Family Verses
God's design for family — love, honor, and commitment that reflect His covenant love.
And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name {was} Tamar.
And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled {it} on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren {did}. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.
And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. {in process...: Heb. the days were multiplied}
And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which {is} by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. {an open...: Heb. the door of eyes, or, of Enajim}
And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she {was} his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
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.
When she {was} brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these {are, am} I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose {are} these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.
And Judah acknowledged {them}, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
And it came to pass, when she travailed, that {the one} put out {his} hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.