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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 38:8 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."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/38-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/01_Gen_38_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 38:8 - Judah and Tamar" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then Judah said to Onan, Sleep with your brother's wife. 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You must produce an heir for your brother.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/38.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/38.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/38.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/38.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/38.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Judah said to Onan, “Have relations with your brother’s wife and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up a child for your brother.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/38.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then Judah said to Onan, &#8220Go in to your brother&#8217s wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/38.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/38.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up a seed for your brother.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/38.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then Judah told Onan, “Go in to your brother’s widow, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law [under the levirate marriage custom]; [be her husband and] raise children for [the name of] your brother.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/38.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and produce offspring for your brother.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/38.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Judah said to Onan, &#8220Sleep with your brother&#8217s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and produce offspring for your brother.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/38.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/38.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />So Judah told Onan, "It's your duty to marry Tamar and have a child for your brother." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/38.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her, and raise up seed to thy brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/38.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Then Judah said to Onan, "Go sleep with your brother's widow. Do your duty for her as a brother-in-law, and produce a descendant for your brother."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/38.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then Judah said to Er's brother Onan, "Go and sleep with your brother's widow. Fulfill your obligation to her as her husband's brother, so that your brother may have descendants." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/38.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So Judah instructed Onan, "You are to have sexual relations with your dead brother's wife, performing the duty of a brother-in-law with her, and have offspring for your brother."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/38.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/38.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Then Judah said to Onan, "Have sexual relations with your brother's wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her so that you may raise up a descendant for your brother."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/38.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Then Judah said to Onan, "Sleep with your brother?s wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/38.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Judah said to Onan, Go in to thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/38.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />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.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/38.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Judah says to Onan, “Go in to the wife of your brother, and marry her, and raise up seed to your brother”;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/38.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Judah saith to Onan, 'Go in unto the wife of thy brother, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother;'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/38.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Judah will say to Onan, go in to thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/38.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Juda, therefore add to Onan his son: Go in to thy brother's wife and marry her, that thou mayst raise seed to thy brother. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/38.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Therefore, Judah said to his son Onan: “Enter to the wife of your brother, and associate with her, so that you may raise offspring to your brother.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/38.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Then Judah said to Onan, “Have intercourse with your brother’s wife, in fulfillment of your duty as brother-in-law, and thus preserve your brother’s line.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/38.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her; raise up offspring for your brother.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/38.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Judah said to Onan, Go in to your brother's wife, and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up an offspring to your brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/38.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Yehuda said to Unan his son, “Go in unto the wife of your brother and do the part of a brother, and raise up seed to your brother.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/38.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />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.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/38.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Judas said to Aunan, Go in to thy brother's wife, and marry her as her brother-in-law, and raise up seed to thy brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/38-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=9675" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/38.htm">Judah and Tamar</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">7</span>But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death. <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3063.htm" title="3063: yə·hū·ḏāh (N-proper-ms) -- From yadah; celebrated; Jehudah, the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory.">Then Judah</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">said</a> <a href="/hebrew/209.htm" title="209: lə·’ō·w·nān (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- Vigorous, a son of Judah. A variation of 'Ownow; strong; Onan, a son of Judah.">to Onan,</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: bō (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">“Sleep with</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/251.htm" title="251: ’ā·ḥî·ḵā (N-msc:: 2ms) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab).">your brother’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’ê·šeṯ (N-fsc) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">wife.