Discovery BoxGenesis 38:15-18 
Context38:15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute 1 because she had covered her face. 38:16 He turned aside to her along the road and said, “Come on! I want to have sex with you.” 2 (He did not realize 3 it was his daughter-in-law.) She asked, “What will you give me in exchange for having sex with you?” 4 38:17 He replied, “I’ll send you a young goat from the flock.” She asked, “Will you give me a pledge until you send it?” 5 38:18 He said, “What pledge should I give you?” She replied, “Your seal, your cord, and the staff that’s in your hand.” So he gave them to her and had sex with her. 6 She became pregnant by him.
1 tn Heb “he reckoned her for a prostitute,” which was what Tamar had intended for him to do. She obviously had some idea of his inclinations, or she would not have tried this risky plan.
2 tn Heb “I will go to you.” The imperfect verbal form probably indicates his desire here. The expression “go to” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
3 tn Heb “for he did not know that.”
4 tn Heb “when you come to me.” This expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
5 tn Heb “until you send.”
6 tn Heb “and he went to her.” This expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
