Bible Strands
Genesis 38:26
Judah recognized the items and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Judah speaks to his officials after examining the seal, cord, and staff Tamar sent with her message. He makes this declaration at the moment she is being led out for execution.
The words — Judah declares צָדְקָה (tza.de.Kah), meaning “she is righteous,” and admits his own failure. He uses the comparative phrase מִמֶּנִּי (mi.me.ni), literally “more than me,” to acknowledge his fault.
The thread — This admission of superior righteousness echoes David’s confession to Saul in 1 Samuel 24:17 and the self-condemning silence of the accusers in John 8:9. The contrast between human failure and divine grace also resonates with the theological scope of Titus 2:11.
Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment of personal failure before moral standards are met. It requires the reader to abandon self-justification and accept accountability for broken obligations.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 24:17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.
- John 8:9 When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.
- Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone.
- 1 Peter 4:2 Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.
- Genesis 4:1 And Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man,” she said.
- Genesis 37:33 His father recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!”
- Genesis 38:14 she removed her widow’s garments, covered her face with a veil to disguise herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that although Shelah had grown up, she had not been given to him as a wife.
- 2 Samuel 16:22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
- 2 Samuel 20:3 When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to take care of the palace, and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he no longer slept with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.
- 2 Samuel 24:17 When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.”