</a> <a href="/hebrew/2992.htm" title="2992: wə·yab·bêm (Conj-w:: V-Piel-Imp-ms) -- A primitive root of doubtful meaning; used only as a denominative from yabam; to marry a brother's widow.">Perform your duty as her brother-in-law</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯāh (DirObjM:: 3fs) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6965.htm" title="6965: wə·hā·qêm (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-Imp-ms) -- To arise, stand up, stand. A primitive root; to rise.">and raise up</a> <a href="/hebrew/2233.htm" title="2233: ze·ra‘ (N-ms) -- A sowing, seed, offspring. From zara'; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity.">offspring</a> <a href="/hebrew/251.htm" title="251: lə·’ā·ḥî·ḵā (Prep-l:: N-msc:: 2ms) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab).">for your brother.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/25-5.htm">Deuteronomy 25:5-6</a></span><br />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. / The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ruth/4-5.htm">Ruth 4:5-10</a></span><br />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.” / The kinsman-redeemer replied, “I cannot redeem it myself, or I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I cannot redeem it.” / Now in former times in Israel, concerning the redemption or exchange of property, to make any matter legally binding a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party, and this was a confirmation in Israel. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/22-24.htm">Matthew 22:24</a></span><br />“Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/12-19.htm">Mark 12:19</a></span><br />“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/20-28.htm">Luke 20:28</a></span><br />“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/27-8.htm">Numbers 27:8-11</a></span><br />Furthermore, you shall say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, you are to transfer his inheritance to his daughter. / If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. / If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16</a></span><br />You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/20-21.htm">Leviticus 20:21</a></span><br />If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-39.htm">1 Corinthians 7:39</a></span><br />A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/5-14.htm">1 Timothy 5:14</a></span><br />So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/2-34.htm">1 Chronicles 2:34-35</a></span><br />Sheshan had no sons, but only daughters. He also had an Egyptian servant named Jarha. / Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to his servant Jarha, and she bore to him Attai.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/23-22.htm">1 Chronicles 23:22</a></span><br />Eleazar died without having any sons; he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/1-3.htm">Matthew 1:3</a></span><br />Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ruth/1-11.htm">Ruth 1:11-13</a></span><br />But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands? / Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons, / would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it is much more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/4-4.htm">Galatians 4:4-5</a></span><br />But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, / to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Judah said to Onan, Go in to your brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to your brother.</p><p class="hdg">A.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/18-16.htm">Leviticus 18:16</a></b></br> Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it <i>is</i> thy brother's nakedness.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/36-8.htm">Numbers 36:8,9</a></b></br> And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/25-5.htm">Deuteronomy 25:5-10</a></b></br> If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/4-11.htm">Brother-In-Law</a> <a href="/genesis/27-45.htm">Brother's</a> <a href="/3_john/1-8.htm">Duty</a> <a href="/genesis/29-27.htm">Fulfil</a> <a href="/genesis/29-27.htm">Fulfill</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/7-4.htm">Husband's</a> <a href="/genesis/38-6.htm">Judah</a> <a href="/genesis/29-26.htm">Marry</a> <a href="/genesis/36-21.htm">Offspring</a> <a href="/genesis/38-4.htm">Onan</a> <a href="/genesis/26-3.htm">Perform</a> <a href="/genesis/3-18.htm">Produce</a> <a href="/genesis/4-20.htm">Raise</a> <a href="/genesis/25-31.htm">Right</a> <a href="/genesis/35-12.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/genesis/38-6.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/1-16.htm">Brother-In-Law</a> <a href="/genesis/38-9.htm">Brother's</a> <a href="/exodus/1-16.htm">Duty</a> <a href="/genesis/50-3.htm">Fulfil</a> <a href="/exodus/5-13.htm">Fulfill</a> <a href="/genesis/38-13.htm">Husband's</a> <a href="/genesis/38-11.htm">Judah</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-18.htm">Marry</a> <a href="/genesis/38-9.htm">Offspring</a> <a href="/genesis/38-9.htm">Onan</a> <a href="/exodus/1-16.htm">Perform</a> <a href="/genesis/41-34.htm">Produce</a> <a href="/genesis/41-44.htm">Raise</a> <a href="/genesis/42-11.htm">Right</a> <a href="/genesis/38-9.htm">Seed</a> <a href="/genesis/38-9.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 38</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/38-1.htm">Judah begets Er, Onan, and Shelah.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/38-6.htm">Er's marriage with Tamar, and death.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/38-8.htm">The trespass of Onan.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/38-11.htm">Tamar is reserved for Shelah.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/38-12.htm">Judah's wife dies.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/38-13.htm">Tamar deceives Judah.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">27. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/38-27.htm">She bears twins, Pharez and Zarah.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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His actions and decisions are pivotal in the unfolding story of the Israelites. This command to Onan reflects the cultural and familial responsibilities of the time. Judah's directive is rooted in the levirate marriage custom, which was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures.<p><b>“Sleep with your brother’s wife.</b><br>The practice of levirate marriage, where a man is expected to marry his deceased brother's widow, is intended to preserve the family line and inheritance. This custom is later codified in the Mosaic Law (<a href="/deuteronomy/25-5.htm">Deuteronomy 25:5-10</a>). The act of sleeping with the brother's wife was not merely for personal gratification but was a duty to ensure the continuation of the deceased brother's lineage.<p><b>Perform your duty as her brother-in-law</b><br>The duty mentioned here is a legal and social obligation. In the patriarchal society of ancient Israel, maintaining the family name and property within the tribe was crucial. This duty was not only a familial responsibility but also a way to provide for the widow, ensuring her protection and place within the community.<p><b>and raise up offspring for your brother.”</b><br>The primary purpose of this union was to produce an heir for the deceased brother, thus preserving his name and inheritance. This concept of raising up offspring is significant in biblical narratives, as lineage and heritage are central themes. The importance of offspring is seen throughout Scripture, with genealogies often highlighting the fulfillment of God's promises through descendants. This practice also foreshadows the coming of Christ, who is born into the line of Judah, emphasizing the importance of lineage in God's redemptive plan.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/judah.htm">Judah</a></b><br>The fourth son of Jacob and Leah, Judah is a central figure in this account. He is the one who instructs Onan to fulfill his duty.