Lexical Summary Onan: Onan Original Word: אוֹנָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Onan A variation of 'Ownow; strong; Onan, a son of Judah -- Onan. see HEBREW 'Ownow NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as on Definition "vigorous," a son of Judah NASB Translation Onan (8). Brown-Driver-Briggs אוֺנָן proper name, masculine (vigorous) son of Judah Genesis 38:4,8,9; Genesis 46:12 (twice in verse); Numbers 26:19 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 2:3. Topical Lexicon Personal identity and lineage Onan was the second son born to Judah and the Canaanite woman Shua’s daughter (Genesis 38:4). He was the full brother of Er and Shelah and a grandson of Jacob. His name appears eight times in the Old Testament narrative and genealogies (Genesis 38:4, 8, 9; Genesis 46:12 [twice]; Numbers 26:19 [twice]; 1 Chronicles 2:3). Narrative in Genesis 38 The only narrated events of Onan’s life are found in Genesis 38:8-10. After the death of his elder brother Er, Judah commanded Onan to fulfill the duty of brother-in-law marriage (later codified in Deuteronomy 25:5-10). “Then Judah said to Onan, ‘Sleep with your brother’s wife; perform your duty as her kinsman-redeemer and raise up offspring for your brother’ ” (Genesis 38:8). Onan consented outwardly but “knew that the offspring would not be his,” and therefore repeatedly practiced coitus interruptus so that Tamar would not conceive (Genesis 38:9). The act was deliberate and premeditated: “So whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his seed on the ground to keep from giving offspring to his brother. What he did was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so He put Onan to death as well” (Genesis 38:9-10). Cultural background: The duty of the kinsman-redeemer Long before the Mosaic Law, Near-Eastern custom required a surviving brother to marry the widow and produce an heir for the deceased. The firstborn son of that union would legally carry the dead brother’s name, securing his inheritance and preserving the family line. The custom protected widows from destitution and honored the covenant promise of offspring within Israel. Nature of Onan’s sin Onan’s offense was not merely contraceptive; it was covenantal treachery. He refused to raise up seed for his brother, yet he was willing to exploit Tamar for personal gratification. By thwarting the family line he jeopardized the promises bound up in Judah’s household—promises ultimately leading to the Messiah (Genesis 49:10). His sin combined selfishness, sexual immorality, and contempt for God’s redemptive purposes. Divine judgment and theological implications The LORD’s immediate judgment underscores His zeal for covenant integrity. Just as Er “was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to death” (Genesis 38:7), so too Onan fell under divine wrath. The narrative teaches that God defends the vulnerable, safeguards the messianic line, and holds individuals accountable for hidden sins. The episode also demonstrates that ritual compliance without wholehearted obedience is unacceptable worship (cf. 1 Samuel 15:22). Impact on the lineage of Judah and Messiah Onan’s death set the stage for Tamar’s eventual union with Judah himself, resulting in the birth of Perez and Zerah (Genesis 38:27-30). Perez became an ancestor of David (Ruth 4:18-22) and, through David, of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:3). Thus, even human rebellion could not thwart God’s sovereign plan; instead, His mercy shone through unexpected channels. Later genealogical references • Genesis 46:12 lists Onan among “the sons of Judah” who had already died in Canaan before Jacob’s family migrated to Egypt. Lessons for faith and ministry 1. Commitment to covenant responsibilities: God requires more than outward participation; He desires wholehearted obedience that seeks the welfare of others. Forms and Transliterations אוֹנָ֔ן אוֹנָֽן׃ אונן אונן׃ וְאוֹנָ֑ן וְאוֹנָ֖ן וְאוֹנָ֛ן וְאוֹנָן֙ ואונן לְאוֹנָ֔ן לאונן ’ō·w·nān ’ōwnān lə’ōwnān lə·’ō·w·nān leoNan oNan veoNan wə’ōwnān wə·’ō·w·nānLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 38:4 HEB: אֶת־ שְׁמ֖וֹ אוֹנָֽן׃ NAS: a son and named him Onan. KJV: and she called his name Onan. INT: called his name Onan Genesis 38:8 Genesis 38:9 Genesis 46:12 Genesis 46:12 Numbers 26:19 Numbers 26:19 1 Chronicles 2:3 8 Occurrences |
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