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Genesis 38 — Hebrew and Greek compared

Saints Translation: Genesis 24–50 [V4]

Same 14 Similar 2 Different 9 Divergent 3 Disparate 2

Disparate in this chapter: 38:2, 38:12

Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.

Chapter 38

Judah’s Adversity

Verse 38:1 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:1 It came to pass at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and arrived as far as a certain Adullamite man named Hirah.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:1 It came to pass at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and arrived as far as a certain Adullamite man named Hirah.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 38:2 Disparate

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:2 Judah saw there the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He took her as his wife and went in to her.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:2 Judah saw there a Canaanite man’s daughter named Shua. He took her as his wife and went in to her.

Classification & Notes

Disparate — Hebrew names the father Shua; the Greek feminine relative names the woman Shua, as verse 12 confirms [G38]. The person bearing the name changes from the woman’s father to the woman.

Verse 38:3 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:3 She conceived and bore a son, and he named him Er.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:3 She conceived and bore a son, and named him Er.

Classification & Notes

Different — Hebrew’s naming verb is masculine; Greek continues without an expressed subject after the woman’s actions [G38].

Verse 38:4 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:4 And she conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:4 And she conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 38:5 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:5 She bore another son and named him Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:5 She bore another son and named him Shelah. She was at Chasbi when she bore them.

Classification & Notes

Different — He/she and him/them differ; the consulted Greek plural is retained [G38].

Verse 38:6 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:6 And Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:6 And Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 38:7 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:7 Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in YHWH’s sight, and YHWH put him to death.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:7 Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked before the Lord, and God put him to death.

Classification & Notes

Different — The final divine designation is YHWH/God [G38].

Verse 38:8 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:8 Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, perform a brother-in-law’s duty to her, and raise up seed for your brother.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:8 Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, perform a brother-in-law’s duty to her, and raise up seed for your brother.”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 38:9 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:9 Onan knew that the seed would not be his, so whenever he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to avoid giving seed to his brother.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:9 Onan knew that the seed would not be his, so whenever he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to avoid giving seed to his brother.

Classification & Notes

Same — The act is described in its stated family-duty context. Later ethical applications should remain in attributed commentary.

Verse 38:10 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:10 What he did was wicked in YHWH’s sight, and He put him to death also.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:10 It appeared evil before God that he did this, and He put him to death also.

Classification & Notes

Different — YHWH/God differs in designation [G38].

Verse 38:11 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”—for he said to himself, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Judah’s Lust

Verse 38:12 Disparate

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:12 After many days, Shua’s daughter, Judah’s wife, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah with his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:12 After many days, Shua, Judah’s wife, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah with his shepherd Hirah the Adullamite.

Classification & Notes

Disparate — The woman’s naming follows verse 2. Hirah is Judah’s friend in Hebrew and shepherd in Greek [G38]. The woman’s identity and his companion’s role differ.

Verse 38:13 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:13 And it was reported to Tamar, saying, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:13 Tamar, his daughter-in-law, was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

Classification & Notes

Divergent — Greek explicitly identifies Tamar as his daughter-in-law [G38].

Verse 38:14 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:14 She removed her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil, wrapped herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah had grown up, but she had not been given to him as a wife.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:14 She removed her widow’s garments, put on a veil, adorned herself, and sat at the gates of Ainan on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah had grown up, but he had not given her to him as a wife.

Classification & Notes

Different — Wrapped/adorned, the place-name forms, and the explicit Greek agency differ [G38].

Verse 38:15 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:15 Judah saw her and thought she was a prostitute, because she had covered her face.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:15 Judah saw her and thought she was a prostitute, because she had covered her face, and he did not recognize her.

Classification & Notes

Divergent — Greek explicitly adds that he did not recognize her [G38].

Verse 38:16 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:16 And he turned aside to her by the wayside and said, “Allow me to come in to you”—for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me if you come in to me?”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 38:17 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:17 He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge until you send it?”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:17 He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge until you send it?”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 38:18 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She said, “Your signet, your cord, and the staff in your hand.” He gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She said, “Your ring, your necklace, and the staff in your hand.” He gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

Classification & Notes

Different — The personal objects are described as signet/cord and ring/necklace [G38].

