SAMPLE Q&A FROM JUNE:

** This response is easy to understand and friendly in tone. It gives clear explanations and answers an additional question the response might raise for the questioner. It does a good job of helping teach the questioner some general information that could be helpful as he launches into his first in-depth read through of the Bible, yet remains focused on the question asked. **

Question: Hello, and thank you for your time. I have a question about Genesis 38:24. In the New International Version, it says that Tamar, after it’s found out that she was pregnant with another man’s child, that she was to be burned to death. But in other versions of the bible, noticeably King James, it simply says she’s to be “burnt”. I’ve read conflicting commentaries that say she was to be marked (branded) for her adultery. I’ve also read a commentary that says she was to be burned to death. My question is, what is the most commonly accepted version of events? If it helps, I find this important to paint as clear of a picture of Judah as I can get. If it also helps, this is my first in depth read through of the Bible, though I’ve casually read through it in my youth, before. I’m following a year long study plan, and reading commentaries on each chapter as I go. Thank you, and God Bless! -Justin

Profile: Male, North America, New Christian, 26–35

Answered by: Wallace Revels, who has been a volunteer with us since May, 2013.

Answer: Thanks, Justin, for studying in the Bible so closely and for allowing Got Questions to help with your studies. Some translations of the Bible used “burnt”, “to be burned”, or “to be burned to death”. This is likely due to the fact that some translations rely more heavily on what is called dynamic equivalence and others rely more heavily on what is called formal equivalence in translational technique.  

Dynamic equivalence seeks to communicate what is being said in the original text using modern words thus not necessarily translating things word for word but meaning for meaning. Formal equivalence translates word for word wherever possible as the first priority.  

When I looked at a Hebrew to English explanation of the original text for Genesis, I found that the original text seemed to be communicating that Tamar was in danger of being burned to death. Even though some commentators think it meant that she was in danger of being branded, being burned to death seems to be what is being told to us. Also, death was the penalty that would later be given in Leviticus 20 and Deuteronomy 22 for such behavior thus reinforcing the idea that this is what was meant in Genesis 38. 

While we are not told specifically what standards and laws Abraham was given by God for personal behavior, we do know that he was given some because of what we are told in Genesis 26:5. Abraham would have faithfully shared these with Isaac, as would Isaac to Jacob, and so on.  

Another thing worthy of consideration is that the unjustness or unfairness of the treatment of the woman being killed in such a case but the man going free was not a fault of God’s standards. What we see happening here is that the laws given by God were not being justly administered. There was corruption in the administration and enforcement of the law at that time just like there is today.  

Many figures in the Bible, even those chosen by God, made mistakes, committed sins, and lived atrociously at times. It is good to keep in mind when reading the Bible that simply because it records something as having happened, it does not mean that God approved of it.  

I hope this helps you. Please feel free to ask questions when you wish. Please continue to study the Bible and seek God in every aspect of your life.