In verse 25 Tamar makes her final effort to resolve the conflict that rages about her.

In some languages it may be necessary to provide a transition to verse 25; for example, “They went to get her, and as they were bringing her….”

She sent word … father-in-law is literally “She sent to her father-in-law saying.” It is evident from verse 26 that Tamar sent the pledges with someone to confront Judah. Accordingly it may be necessary to translate this verse: “While they were bringing her to the entrance of the town, she sent someone to her father-in-law with the things he had given her as a pledge.”

And she said: her message accompanying the pledges was “The man who owns these things has made me pregnant. Look and see whose seal on the cord and whose walking stick these are.” Examples of different ways this is rendered are “Do you see these things…? I am pregnant, but the man who made me pregnant, these two things belong to him. Look at them! Who do they belong to?” and “I am pregnant by the man who is the owner of these things. Look carefully at these things … Who do you think they belong to?”

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 .