Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version She conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan. New Living Translation Then she became pregnant again and gave birth to another son, and she named him Onan. English Standard Version She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. Berean Standard Bible Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Onan. King James Bible And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan. New King James Version She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. New American Standard Bible Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and she named him Onan. NASB 1995 Then she conceived again and bore a son and named him Onan. NASB 1977 Then she conceived again and bore a son and named him Onan. Legacy Standard Bible Then she conceived again and bore a son, and she named him Onan. Amplified Bible Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan. Christian Standard Bible She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and named him Onan. Holman Christian Standard Bible She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and named him Onan. American Standard Version And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan. Contemporary English Version she named the next one Onan. English Revised Version And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan. GOD'S WORD® Translation She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son, whom she named Onan. Good News Translation She became pregnant again and bore another son and named him Onan. International Standard Version Later, she conceived again, bore another son, and named him Onan. NET Bible She became pregnant again and had another son, whom she named Onan. New Heart English Bible She conceived again and gave birth to a son, and she named him Onan. Webster's Bible Translation And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she called his name Onan. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAgain she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Onan. World English Bible She conceived again, and bore a son; and she named him Onan. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand she conceives again, and bears a son, and calls his name Onan; Young's Literal Translation and she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Onan; Smith's Literal Translation And she will conceive yet again and bear a son, and will call his name Onan. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd conceiving again, she bore a son, and called him Onan. Catholic Public Domain Version And conceiving offspring again, having given birth to a son, she called him Onan. New American Bible Again she conceived and bore a son, whom she named Onan. New Revised Standard Version Again she conceived and bore a son whom she named Onan. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd she conceived again, and bore a son; and he called his name Onan. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And she conceived again and she bore a son, and he called his name Unan. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she called his name Onan. Brenton Septuagint Translation And she conceived and bore a son again; and called his name, Aunan. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Judah and Tamar…3So she conceived and gave birth to a son, and Judah named him Er. 4Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Onan. 5Then she gave birth to another son and named him Shelah; it was at Chezib that she gave birth to him.… Cross References Genesis 46:12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. 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. Ruth 4:12 And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.” Matthew 1:3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. Luke 3:33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, Deuteronomy 25:5-6 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. Leviticus 18:16 You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother. Leviticus 20:21 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. Deuteronomy 25:7-10 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.” / Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak with him. If he persists and says, “I do not want to marry her,” / his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal, spit in his face, and declare, “This is what is done to the man who will not maintain his brother’s line.” ... 1 Samuel 24:21 So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.” 2 Samuel 13:13 Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” 1 Kings 2:24 And now, as surely as the LORD lives—the One who established me, who set me on the throne of my father David, and who founded for me a dynasty as He promised—surely Adonijah shall be put to death today!” 1 Chronicles 4:21 The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth-ashbea, Hosea 4:14 I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin. Treasury of Scripture And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she called his name Onan. A. 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 Bare Beareth Birth Bore Conceived Conceiveth OnanJump to Next Bare Beareth Birth Bore Conceived Conceiveth OnanGenesis 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. Again she conceived and gave birth to a son This phrase indicates the continuation of Judah's lineage through his Canaanite wife, Shua's daughter. The repetition of conception and birth highlights the importance of offspring in biblical narratives, especially in the context of the Abrahamic covenant, where descendants are a sign of God's blessing. The birth of multiple sons to Judah is significant for the unfolding of Israel's history, as Judah's line eventually leads to King David and, ultimately, to Jesus Christ, fulfilling messianic prophecies. and she named him Onan Persons / Places / Events 1. TamarThe wife of Judah's son Er, who later becomes the mother of Onan's brother. 