Genesis 38:3-10
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
3 She conceived and bore a son, whom she named Er. 4 Again she conceived and bore a son, whom she named Onan. 5 Then she bore still another son, whom she named Shelah. She was in Chezib[a] when she bore him.(A)
6 Judah got a wife named Tamar for his firstborn, Er. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, greatly offended the Lord; so the Lord took his life.(B) 8 (C)Then Judah said to Onan, “Have intercourse with your brother’s wife, in fulfillment of your duty as brother-in-law, and thus preserve your brother’s line.”[b] 9 Onan, however, knew that the offspring would not be his; so whenever he had intercourse with his brother’s wife, he wasted his seed on the ground, to avoid giving offspring to his brother. 10 What he did greatly offended the Lord, and the Lord took his life too.
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- 38:5 Chezib: a variant form of Achzib (Jos 15:44; Mi 1:14), a town in the Judean Shephelah.
- 38:8 Preserve your brother’s line: lit., “raise up seed for your brother”: an allusion to the law of levirate, or “brother-in-law,” marriage; see notes on Dt 25:5; Ru 2:20. Onan’s violation of this law brought on him God’s punishment (vv. 9–10).
Genesis 38:3-10
New International Version
3 she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was named Er.(A) 4 She conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan.(B) 5 She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah.(C) It was at Kezib that she gave birth to him.
6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.(D) 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight;(E) so the Lord put him to death.(F)
8 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.”(G) 9 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.(H)
Genesis 38:29-30
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
29 (A)But as he withdrew his hand, his brother came out; and she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was called Perez.[a] 30 Afterward his brother, who had the crimson thread on his hand, came out; he was called Zerah.[b](B)
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Genesis 38:29-30
New International Version
29 But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out,(A) and she said, “So this is how you have broken out!” And he was named Perez.[a](B) 30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist,(C) came out. And he was named Zerah.[b](D)
Footnotes
- Genesis 38:29 Perez means breaking out.
- Genesis 38:30 Zerah can mean scarlet or brightness.
Numbers 26:19
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
19 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan. Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.(A)
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Numbers 26:19
New International Version
Ruth 4:12
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
12 With the offspring the Lord will give you from this young woman, may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”[a]
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- 4:12 Gn 38 contains a story about Tamar similar to Ruth’s in levirate marriage. Judah, under less laudable circumstances, fulfills the same role as Boaz will, and Perez, son of Judah and Tamar, perpetuates the line. Thus two non-Israelite women, Tamar and Ruth, are important links in David’s genealogy.
Ruth 4:12
New International Version
12 Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez,(A) whom Tamar(B) bore to Judah.”
1 Chronicles 2:5
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
5 The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.(A)
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1 Chronicles 2:5
New International Version
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