Numbers 26:19
New International Version
Er and Onan were sons of Judah, but they died in Canaan.

New Living Translation
Judah had two sons, Er and Onan, who had died in the land of Canaan.

English Standard Version
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

Berean Standard Bible
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.

King James Bible
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

New King James Version
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

New American Standard Bible
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

NASB 1995
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

NASB 1977
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

Legacy Standard Bible
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

Amplified Bible
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan [were judged by God and] died in the land of Canaan.

Christian Standard Bible
Judah’s sons included Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Judah’s sons included Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.

American Standard Version
The sons of Judah: Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

English Revised Version
The sons of Judah, Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Er and Onan were sons of Judah, but they died in Canaan.

International Standard Version
The descendants of Judah originally included Er and Onan, though Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

NET Bible
The descendants of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

New Heart English Bible
The sons of Judah: Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

Webster's Bible Translation
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.

World English Bible
The sons of Judah: Er and Onan. Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Sons of Judah [are] Er and Onan; and Er dies—Onan also—in the land of Canaan.

Young's Literal Translation
Sons of Judah are Er and Onan; and Er dieth -- Onan also -- in the land of Canaan.

Smith's Literal Translation
The sons of Judah, Er and Onan; and Er will die, and Onan, in the land of Canaan.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The sons of Juda, Her and Onan, who both died in the land of Chanaan.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The sons of Judah: Er and Onan, who both died in the land of Canaan.

New American Bible
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan. Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

New Revised Standard Version
The sons of Judah: Er and Onan; Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the sons of Yehuda: Eir and Unan, and Eir and Unan died in the land of Canaan.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The sons of Judah: Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the sons of Juda, Er and Aunan; and Er and Aunan died in the land of Chanaan.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Tribe of Judah
19The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan. 20These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah.…

Cross References
Genesis 38:6-10
Now Judah acquired a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. / But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death. / Then 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.” ...

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.

1 Chronicles 2:3-4
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. / Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.

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,

Genesis 49:10
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.

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.” ...

1 Chronicles 4:21-23
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, / Jokim, the men of Cozeba, and Joash and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and Jashubi-lehem. (These names are from ancient records.) / These were the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah. They lived there in the service of the king.

1 Samuel 22:7-8
Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds? / Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.”

1 Kings 2:32-33
The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army. / Their blood will come back upon the heads of Joab and his descendants forever; but for David, his descendants, his house, and his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forever.”

1 Chronicles 5:1-2
These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright. / And though Judah prevailed over his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph.

Matthew 22:24-28
“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. / Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died without having children. So he left his wife to his brother. / The same thing happened to the second and third brothers, down to the seventh. ...

Mark 12:19-23
“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. / Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children. / Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise. ...

Luke 20:28-33
“Teacher,” they said, “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. / Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife but died childless. / Then the second ...


Treasury of Scripture

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

Shelah

Genesis 38:5,11,14,26-30
And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him…

1 Chronicles 4:21
The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,

Pharez

Genesis 38:27-29
And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb…

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.

Ruth 4:18-22
Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron, …

Zerah

Genesis 38:30
And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

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.

1 Chronicles 2:4
And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.

Jump to Previous
Canaan Death Died Dieth Er Judah Onan
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Canaan Death Died Dieth Er Judah Onan
Numbers 26
1. The sum of all Israel is taken in the plains of Moab
52. The law of dividing among them the inheritance of the land
57. The families and number of the Levites
63. None but Caleb and Joshua was left of those who were numbered at Sinai














The sons of Judah were Er and Onan
Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, is a significant figure in biblical history, as his lineage leads to King David and ultimately to Jesus Christ. Er and Onan were his first two sons, born to his Canaanite wife, Shua's daughter. This highlights the intermingling of the Israelites with the Canaanites, which was often discouraged due to the potential for idolatry and cultural assimilation. The story of Er and Onan is found in Genesis 38, where Er is described as wicked in the sight of the Lord, leading to his death. Onan's refusal to fulfill his duty of levirate marriage to his brother's widow, Tamar, also resulted in his death. This narrative underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of sin.

but they died in the land of Canaan
The land of Canaan, a region that encompasses modern-day Israel and surrounding areas, was the land promised to Abraham and his descendants. The deaths of Er and Onan in Canaan serve as a reminder of the Israelites' early presence in the land, even before the Exodus and conquest under Joshua. Their deaths also prefigure the struggles and moral challenges the Israelites would face in Canaan, a land filled with pagan practices. This phrase connects to the broader biblical theme of God's judgment and the necessity of righteousness, as seen in other scriptures such as Deuteronomy 28, which outlines blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. The deaths of Er and Onan also foreshadow the eventual establishment of Judah's line through Tamar, leading to the birth of Perez, an ancestor of Jesus, highlighting God's sovereignty and redemptive plan through flawed human history.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Er
The firstborn son of Judah, who was wicked in the sight of the Lord and was put to death by God.

2. Onan
The second son of Judah, who also displeased the Lord and was put to death for his actions.

3. Judah
One of the twelve sons of Jacob, whose lineage is significant in the history of Israel and the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

4. Canaan
The land where the sons of Judah died, which is significant as the Promised Land for the Israelites.

5. The Census of Israel
Numbers 26 records a census of the Israelites, taken as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, highlighting the continuity and faithfulness of God's promises despite human failure.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Sin
Er and Onan's deaths remind us that sin has serious consequences. We must strive to live righteously and seek God's forgiveness.