Verse 38:19 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:19 Then she arose and departed; she took off her veil and put on her widow’s garments once again.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:19 Then she arose and departed; she took off her veil and put on her widow’s garments once again.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 38:20 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:20 Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to recover the pledge from the woman, but he did not find her.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:20 Judah sent the young goat by his shepherd the Adullamite to recover the pledge from the woman, but he did not find her.

Classification & Notes

Different — Friend/shepherd repeats verse 12 [G38].

Verse 38:21 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:21 Then he questioned the men of that place, saying, “Where is the prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” They replied, “There has been no prostitute here.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:21 Then he questioned the men of that place, saying, “Where is the prostitute who was by the road at Ainan?” They replied, “There has been no prostitute here.”

Classification & Notes

Similar — Hebrew here uses qedeshah rather than the zonah of verse 15; Greek uses prostitute. A specific temple institution is not established by the word alone.

Verse 38:22 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I did not find her; and moreover, the men of the place said, ‘There is no prostitute here.’”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I did not find her; and moreover, the men of the place said, ‘There is no prostitute here.’”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 38:23 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:23 And Judah said, “Let her keep them for herself, lest we become a laughingstock. Behold, I sent this kid, and you did not find her.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:23 And Judah said, “Let her keep them for herself, lest we become a laughingstock. Behold, I sent this kid, and you did not find her.”

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Judah’s Shame

Verse 38:24 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:24 And it came to pass after three months that it was reported to Judah, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the prostitute, and behold, she is with child from prostitution.” Then Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 38:25 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:25 As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law: “I am pregnant by the man to whom these belong.” She said, “Please recognize whose signet, cords, and staff these are.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:25 As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law: “I am pregnant by the man to whom these belong.” She said, “Recognize whose ring, necklace, and staff these are.”

Classification & Notes

Different — The pledged objects retain the distinction in verse 18 [G38]. Rabbinic reception: Rashi’s ethical reading emphasizes Tamar’s care to avoid publicly shaming Judah through her indirect disclosure [R38].

Verse 38:26 Divergent

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more in the right than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” He did not know her again.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:26 Judah recognized them and said, “Tamar is more in the right than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” He did not know her again.

Classification & Notes

Divergent — Greek names Tamar. The comparative judgment concerns Judah’s failure here; know is the sexual idiom [G38].

Verse 38:27 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:27 And it came to pass when she was giving birth, behold, there were twins in her womb.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:27 And it came to pass when she was giving birth, behold, there were twins in her womb.

Classification & Notes

Same — The corresponding meaning and content agree.

Verse 38:28 Different

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:28 As she gave birth, one put out a hand. The midwife took it and tied a scarlet thread around it, saying, “This one came out first.”

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:28 As she gave birth, one put out a hand. The midwife took it and tied a scarlet thread around it, saying, “This one will come out first.”

Classification & Notes

Different — The midwife’s statement is past in Hebrew and future in Greek [G38].

Verse 38:29 Similar

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:29 But as he drew back his hand, his brother came out. She said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” He was named Perez.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:29 But as he drew back his hand, his brother immediately came out. She said, “Why has a barrier been broken through because of you?” He was named Perez.

Classification & Notes

Similar — The breach imagery supplies the naming wordplay. Passive naming avoids supplying a person not explicitly named [G38]. Saints reception: Matthew 1:3 names Judah, Tamar, Perez, and Zerah in Jesus’ genealogy. This is a genealogical use of the narrative, not a quotation of this verse [S38].

Verse 38:30 Same

Hebrew–English: Literal-Smooth(Rabbinic Priority)

38:30 Afterward his brother came out, with the scarlet thread on his hand; he was named Zerah.

Greek–English: Literal-Smooth(Saints Priority)

38:30 Afterward his brother came out, with the scarlet thread on his hand; he was named Zerah.

Classification & Notes

Same — Both record the second twin’s emergence and naming. Hebrew has an unexpressed masculine naming subject; Greek does not identify the namer explicitly. The passive avoids the draft’s unsupported she in the Hebrew column. [H38; G38]