Thematic Bible: Onan
Thematic Bible
Onan » Killed for his refusal to raise seed (offspring) for his deceased brother
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah. These three were born to him by a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua. Er, Judah's firstborn was wicked in Jehovah's sight; so Jehovah put him to death.
Verse Concepts
The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. (Er and Onan died in Canaan.) The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.
Er and Onan were sons of Judah, but they died in Canaan.
She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son and named him Onan.
Then Judah said to Er's brother Onan: Go sleep with your brother's widow. Fulfill your obligation to her as her husband's brother. That way your brother may have descendants. Onan knew that the children would not belong to him. So when he had intercourse with his brother's widow, he let the semen spill on the ground, assuring that there would be no children for his brother. What he did displeased Jehovah. So Jehovah killed him also.