Who was Tamar?

Biblical figure: Tamar Role: Judah's daughter-in-law

The story of Tamar

Tamar - Judah's daughter-in-law.
Tamar - Judah's daughter-in-law.
Judah's daughter-in-law.

Tamar was a biblical figure from the book of Genesis. She was the daughter of King David's son, Judah, and his wife, Shua. Tamar was the sister of Er, Onan, and Shelah. She is best known for her role in the story of Judah and Tamar, which is found in Genesis 38. Tamar's story begins when her brother Er dies without having any children. According to the law of the time, Onan, Tamar's other brother, was to marry Tamar and have a child in Er's name. Onan refused to do this, so Judah had him killed. Judah then promised to give Tamar to his youngest son, Shelah, when he was of age. However, Judah never kept his promise. Tamar, feeling betrayed, decided to take matters into her own hands. She disguised herself as a prostitute and seduced Judah. After their encounter, Judah gave her his signet, cord, and staff as a pledge of payment. Tamar then revealed her identity and Judah acknowledged his wrongdoing. Tamar later gave birth to twins, Perez and Zerah. Perez was the ancestor of King David and Jesus. Tamar is remembered for her courage and resourcefulness in a time when women had few rights. She is an example of how God can use even the most difficult of circumstances to bring about his will.

Name meaning

"Palm tree"

Name origin

Hebrew

Role

Judah's daughter-in-law.

First mention

Genesis 14:7

Appearances in the Bible

25 mentions

Family

Relatives of Tamar

Tamar in the Bible

Explore all 8 chapters where Tamar appears

Genesis

Chapter 38

The Story of Judah and Tamar

The chapter tells the stories of Judah and Tamar, and of Judah and his three sons.

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Ruth

Chapter 4

The Genealogy of Boaz and Ruth

Boaz, a wealthy relative of Elimelech, takes notice of Ruth and shows her kindness.

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2 Samuel

Chapter 13

Amnon's Crime

Absalom leads a full-scale rebellion against David, but is eventually defeated and killed.

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2 Samuel

Chapter 14

David's Mercy Toward Absalom

Despite his anger towards Absalom, David shows mercy towards his rebellious son.

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1 Chronicles

Chapter 2

Genealogy of David

A genealogy of each of the twelve tribes of Israel, detailing their family lineages and populations.

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1 Chronicles

Chapter 3

Sons of David

A genealogy of each of the twelve tribes of Israel, detailing their family lineages and populations.

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Ezekiel

Chapter 47

The Vision of the Temple River

In chapter 47 of Ezekiel, the prophet has a vision of a temple river flowing from the sanctuary of the temple. As the wa...

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Ezekiel

Chapter 48

The Division of the Promised Land

In Ezekiel chapter 48, the prophet receives a vision from God regarding the allotment of land for the twelve tribes of I...

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Showing all 8 chapter appearances