Genesis 38:18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.

Bible History

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Genesis 38:18 And he said, "What pledge shall I give you?" And she said, "Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand." So he gave [them] to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

18. signet, &c.--Bracelets, including armlets, were worn by men as well as women among the Hebrews. But the Hebrew word here rendered "bracelets," is everywhere else translated "lace" or "ribbon"; so that as the signet alone was probably more than an equivalent for the kid, it is not easy to conjecture why the other things were given in addition, except by supposing the perforated seal was attached by a ribbon to the staff.

JFB.

Questions Related to this Verse

Where In Scripture Does It Talk About making a Pledge?

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Genesis 38 Images and Notes

Brief Summary: Judah has three sons by a Canaanite woman, Er and Onan are slain by the Lord, Tamar disguises as a harlot, Tamar bears twins from Judah.

Outline
1 Judah begets Er, Onan and Shelah
6 Er marries Tamar
8 The trespass of Onan
11 Tamar waits for Shelah
13 Tamar deceives Judah
27 Tamar bears twins, Pharez and Zarah.

Quick Reference Map

Map of the Jordan River (Click to Enlarge)

Ancient Customs
sheepshearers
harlotry
vail
signet
bracelets
staff
let her be burnt
midwife

Ancient Topics
scarlet thread

Ancient People
Hirah the Adullamite
Judah, Er, Onen, Tamar

Geography
Chezib
Timnath

The Old Testament

Genesis Resources

Creation
Adam and Eve
The Flood
The Tower of Babel
Abraham the First Hebrew
Isaac, Son of Promise
Jacob and the 12 Tribes
Joseph and Egypt