זָנָה 
Sense: to commit fornication, be a harlot, play the harlot.
תָּמָ֣ר  Tamar 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: תָּמָר 
Sense: widow of Er, the son of Judah; fiancee of Shelah, another son of Judah; wife of Judah and mother of Pharez and Zerah.
כַּלָּתֶ֔ךָ  your  daughter-in-law 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: כַּלָּה  
Sense: bride, daughter-in-law.
וְגַ֛ם  and  furthermore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
הִנֵּ֥ה  behold 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
הָרָ֖ה  she  [is]  pregnant 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: הָרֶה 
Sense: pregnant.
לִזְנוּנִ֑ים  by  harlotry 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: זְנוּנִים  
Sense: adultery, fornication, prostitution.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  So  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוּדָ֔ה  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
הוֹצִיא֖וּהָ  bring  her  out 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural, third person feminine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
וְתִשָּׂרֵֽף  and  let  her  be  burned 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׂרַף  
Sense: to burn.