Genesis 38:14-16

38:14 So she removed her widow’s clothes and covered herself with a veil. She wrapped herself and sat at the entrance to Enaim which is on the way to Timnah. (She did this because ¹  she saw that she had not been given to Shelah as a wife, even though he had now grown up.) ² 

38:15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute ³  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.” ⁴  (He did not realize ⁵  it was his daughter-in-law.) She asked, “What will you give me in exchange for having sex with you?” ⁶ 

¹ tn The Hebrew text simply has “because,” connecting this sentence to what precedes. For stylistic reasons the words “she did this” are supplied in the translation and a new sentence begun.

² tn Heb “she saw that Shelah had grown up, but she was not given to him as a wife.”

³ 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.

⁵ 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.

⁶ tn Heb “for he did not know that.”

⁷ tn Heb “when you come to me.” This expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.