Genesis 38:13–30

¹³And it was told Thamar that her father-in-law was come up to Thamnas to shear his sheep.

¹⁴And she put off the garments of her widowhood, and took a veil: and changing her dress, sat in the cross way, that leadeth to Thamnas: because Sela was grown up, and she had not been married to him.

¹⁵When Juda saw her, he thought she was a harlot: for she had covered her face, lest she should be known.

¹⁶And going to her, he said: Suffer me to lie with thee: for he knew her not to be his daughter-in-law. And she answered: What wilt thou give me to enjoy my company?

¹⁷He said: I will send thee a kid out of the flock. And when she said again: I will suffer what thou wilt, if thou give me a pledge, till thou send what thou promisest.

¹⁸Juda said: What wilt thou have for a pledge? She answered: Thy ring and bracelet, and the staff which thou holdest in thy hand. The woman therefore at one copulation conceived.

¹⁹And she arose and went her way: and putting off the apparel which she had taken, put on the garments of her widowhood.

²⁰And Juda sent a kid by his shepherd, the Odollamite, that he might receive the pledge again, which he had given to the woman: but he, not finding her,

²¹Asked the men of that place: Where is the woman that sat in the cross way? And when they all made answer: There was no harlot in this place,

²²He returned to Juda, and said to him: I have not found her; moreover, the men of that place said to me, that there never sat a harlot there.

²³Juda said: Let her take it to herself, surely she cannot charge us with a lie, I sent the kid which I promised: and thou didst not find her.

²⁴And behold, after three months, they told Juda, saying: Thamar, thy daughter-in-law, hath played the harlot, and she appeareth to have a big belly. And Juda said: Bring her out that she may be burnt.

²⁵But when she was led to execution, she sent to her father in law, saying: By the man, to whom these things belong, I am with child. See whose ring, and bracelet, and staff this is.

²⁶But he acknowledging the gifts, said: She is juster than I: because I did not give her to Sela, my son. However he knew her no more.

²⁷And when she was ready to be brought to bed, there appeared twins in her womb: and in the very delivery of the infants, one put forth a hand, whereon the midwife tied a scarlet thread, saying:

²⁸This shall come forth the first.

²⁹But he drawing back his hand, the other came forth: and the woman said: Why is the partition divided for thee? and therefore called his name Phares.

³⁰Afterwards his brother came out, on whose hand was the scarlet thread: and she called his name Zara.