Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.”(A) But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.(B)

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Then Judah said to Onan, “(A)Have relations with your brother’s wife and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up a [a]child for your brother.” Now Onan knew that the [b](B)child would not be his; so when he had relations with his brother’s wife, he [c]wasted his seed on the ground so that he would not give [d]a child to his brother. 10 But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord; so He (C)took his life also.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 38:8 Lit seed
  2. Genesis 38:9 Lit seed
  3. Genesis 38:9 Lit spilled on the ground
  4. Genesis 38:9 Lit seed

8-10 So Judah told Onan, “Go and sleep with your brother’s widow; it’s the duty of a brother-in-law to keep your brother’s line alive.” But Onan knew that the child wouldn’t be his, so whenever he slept with his brother’s widow he spilled his semen on the ground so he wouldn’t produce a child for his brother. God was much offended by what he did and also took his life.

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Then Judah told Onan, “Go in to your brother’s widow, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law [under the levirate marriage custom]; [be her husband and] raise children for [the name of] your brother.”(A) Onan knew that the child (heir) would not be his [but his dead brother’s]; so whenever he lay with his brother’s widow, he spilled his seed on the ground [to prevent conception], so that he would not give a child to his brother. 10 But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord; therefore He killed him also [in judgment].

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