Genesis 38:15
ESV
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
NIV
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
NASB
When Judah saw her, he assumed she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
CSB
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
NLT
Judah noticed her and thought she was a prostitute, since she had covered her face.
KJV
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
NKJV
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face.
What does Genesis 38:15 mean?
Judah told his widowed daughter-in-law Tamar she would be married to his son, Shelah, when the boy grew up (Genesis 38:11). Tamar has realized that's not going to happen—Judah's reassurance was a lie (Genesis 38:14). In that culture, a childless widow (Genesis 38:7–10) had no realistic prospects for marriage and no family to care for her into old age. Facing a dire future, Tamar is working a scheme to force Judah to take care of her.She has dressed herself as a prostitute, wearing a veil, and is waiting for Judah to pass by on the road (Genesis 38:13). Her plan works. She catches his eye, and Judah assumes she is, in fact, a prostitute. In part because of the veil, he never realizes she is his daughter-in-law. In the following verses, he will hire her services. Tamar will use this encounter to her advantage.
Genesis 38:12–19 describes a plan devised by the childless widow, Tamar, to provide for her future after being abandoned by her father-in-law, Judah. He has violated tradition by delaying—refusing, it turns out—to give her to his next-oldest son, Shelah. Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute and engages in sex with Judah, keeping his signet ring and staff until he can pay her. This results in pregnancy, setting up a scandalous revelation.
Jacob's son Judah marries a Canaanite woman and has three sons. His first son marries a woman called Tamar but is put to death by God for an unnamed sin. Judah follows tradition and marries Er's widow to the next oldest brother. Onan takes advantage of the situation for sex, but deliberately refuses to give her children. God puts him to death as well. When Judah abandons Tamar, she disguises herself as a prostitute and has sex with him. Found to be pregnant, she proves Judah is the father, and he admits his guilt. She then gives birth to twin boys.
