New English Translation
Genesis 38:9
9But Onan knew that the child would not be considered his. So whenever he had sexual relations with his brother’s wife, he withdrew prematurely so as not to give his brother a descendant.
Genesis 38:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
- New International Version (NIV)But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother's wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother.
Context of Genesis 38:9
7But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord killed him. 8Then 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.” But Onan knew that the child would not be considered his. So whenever he had sexual relations with his brother’s wife, he withdrew prematurely so as not to give his brother a descendant. 10What he did was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord killed him too. 11Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until Shelah my son grows up.” For he thought, “I don’t want him to die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.
Read all of Genesis 38Genesis 38:9 word by word
וַיֵּ֣דַע אוֹנָ֔ן כִּ֛י לֹּ֥א ל֖וֹ יִהְיֶ֣ה הַזָּ֑רַע וְהָיָ֞ה אִם־בָּ֨א אֶל־אֵ֤שֶׁת אָחִיו֙ וְשִׁחֵ֣ת אַ֔רְצָה לְבִלְתִּ֥י נְתָן־זֶ֖רַע לְאָחִֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Onanאוֹנָן'ônân · OnanH209
- knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- that the seedזֶ֫רַעzera‛ · seed: childrenH2233
- should not be his; and it came to pass, whenאִם'im · ifH518
- he went inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- unto his brother’sאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
- wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
- that he spilledשָׁחַתshâchath · to ruinH7843
- on the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
- lestבִּלְתִּיbiltîy · lestH1115
- that he should giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
Cross-references for Genesis 38:9
- Deuteronomy 25:6Then the first son she bears will continue the name of the dead brother, thus preventing his name from being blotted out of Israel.
- Ruth 1:11But Naomi replied, “Go back home, my daughters! There is no reason for you to return to Judah with me! I am no longer capable of giving birth to sons who might become your husbands!
- Ruth 4:10I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife to raise up a descendant who will inherit his property so the name of the deceased might not disappear from among his relatives and from his village. You are witnesses today.”
- Job 5:2For wrath kills the foolish person, and anger slays the silly one.
- Proverbs 27:4Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
- James 3:14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.
- James 4:5Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”?
Commentaries on Genesis 38:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Onan knew that the seed should not be his - That is, that the child begotten of his brother's widow should be reckoned as the child of his deceased brother, and his name, though the real father of it, should not appear in the genealogical tables.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-30Verses 1-30 - The Family of Judah 1. עדלם ‛ǎdûllâm Adullam, “righteousness.” חירה chı̂yrâh Chirah, “nobility?” 2. שׁוּע shûa‛ Shua, “luck, riches, cry.” 3. ער ‛êr Er, “watching.” 4. אונן 'ônân Onan, “strong.” 5. שׁלה shēlâh Shelah, “request? rest.” כזיב kezı̂yb Kezib, “falsehood.” 6. תמר tāmār Tamar, “palm.” 12. תמנה tı̂mnâh Timnah, “counted or assigned.” 14. עינים 'êynayı̂m Enaim, “two fountains.” 29. פרץ perets Perets, “breach.” This…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-10Onan married Tamar, but he was not willing to provide an heir for his brother. He had sexual relations with Tamar, but he did not fulfill his duty to his dead brother (38:8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-301. at that time--a formula frequently used by the sacred writers, not to describe any precise period, but an interval near about it.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 38:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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