« | Genesis 38 | » |
1 And it happened at that time Judah went down from his brothers and turned in to a certain Adullamite, named Hirah.
2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite man named Shuah. And he took her and went in to her.
3 And she conceived and bore a son. And he called his name Er.
4 And she conceived again, and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.
5 And she yet again conceived and bore a son. And she called his name Shelah. And she was at Chezib when she bore him.
6 And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, whose name was Tamar.
7 And Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of Jehovah. And Jehovah killed him.
8 And Judah said to Onan, Go in to your brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to your brother.
9 And Onan knew that the seed would not be his. And it happened when he went in to his brother's wife, that he spilled on the ground, not giving seed to his brother.
10 And what he did was evil in the eyes of Jehovah. Therefore He killed him also.
11 Then said Judah to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow at your father's house until Shelah my son is grown. For he said, Lest perhaps he die also, as his brothers did. And Tamar went and lived in her father's house.
12 And the days were many, and Judah's wife, the daughter of Shuah, died. And Judah was comforted, and went up to shearers of his sheep, he and his friend Hiram of Adullam, to Timnah.
13 And it was told to Tamar, saying, Behold, your father-in-law goes up to Timnah to shear his sheep.
14 And she put off her widow's clothes, and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself. And she sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown and she was not given to him as wife.
15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face.
16 And he turned aside to her by the wayside, and said, Come now, let me come in to you. For he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, What will you give me, so that you may come in to me?
17 And he said, I will send a kid of the goats from the flock. And she said, Will you give me a pledge until you send it?
18 And he said, What pledge shall I give you? And she said, Your signet, and your bracelet, and your staff that is in your hand. And he gave to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.
19 And she arose, and went away, and laid away her veil from her, and put on the clothes of her widowhood.
20 And Judah sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand. But he did not find her.
21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot who was by the wayside? And they said, There was no harlot here.
22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her. And also the men of the place said, There was no harlot here.
23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be ashamed. Behold, I sent this kid, and you have not found her.
24 And it happened, about three months afterward, that it was told Judah, saying, Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the harlot, and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burned.
25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, I am with child by the man whose things these are. And she said, Please observe. Whose things are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff?
26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She has been more righteous than I have, because I did not give her to my son Shelah. And he never knew her again.
27 And it happened, in the time of her travail, behold, twins were in her womb.
28 And when she travailed, it happened that one put out a hand. And the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This one came out first.
29 And it happened as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, How have you broken a break for yourself? And his name was called Pharez.
30 And afterwards his brother came out, on whose hand was the scarlet thread. And his name was called Zarah.
The Modern King James Version (MKJV)
The Modern King James Version (MKJV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that aims to preserve the majesty and accuracy of the original King James Version (KJV) while updating its language for modern readers. Developed by Jay P. Green Sr. and first published in 1990, the MKJV seeks to maintain the literary beauty and doctrinal reliability of the KJV, making only necessary adjustments to archaic terms and phrases to enhance readability. This careful balance allows the MKJV to retain the classic feel of the KJV while making it more accessible to today’s audience.
One of the standout features of the MKJV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or word-for-word translation. The translators have meticulously preserved the structure and vocabulary of the KJV, only updating words and phrases that have become outdated or whose meanings have shifted over time. This approach ensures that the MKJV remains faithful to the original texts and maintains the theological and literary integrity of the KJV. By preserving the cadence and phrasing of the original, the MKJV offers a reading experience that is both familiar and refreshed for modern readers.
The MKJV also pays special attention to the textual basis of the translation. Like the KJV, it relies on the Textus Receptus for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament. This adherence to traditional source texts underscores the MKJV’s commitment to continuity with the historic Christian tradition. The translation is designed to serve both devotional and scholarly purposes, providing a text that is suitable for study, teaching, and public reading in a variety of settings.
Despite its strengths, the Modern King James Version has faced some criticism. Some scholars and readers argue that the translation could benefit from a more extensive revision to fully embrace contemporary language, suggesting that the MKJV’s adherence to the structure and style of the KJV may still pose challenges for modern readers. Others appreciate the balance it strikes but note that it occupies a niche space, appealing primarily to those who have a strong attachment to the KJV. Nonetheless, the MKJV remains a respected and valued translation for those seeking a modern update of the KJV that honors its rich heritage and timeless message.