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Genesis 38:8

JudahOnan

6 Now Judah acquired a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death.

Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and raise up offspring for your brother.”

9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not belong to him; so whenever he would sleep with his brother’s wife, he would spill his seed on the ground so that he would not produce offspring for his brother.

10 What he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, so He put Onan to death as well.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and raise up offspring for your brother.”
KJV
And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
WEB
Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”
ASV
And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother`s wife, and perform the duty of a husband`s brother unto her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
DARBY
Then Judah said to Onan, Go in to thy brother's wife, and fulfil to her the brother-in-law's duty, and raise up seed to thy brother.
BLB
And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to the wife of your brother and perform the dury of a brother-in-law to her and raise up seed for your brother.”
ÅB
Da sa Juda til Onan: Gå inn til din brors hustru, og ta henne til ekte i din brors sted og oppreis din bror avkom.
OTB
Da sa Juda til Onan: "Gå inn til din brors kone og oppfyll din plikt som svoger mot henne, for å oppreise din brors ætt."
B1930
Da sa Juda til Onan: Gå inn til din brors hustru, og ta henne til ekte i din brors sted og opreis din bror avkom.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 25:5–10

    When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 22:23–27

    That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him.

    Read in context

  • Ruth 4:5–11

    Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”

    Read in context

  • Ruth 1:11

    But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?

    Read in context

  • Leviticus 18:16

    You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.

    Read in context

  • Numbers 36:8–9

    Every daughter who possesses an inheritance from any Israelite tribe must marry within a clan of the tribe of her father, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of his fathers.

    Read in context