Judah was told: see suggestions for shifting to active sentences in verses 13 and 14.

Tamar … has played the harlot: for daughter-in-law see verse 11. Played the harlot translates a verb meaning to commit fornication or to act as a harlot. We may translate, for example, “Tamar has acted like a harlot,” “Tamar has sold her sex like a harlot,” or “Tamar has done what harlots do.” Note that Good News Translation uses “whore” in this expression to show the disapproval of the people who told Judah.

And moreover: this part of the verse is introduced by hinneh, which calls attention to the unexpected news that Tamar is pregnant.

With child by harlotry: it has already been said that she acted as a harlot, and so some versions do not repeat this. See Good News Translation.

And Judah said: Judah now takes on the role of head of the family. His response is that of an Israelite. In some languages special words should be used for this kind of speech, which condemns someone to punishment; for example, “Then Judah gave a strong command like this:….”

Bring her out: Bring is a command in the plural. Tamar is treated as if she has been promised in marriage to Shelah. However, see verse 11. According to Deut 22.23-24 a betrothed virgin and the man who has had sex with her are to be taken to the gate of the city and stoned to death. Although Tamar is not a virgin, Judah may consider her promised to his son.

Let her be burned: here again, if the passive cannot be used, it may be possible to say, for example, “and burn her alive.” Burn here means set her on fire until she dies. In later Jewish law the only case requiring death through burning is if the daughter of a priest prostitutes herself (Lev 21.9).

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .