Genesis 38:10
New International Version
What he did was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to death also.

New Living Translation
But the LORD considered it evil for Onan to deny a child to his dead brother. So the LORD took Onan’s life, too.

English Standard Version
And what he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also.

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

King James Bible
And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

New King James Version
And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also.

New American Standard Bible
But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He took his life also.

NASB 1995
But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He took his life also.

NASB 1977
But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He took his life also.

Legacy Standard Bible
But what he did was displeasing in the sight of Yahweh; so He put him to death also.

Amplified Bible
But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; therefore He killed him also [in judgment].

Christian Standard Bible
What he did was evil in the LORD’s sight, so he put him to death also.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
What he did was evil in the LORD’s sight, so He put him to death also.

American Standard Version
And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and he slew him also.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD wasn't pleased with Onan and took his life too.

English Revised Version
And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of the LORD: and he slew him also.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
What Onan did angered the LORD so much that the LORD took away Onan's life too.

Good News Translation
What he did displeased the LORD, and the LORD killed him also.

International Standard Version
The LORD considered what Onan was doing to be evil, so he put him to death, too.

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

NET Bible
What he did was evil in the LORD's sight, so the LORD killed him too.

New Heart English Bible
And what he did was evil in the sight of God, so he killed him also.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

World English Bible
The thing which he did was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and he killed him also.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and that which he has done is evil in the eyes of YHWH, and He puts him also to death.

Young's Literal Translation
and that which he hath done is evil in the eyes of Jehovah, and He putteth him also to death.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be evil in the eyes of Jehovah, what he did, and he will kill him also.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And therefore the Lord slew him, be- cause he did a detestable thing.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And for this reason, the Lord struck him down, because he did a detestable thing.

New American Bible
What he did greatly offended the LORD, and the LORD took his life too.

New Revised Standard Version
What he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the thing which he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; wherefore he slew him also.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And what he did was evil before LORD JEHOVAH, and he put him to death, even him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of the LORD; and He slew him also.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And his doing this appeared evil before God; and he slew him also.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judah and Tamar
9But 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. 10What he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, so He put Onan to death as well. 11Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house.…

Cross References
Leviticus 20:13
If a man lies with a man as with a woman, they have both committed an abomination. They must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

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. / 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. / But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.” ...

Numbers 26:19
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.

1 Chronicles 2:3
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanite. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death.

1 Samuel 2:25
If a man sins against another man, God can intercede for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the LORD intended to put them to death.

2 Samuel 6:7
And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.

2 Samuel 12:9-10
Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own. You have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites. / Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

2 Kings 17:18
So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained,

Psalm 78:31
God’s anger flared against them, and He put to death their strongest and subdued the young men of Israel.

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: / haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, / a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, ...

Ezekiel 18:4
Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.

Malachi 2:15-16
Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.

Matthew 1:3
Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.

Matthew 22:24
“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.

Mark 12:19
“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.


Treasury of Scripture

And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: why he slew him also.

displeased.

Numbers 11:1
And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

Numbers 22:34
And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

2 Samuel 11:27
And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

him also.

Genesis 46:12
And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.

Numbers 26:19
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

Jump to Previous
Death Displeased Displeasing Evil Eyes Killed Life Putteth Sight Slew Wherefore Wicked
Jump to Next
Death Displeased Displeasing Evil Eyes Killed Life Putteth Sight Slew Wherefore Wicked
Genesis 38
1. Judah begets Er, Onan, and Shelah.
6. Er's marriage with Tamar, and death.
8. The trespass of Onan.
11. Tamar is reserved for Shelah.
12. Judah's wife dies.
13. Tamar deceives Judah.
27. She bears twins, Pharez and Zarah.














What he did
This phrase refers to the actions of Onan, which were not merely personal choices but acts with significant moral and spiritual implications. In the Hebrew context, the verb "did" (עָשָׂה, 'asah) often implies not just the act itself but the intention and heart behind it. Onan's actions were a direct violation of the levirate marriage duty, which was a sacred obligation to preserve a brother's lineage. This highlights the importance of obedience and the heart's intention in fulfilling God's commands.

was wicked
The term "wicked" (רַע, ra) in Hebrew conveys a sense of evil or moral corruption. It is not just about breaking a rule but acting in a way that is fundamentally opposed to God's nature and order. In the conservative Christian perspective, wickedness is seen as a rebellion against God's holiness and righteousness. Onan's wickedness was not just in his actions but in his deliberate choice to thwart God's plan for family and inheritance.

in the sight of the LORD
This phrase emphasizes God's omniscience and His moral authority. The Hebrew word for "sight" (עֵינַיִם, 'ayin) literally means "eyes," suggesting that nothing is hidden from God. In the conservative Christian view, this underscores the belief that God sees and judges the heart and actions of every individual. Onan's sin was not just against his family but was an affront to God Himself, who sees all and judges righteously.

so He put Onan to death
The direct action of God in this phrase highlights His sovereignty and justice. The Hebrew verb "put to death" (מוּת, muth) indicates a divine judgment. In the conservative Christian tradition, this serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the reality of divine retribution. God's judgment on Onan was not arbitrary but a just response to his deliberate disobedience and wickedness.

as well
This phrase connects Onan's fate to that of his brother Er, who was also put to death for his wickedness. The repetition of divine judgment within the same family serves as a powerful warning about the consequences of sin. In the conservative Christian perspective, it underscores the importance of living in obedience to God's commands and the generational impact of sin and disobedience.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
What
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

he did
עָשָׂ֑ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

was evil
וַיֵּ֛רַע (way·yê·ra‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

in the LORD’s
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

sight,
בְּעֵינֵ֥י (bə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

so He put [Onan] to death
וַיָּ֖מֶת (way·yā·meṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

as well.
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and


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OT Law: Genesis 38:10 The thing which he did was evil (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 38:9
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