Genesis 38:22

And he returned to Iudah, and said, I cannot finde her: and also the men of the place said, That there was no harlot in this place. Genesis 38:22 (KJV)

Genesis 38:22 is a verse from the Old Testament that is part of the narrative of Judah and Tamar. To understand its context, we briefly explore the preceding events. In Genesis 38 the focus shifts from the story of Joseph to that of Judah, one of Jacob’s sons. Judah had married a Canaanite woman named Shuah and they had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah arranged for his eldest son, Er, to marry Tamar, but Er was wicked in the sight of the Lord and the Lord put him to death.

According to the custom of levirate marriage, Judah instructed his second son, Onan, to fulfill his duty and raise offspring for Er. Onan refused to fulfill his obligation and engaged in a practice known as “coitus interruptus” to avoid conceiving a child with Tamar. The Lord was displeased and put Onan to death as well.

After the death of her two husbands, Tamar remained childless and was left in a state of widowhood. Fearing that Tamar was cursed and that Shelah might also die if he married her, Judah sent her back to her father’s house, promising to give her Shelah in marriage when he grew older, but he did not fulfill this promise.

In Genesis 38:12‑19 Tamar devised a plan to become pregnant by Judah. Disguising herself as a prostitute, she sat at the entrance to a town (Enaim or Timnath). Judah, unaware of her true identity, propositioned her and promised to pay her a young goat from his flock.

Verse 20 states that Judah sent his friend Hirah to deliver the young goat to the prostitute. Hirah was unable to find her, and when he asked the men of the place they informed him that there was no harlot in that area. This leads to Genesis 38:22, where Hirah reports to Judah, “I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.”

This verse serves as a turning point. In the subsequent verses it becomes clear that the woman Judah had encountered was Tamar herself, and she becomes pregnant with his child. When Judah learns of Tamar’s pregnancy he initially condemns her, unaware that he is the father. When Tamar presents the items Judah had given her as collateral, he acknowledges his wrongdoing and declares her more righteous than himself.

The story highlights several themes: the importance of fulfilling one’s obligations, the consequences of deceit and unfaithfulness, and the value of integrity and accountability. It also serves as a precursor to the genealogy of Jesus Christ, as Tamar is later recognized as an ancestor of David and ultimately of Jesus.

In conclusion, Genesis 38:22 is a pivotal verse that signals the revelation that the prostitute Judah encountered was, in fact, Tamar, carrying significant moral and theological implications.