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17 He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” “Very well,” she said, “provided you leave me a pledge until you send it.” 18 Judah asked, “What pledge should I leave you?” She answered, “Your seal and cord,[a] and the staff in your hand.” So he gave them to her and had intercourse with her, and she conceived by him. 19 After she got up and went away, she took off her shawl and put on her widow’s garments again.

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Footnotes

  1. 38:18 Seal and cord: the cylinder seal, through which a hole was bored lengthwise so that it could be worn from the neck by a cord, was a distinctive means of identification. Apparently one’s staff could also be marked with some sign of identification (cf. Nm 17:17–18).

17 “I’ll send you a young goat(A) from my flock,” he said.

“Will you give me something as a pledge(B) until you send it?” she asked.

18 He said, “What pledge should I give you?”

“Your seal(C) and its cord, and the staff(D) in your hand,” she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.(E) 19 After she left, she took off her veil and put on her widow’s clothes(F) again.

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