The Story of Tamar

The Story of Tamar; Villain or Heroin?

Genesis 38:1-26


The story of Tamar takes place in the book of Genesis. Tamar is a young Canaanite woman who is chosen by Judah to marry his son. She obeys and marries Er, and The Lord was not happy with Judah’s son, so he dies at the hand of the Lord. Then, Judah had Tamar marry his next eldest son whom the Lord also killed. Throughout both of these marriages Tamar did not conceive, leaving Judah with no heir. After all of this, Tamar was told to wait for the youngest son to grow older as to marry him, so she could give Judah and is family an heir. She was in a different part of the land, dressed as a harlot, conceived out of wedlock, and became pregnant with Judah’s child. Judah, upon finding out she was pregnant, not knowing with his child, sentenced Tamar to death. When he found out it was his child, she was pardoned.
How is Tamar portrayed in this story? Upon first reading the story it is easy to conclude that she is a v...