Genesis 38:7
New International Version
But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to death.

New Living Translation
But Er was a wicked man in the LORD’s sight, so the LORD took his life.

English Standard Version
But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD put him to death.

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

King James Bible
And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.

New King James Version
But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him.

New American Standard Bible
But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life.

NASB 1995
But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life.

NASB 1977
But Er, Judah’s first-born, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of Yahweh, so Yahweh put him to death.

Amplified Bible
But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him [in judgment].

Christian Standard Bible
Now Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the LORD’s sight, and the LORD put him to death.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the LORD’s sight, and the LORD put him to death.

American Standard Version
And Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of Jehovah; and Jehovah slew him.

Contemporary English Version
But Er was very evil, and the LORD took his life.

English Revised Version
And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Er angered the LORD. So the LORD took away his life.

Good News Translation
Er's conduct was evil, and it displeased the LORD, so the LORD killed him.

International Standard Version
But the LORD considered Er, Judah's oldest son, to be wicked—so he put him to death.

Majority Standard Bible
But Er, Judah?s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death.

NET Bible
But Er, Judah's firstborn, was evil in the LORD's sight, so the LORD killed him.

New Heart English Bible
Now Er, Judah?s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, so God killed him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.

World English Bible
Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in Yahweh’s sight. So Yahweh killed him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Er, Judah’s firstborn, is evil in the eyes of YHWH, and YHWH puts him to death.

Young's Literal Translation
and Er, Judah's first-born, is evil in the eyes of Jehovah, and Jehovah doth put him to death.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Er, Judah's first-born, will be evil in the eyes of Jehovah: and Jehovah will kill him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Her, the firstborn of Juda, was wicked in the sight of the Lord: and was slain by him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And it also happened that Er, the first born of Judah, was wicked in the sight of the Lord and was killed by him.

New American Bible
But Er, Judah’s firstborn, greatly offended the LORD; so the LORD took his life.

New Revised Standard Version
But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD put him to death.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Eyr, the firstborn of Yehuda, was evil before LORD JEHOVAH, and LORD JEHOVAH put him to death.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Er, the first-born of Judas, was wicked before the Lord; and God killed him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judah and Tamar
6Now Judah acquired a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death. 8Then 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.”…

Cross References
Numbers 16:32-35
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions. / They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly. / At their cries, all the people of Israel who were around them fled, saying, “The earth may swallow us too!” ...

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.” ...

Leviticus 10:1-2
Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. / So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.

1 Samuel 2:12-17
Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD / or for the custom of the priests with the people. When any man offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling / and plunge it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or cooking pot. And the priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. ...

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 Kings 2:23-24
From there, Elisha went up to Bethel, and as he was walking up the road, a group of boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” / Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

2 Kings 5:27
Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!” And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow.

2 Kings 15:5
And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

1 Chronicles 10:13-14
So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, / and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

Job 4:7-9
Consider now, I plead: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Or where have the upright been destroyed? / As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same. / By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.

Psalm 37:28
For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.

Proverbs 10:27
The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short.

Proverbs 11:19
Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.

Er.

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.

wicked.

Genesis 6:8
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Genesis 13:13
But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Genesis 19:13
For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.

and the.

1 Chronicles 2:3
The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.

Psalm 55:23
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

Jump to Previous
Death Er Evil Eyes First Firstborn First-Born Judah's Killed Life Sight Slew Wicked
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Death Er Evil Eyes First Firstborn First-Born Judah's Killed Life Sight Slew 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.














But Er
The name "Er" in Hebrew is spelled עֵר and is thought to mean "watchful" or "awake." Despite the potential positive connotations of his name, Er's life was marked by actions that were contrary to God's will. This serves as a reminder that one's name or heritage does not determine one's righteousness or standing before God. In the biblical narrative, names often carry significant meaning, and Er's account is a cautionary tale about the importance of living up to one's potential and divine calling.

Judah’s firstborn
Being the firstborn in ancient Near Eastern culture carried significant weight, as the firstborn son typically held a place of honor and was often the primary heir to the family’s wealth and leadership. Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, was a prominent figure in Israel's history, and his lineage would eventually lead to King David and, ultimately, to Jesus Christ. The mention of Er as Judah's firstborn highlights the gravity of his actions and the potential impact of his wickedness on the family line.

was wicked
The Hebrew word for "wicked" here is רַע (ra), which denotes evil, badness, or moral corruption. This term is used throughout the Old Testament to describe actions and behaviors that are contrary to God's laws and character. Er's wickedness is not detailed in the text, but the severity of his actions is underscored by the divine response. This serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness with which God views sin and the moral expectations He has for His people.

in the sight of the LORD
This phrase emphasizes that Er's wickedness was not just a matter of human judgment but was seen and evaluated by God Himself. The Hebrew word for "sight" is עֵינֵי (einei), meaning "eyes," indicating that nothing is hidden from God's view. This underscores the omniscience of God and His role as the ultimate judge of human actions. It is a call for believers to live with an awareness of God's constant presence and to strive for righteousness in His sight.

so the LORD put him to death
The direct action of the LORD in putting Er to death highlights the seriousness of his sin and the divine prerogative to judge. The Hebrew verb used here is מֵת (met), meaning "to die" or "to kill." This act of divine judgment serves as a stark warning about the consequences of sin and the holiness of God. It reflects the biblical principle that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and underscores the need for repentance and obedience to God's commands.

Verse 7. - And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord. The connection between Er's name (עֵר) and Er's character (רַע) is noticeable. The special form which his wickedness assumed is not stated; but the accompanying phrase suggests that, as in the case of the Sodomites (Genesis 13:13; Genesis 19:5), it was some unnatural abomination. And the Lord slew him - literally, caused him to die; not necessarily by direct visitation; perhaps simply by allowing him to reap the fruits of his youthful indulgence in premature and childless death, which yet was so rapid and so evidently entailed by his evil courses as immediately to suggest the punitive hand of God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But
וַיְהִ֗י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

Er,
עֵ֚ר (‘êr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6147: Er -- two men of Judah

Judah’s
יְהוּדָ֔ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

firstborn,
בְּכ֣וֹר (bə·ḵō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

was wicked
רַ֖ע (ra‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

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

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

so the LORD
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

put him to death.
וַיְמִתֵ֖הוּ (way·mi·ṯê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill


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OT Law: Genesis 38:7 Er Judah's firstborn was wicked (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 38:6
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