And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

GENESIS 38:19KJV
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Genesis 38:19 (KJV)

What does Genesis 38:19 mean?

Genesis 38:19 describes how Tamar got up, left the place where she had met Judah, took off the veil she had used to disguise herself, and put back on her regular clothing as a widow. This verse shows Tamar returning to her normal life after her encounter with Judah.

In this part of the story, Tamar had disguised herself to meet Judah because she was seeking justice for being denied a child in her late husband’s family. The verse highlights her careful actions: she removes the special veil (a sign of her disguise) and resumes wearing her widow’s clothes, signaling her return to her usual identity. This moment is key in the story, as it marks the end of her risky plan and sets up the consequences that follow.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 38:19

  • "vail" (צָעִיף, tsa‘if): This word refers to a specific kind of covering or veil. In this context, it was used by Tamar to conceal her identity, which was crucial for her plan to approach Judah without being recognized.
  • "garments" (בֶּגֶד, beged): This word means clothing or garments. The text notes that Tamar put back on the clothes of her widowhood, showing she resumed her public role as a widow.
  • "widowhood" (אַלְמְנוּת, almanut): This word refers to the state or condition of being a widow. It emphasizes that Tamar’s outward appearance matched her social status and the expectations of her community.

Why Genesis 38:19 matters

  • This verse clears up any confusion about Tamar’s intentions—she was not living as a prostitute but only disguised herself temporarily to achieve a specific goal.
  • The details about her changing clothes emphasize how carefully Tamar managed her reputation and her role in society, which becomes important as the story unfolds.
  • By marking the end of Tamar’s disguise, this verse sets up the dramatic revelation and resolution that will come later in the chapter, helping readers understand her actions in context.

Where else these words appear

“vail” Hebrew H6809 · used in 3 verses

  • Genesis 24:65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.
  • Genesis 38:14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

“widowhood” Hebrew H491 · used in 4 verses

  • Genesis 38:14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.
  • 2 Samuel 20:3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
  • Isaiah 54:4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

“on” Hebrew H3847 · used in 103 verses

  • Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
  • 2 Chronicles 5:12 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)
  • Isaiah 49:18 Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.