📖 Biblical Definition
Three biblical women bear the name Tamar. (1) Tamar, daughter-in-law of Judah — who, denied her levirate right after the deaths of Er and Onan, secured the Messianic line by disguising herself as a roadside prostitute and conceiving twins by Judah himself. Judah acknowledged: "She hath been more righteous than I" (Genesis 38). She is named in Christ’s genealogy (Matthew 1:3). (2) Tamar, daughter of David and Maacah, full sister of Absalom — raped by her half-brother Amnon in a pre-meditated act of feigned illness (2 Samuel 13); Absalom’s subsequent murder of Amnon set the rebellion in motion. (3) Tamar, the daughter of Absalom (2 Samuel 14:27) — named for her violated aunt. The name "palm tree" appears repeatedly in David’s house, in honor and in tragedy.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
TA'MAR, n.
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A scriptural proper name borne by three women in the Old Testament.
📖 Key Scripture
Genesis 38:26 — "And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I."
Matthew 1:3 — "And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar."
2 Samuel 13:14 — "But he would not hearken unto her voice... and forced her, and lay with her."
2 Samuel 13:20 — "So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Tamar (Genesis) made the genealogy of Christ; Tamar (2 Samuel) was a king's daughter the king failed to defend.
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Genesis 38 is one of the strangest chapters in Genesis — and Matthew puts Tamar in the genealogy of Christ. The Lord's ancestry includes a Canaanite widow who exposed Judah's hypocrisy and secured the Messianic line. Grace is not embarrassed by complicated histories.
2 Samuel 13 is one of Scripture's most painful chapters. Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar; David hears and is very wroth but does nothing; Absalom takes Tamar in but does not protect her future and eventually kills Amnon. David's failure to act for his daughter is one of the great fatherhood-failures in the Bible. Modern fathers should read it slowly. Scripture does not hide this story; the Spirit recorded it for warning. Defend your daughters by name and by action.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Tamar (H8559).
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H8559 — Tamar — Tamar; palm tree
H8558 — tamar — palm tree
Usage
"Tamar (Genesis) made the genealogy of Christ; grace is not embarrassed by complicated histories."
"Tamar (2 Samuel) was a king's daughter the king failed to defend."
"Defend your daughters by name and by action; do not be a David in the moment of decision."