God's Sovereignty and Justice
God's actions in the lives of Er and Onan demonstrate His sovereignty and justice. We can trust that God is just in all His ways.

The Importance of Obedience
The account of Er and Onan highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands. Disobedience leads to spiritual and sometimes physical death.

God's Faithfulness to His Promises
Despite human failure, God's promises to His people remain steadfast. The census in Numbers 26 shows the continuation of God's plan for Israel.

Learning from the Past
The account of Er and Onan serves as a warning and a lesson for us to learn from the past and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Numbers 26:19?

2. How does Numbers 26:19 highlight the consequences of disobedience to God's commands?

3. What lessons can we learn from Er and Onan's fate in Numbers 26:19?

4. How does Numbers 26:19 connect to God's justice seen throughout Scripture?

5. How can we apply the warning in Numbers 26:19 to our daily lives?

6. What does Numbers 26:19 teach about the importance of faithfulness to God?

7. What is the significance of Er and Onan's deaths in Numbers 26:19?

8. How does Numbers 26:19 reflect God's judgment and justice?

9. Why are Er and Onan mentioned again in Numbers 26:19 despite their earlier deaths?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 26?

11. What happened to Tamar in the biblical narrative?

12. What are the names and meanings of Israel's twelve tribes?

13. How does 1 Chronicles 2:3-4 align with Genesis 38 regarding Judah and Tamar's lineage, and does it create inconsistencies?

14. Why are certain individuals and tribal lines omitted in 1 Chronicles 2, and does this omission conflict with other biblical genealogies?
What Does Numbers 26:19 Mean
The sons of Judah

Judah, fourth son of Jacob and Leah, became the forefather of the royal tribe from which both King David and, in fullness of time, the Messiah descended (Genesis 49:8-10; Matthew 1:2-3). Numbers 26 recounts a second census taken in the wilderness, and the writer pauses to mention Judah’s earliest sons to trace the tribe’s roots and highlight God’s faithfulness in preserving His covenant line (Genesis 29:35; Genesis 46:12).

Key thoughts:

• Genealogies in Scripture are never filler; they tether every generation to God’s unfolding promise.

• Though Judah produced five sons (Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah), only three survived to carry the lineage forward (1 Chronicles 2:3-4).


were Er and Onan

Genesis 38:6-10 provides the background:

“Now Judah had two sons, Er and Onan…But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death…And Onan knew that the offspring would not be his…So the LORD put him to death as well”.

Takeaways:

• Firstborn status did not shield Er from judgment; righteousness matters more than birth order (Deuteronomy 24:16).

• Onan’s deliberate refusal to honor the levirate duty exposed a heart of self-interest, illustrating that God judges motives, not merely actions (Proverbs 21:2).

• Their removal underscores that no human obstacle—whether sin or death—can thwart God’s larger redemptive plan (Romans 9:11-13).


but they died

The deaths of Er and Onan are recorded twice more (Genesis 46:12; 1 Chronicles 2:3), underscoring their historical reality and the seriousness of divine judgment.

Observations:

• Sin brings consequences, sometimes immediate and severe (Numbers 16:32-35).

• God’s discipline of Er and Onan served as both warning and purification, ensuring the tribe’s moral integrity for the sake of future generations (Hebrews 12:10-11).

• Although Judah lost two sons, the Lord preserved the messianic line through Perez and Zerah, born to Tamar (Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:3).


in the land of Canaan

Their deaths occurred before Jacob’s family moved to Egypt (Genesis 46:12 tells us they were already deceased). Canaan was the land God promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:7), so the statement roots the event in the very territory pledged by covenant.

Consider:

• The contrast between early judgment in Canaan and later multiplication in Egypt highlights God’s sovereignty over place as well as people (Exodus 1:7).

• Even in judgment, the scene is set within promise; God’s plan for Israel in Canaan would not be derailed (Joshua 1:2-3).


summary

Numbers 26:19 reminds us that genealogy matters because it showcases the faithful thread of God’s promise. Er and Onan, though first in line, forfeited their place through unrighteousness, demonstrating that covenant privilege demands covenant faithfulness. Yet their deaths did not stall God’s purpose; He preserved Judah’s line—and ultimately our Savior—through other sons. The verse stands as both sober warning and steady assurance: the Holy God judges sin, yet His redemptive plan presses on, firmly anchored in the very land He vowed to give His people.

(19) Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.--See Genesis 38:6-10, and Note.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The sons
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

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

[were] Er
עֵ֣ר (‘êr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6147: Er -- two men of Judah

and Onan,
וְאוֹנָ֑ן (wə·’ō·w·nān)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 209: Onan -- 'vigorous', a son of Judah

but they
עֵ֛ר (‘êr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6147: Er -- two men of Judah

died
וַיָּ֥מָת (way·yā·māṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

in the land
בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Canaan.
כְּנָֽעַן׃ (kə·nā·‘an)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3667: Canaan -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their land West of the Jordan


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OT Law: Numbers 26:19 The sons of Judah: Er and Onan (Nu Num.)
Numbers 26:18
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