2. Judah One of the twelve sons of Jacob, who is the father of Er, Onan, and Shelah. 3. Onan The second son of Judah and Shua's daughter, who plays a significant role in the events that follow. 4. Shua's Daughter The unnamed wife of Judah, who is the mother of Er, Onan, and Shelah. 5. Canaan The region where these events take place, significant in the broader account of the Israelites. Teaching Points Understanding Family DutyThe account of Onan highlights the importance of family responsibilities and the cultural expectations of the time. In today's context, it encourages us to consider our obligations to family and community. Consequences of Disobedience Onan's actions later in the chapter demonstrate the consequences of failing to fulfill one's duties. This serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands. God's Sovereignty in Lineage Despite human failings, God's plan for the lineage of Judah continues, ultimately leading to the birth of Jesus. This teaches us about God's sovereignty and faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. Moral Integrity The account invites reflection on personal integrity and the importance of aligning actions with God's will, even when cultural norms may differ. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 38:4?2. How does Genesis 38:4 illustrate consequences of not following God's commands? 3. What lessons can we learn from Judah's family dynamics in Genesis 38:4? 4. How does Genesis 38:4 connect with God's covenant promises in Genesis? 5. How can we apply the lessons from Genesis 38:4 in our family life? 6. What does Genesis 38:4 teach about responsibility and accountability in relationships? 7. Why did God allow Onan's actions in Genesis 38:4 to have such severe consequences? 8. How does Genesis 38:4 fit into the larger narrative of Judah and Tamar? 9. What cultural practices are reflected in Genesis 38:4, and how do they relate to biblical law? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 38? 11. What happened to Tamar in the biblical narrative? 12. Who did Adam and Eve's children marry? 13. What is the Bible's stance on birth control? 14. How does 1 Chronicles 2:3-4 align with Genesis 38 regarding Judah and Tamar's lineage, and does it create inconsistencies? What Does Genesis 38:4 Mean Again she conceived• “Again she conceived” (Genesis 38:4) signals a second, successive pregnancy for Judah’s Canaanite wife. God’s hand in fertility is on display exactly as in Genesis 1:28 and Psalm 127:3, where conception is described as His gift. • The continuation of Judah’s line is crucial for the unfolding covenant story (Genesis 49:10; Ruth 4:18–22; Matthew 1:3). Every additional child underscores the Lord’s steady movement toward the promised Messiah. • Much like Leah’s repeated conceptions in Genesis 29:32–34, this verse highlights God’s willingness to work even through complicated family situations to advance His purposes. And gave birth to a son • A literal birth occurs; another male heir is introduced into Judah’s household (Genesis 38:4). Sons carried the family name, inheritance, and covenant responsibilities (Genesis 17:7; Numbers 27:8–11). • This new son means Judah’s family now has an elder brother Er and a younger brother to come, echoing the pattern of multiple brothers seen earlier in Genesis (e.g., Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau). • Deuteronomy 25:5–6 (written later but reflecting the same worldview) explains why the presence of several brothers would matter when one dies childless—a background that makes Onan’s later actions (Genesis 38:8–10) so significant. And she named him Onan • Naming in Scripture is never casual. By stating, “she named him Onan,” the text shows the mother exercising the God-given right to declare identity (Genesis 4:25; 35:18; 1 Samuel 1:20). • While the meaning of the name is not unpacked here, the act of naming sets this child apart with a personal identity and future role within Israel’s story. • Tragically, Onan will later choose self-interest over obedience, contrasting sharply with other sons who embraced their covenant responsibilities (compare Joseph in Genesis 39:9). His name becomes linked to a warning about disregard for God’s design. summary Genesis 38:4 records a real, God-directed conception, birth, and naming. Each phrase underscores the Lord’s ongoing faithfulness to grow Judah’s family, frame future covenant obligations, and advance the lineage leading to Christ. Though Onan’s later choices will be negative, his arrival still testifies to God’s steady, sovereign work in and through imperfect people. Verse 4. - And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan - "Strength" (Gesenius). The naming of a child by its mother a peculiarity of the so-called Jehovist; but vide Genesis 16:15.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Againע֖וֹד (‘ō·wḏ) Adverb Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more she conceived וַתַּ֥הַר (wat·ta·har) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 2029: To conceive, become pregnant and gave birth to וַתֵּ֣לֶד (wat·tê·leḏ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage a son, בֵּ֑ן (bên) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1121: A son and she named וַתִּקְרָ֥א (wat·tiq·rā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read him שְׁמ֖וֹ (šə·mōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 8034: A name Onan. אוֹנָֽן׃ (’ō·w·nān) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 209: Onan -- 'vigorous', a son of Judah Links Genesis 38:4 NIVGenesis 38:4 NLT Genesis 38:4 ESV Genesis 38:4 NASB Genesis 38:4 KJV Genesis 38:4 BibleApps.com Genesis 38:4 Biblia Paralela Genesis 38:4 Chinese Bible Genesis 38:4 French Bible Genesis 38:4 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 38:4 She conceived again and bore a son (Gen. 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