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/o/onan.htm">Onan</a></b><br>The second son of Judah, Onan is commanded by his father to perform the duty of a brother-in-law to Tamar, his deceased brother's wife.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/tamar.htm">Tamar</a></b><br>The widow of Er, Judah's firstborn. She is central to the account as the one who is to be provided offspring through the levirate marriage custom.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/l/levirate_marriage.htm">Levirate Marriage</a></b><br>This ancient custom, later codified in the Mosaic Law, required a man to marry his deceased brother's widow to produce offspring in the brother's name.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/c/canaan.htm">Canaan</a></b><br>The region where these events take place, significant as the land promised to Abraham's descendants.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_levirate_marriage.htm">Understanding Levirate Marriage</a></b><br>The practice was designed to preserve family lineage and provide for widows. It reflects the importance of family and community responsibility in ancient Israel.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_family_duty.htm">Obedience to Family Duty</a></b><br>Onan's reluctance to fulfill his duty highlights the tension between personal desires and familial obligations. This calls us to consider our responsibilities to family and community.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_lineage.htm">God's Sovereignty in Lineage</a></b><br>Despite human failings, God's purposes prevail. Tamar's inclusion in the lineage of Christ shows God's redemptive plan through imperfect people.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_disobedience.htm">The Consequences of Disobedience</a></b><br>Onan's account serves as a warning about the consequences of disobedience and self-interest, reminding us of the importance of aligning our actions with God's commands.<a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/38.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) <span class= "bld">Go in unto thy </span>brother's wife.--We learn from this that the law <span class= "ital">of </span>the Levirate, by which the brother of the dead husband was required to marry the widow, was of far more ancient date than the law of Moses. Its object, first of all, was to prevent the extinction of any line of descent, a matter of great importance in those genealogical days; and, secondly, it was an obstacle to the accumulation of landed property in few hands, as the son first born after the Levirate marriage inherited the property of his deceased uncle, while the second son was the representative of the real father. A similar custom existed in parts of India, Persia, &c, and prevails now among the Mongols. The Mosaic Law did not institute, but regulated the custom, confining such marriages to cases where the deceased brother had died without children, and permitting the brother to refuse to marry the widow, under a penalty, nevertheless, of disgrace. Onan, by refusing to take Tamar, may have been actuated by the selfish motive of obtaining for himself the rights of primogeniture, which would otherwise have gone to his eldest son, as the heir of his uncle 'Er.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/38.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And Judah said unto Onan</span> (obviously after a sufficient interval), <span class="cmt_word">Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her</span>, - literally, <span class="accented">and perform the part of levir, or husband's brother, to her</span>. The language seems to imply that what was afterwards in the code Mosaic known as the <span class="accented">Lex Leviratus</span> (<a href="/deuteronomy/25-5.htm">Deuteronomy 25:5, 6</a>) was at this time a recognized custom. The existence of the practice has been traced in different frames among Indians, Persians, and other nations of Asia and Africa - <span class="cmt_word">and raise up seed to thy brother.</span> As afterwards explained in the Hebrew legislation, the first. born son of such a Levirate marriage became in the eye of the law the child of the deceased husband, and was regarded as his heir. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/38-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Then Judah</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוּדָה֙</span> <span class="translit">(yə·hū·ḏāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3063.htm">Strong's 3063: </a> </span><span class="str2">Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">said</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֤אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to Onan,</span><br /><span class="heb">לְאוֹנָ֔ן</span> <span class="translit">(lə·’ō·w·nān)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_209.htm">Strong's 209: </a> </span><span class="str2">Onan -- 'vigorous', a son of Judah</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Sleep with</span><br /><span class="heb">בֹּ֛א</span> <span class="translit">(bō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your brother’s</span><br /><span class="heb">אָחִ֖יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḥî·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_251.htm">Strong's 251: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, )</span><br /><br /><span class="word">wife.</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵ֥שֶׁת</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·šeṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Perform your duty as her brother-in-law</span><br /><span class="heb">וְיַבֵּ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·yab·bêm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2992.htm">Strong's 2992: </a> </span><span class="str2">To perform the duty of a husband's brother</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and raise up</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהָקֵ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hā·qêm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6965.htm">Strong's 6965: </a> </span><span class="str2">To arise, stand up, stand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">offspring</span><br /><span class="heb">זֶ֖רַע</span> <span class="translit">(ze·ra‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2233.htm">Strong's 2233: </a> </span><span class="str2">Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for your brother.”</span><br /><span class="heb">לְאָחִֽיךָ׃</span> <span class="translit">(lə·’ā·ḥî·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_251.htm">Strong's 251: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, )</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/38-8.htm">Genesis 38:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/38-8.htm">Genesis 38:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/38-8.htm">Genesis 38:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/38-8.htm">Genesis 38:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/38-8.htm">Genesis 38:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/38-8.htm">Genesis 38:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/38-8.htm">Genesis 38:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/38-8.htm">Genesis 38:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/38-8.htm">Genesis 38:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/38-8.htm">Genesis 38:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/38-8.htm">OT Law: Genesis 38:8 Judah said to Onan Go (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/38-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 38:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 38:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/38-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 38:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 38:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>