Genesis 38:8 kjv

And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

Genesis 38:8 nkjv

And Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother."

Genesis 38:8 niv

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."

Genesis 38:8 esv

Then Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother."

Genesis 38:8 nlt

Then Judah said to Er's brother Onan, "Go and marry Tamar, as our law requires of the brother of a man who has died. You must produce an heir for your brother."

Genesis 38 verses

Genesis 38 8 Meaning

Genesis 38:8 instructs Onan, at Judah's command, to fulfill the ancient practice of levirate marriage. This duty required him to marry his deceased brother Er's widow, Tamar, and to father children through her. The purpose was to ensure the continuation of Er's family name and lineage, as these children would legally be considered Er's heirs, thus preserving his inheritance and memory within the family structure.

Genesis 38 8 Context

Genesis chapter 38 stands as a significant interlude within the broader narrative of Joseph and his brothers, serving to trace and secure the lineage of Judah, from whom the messianic line would ultimately descend. Immediately following Judah's proposal to sell Joseph into slavery, this chapter shows Judah separating from his brothers, entering into a marital relationship with a Canaanite woman, and fathering three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. The verse itself follows the death of Er, Judah's firstborn, who was judged by the LORD for his wickedness. It is against this backdrop of a sudden death, the need for an heir, and a surviving widow (Tamar), that Judah invokes the existing custom of levirate marriage, highlighting the ancient societal and familial obligations to preserve a deceased brother's line. The chapter establishes crucial links in the patriarchal history, underscoring the deep importance of male heirs for lineage, inheritance, and the perpetuation of a family name within a patrilineal society, a system vital for the Abrahamic covenant promises.

Genesis 38 8 Word analysis

• Then Judah said to Onan,:

  • Judah (יְהוּדָה֙, Yehudah): Meaning "praised" or "thanksgiving." Here, he functions as the family patriarch, wielding authority to instruct his son according to prevailing custom and family obligation. His position underlines the seriousness of the command.
  • Onan (אוֹנָן֙, Onan): Meaning "strength" or "potency." The recipient of the command, the second son of Judah, and the one now obligated by familial and cultural norms. His name's meaning ironically contrasts with his subsequent act of weakness and refusal to uphold his duty.

• “Go in to your brother’s wife:

  • Go in (בֹּ֤א, bo): A common Hebrew idiom referring to sexual intercourse. It signifies the intimate act required for procreation.
  • to your brother’s wife (אֶל־אֵ֙שֶׁת֙ אָחִ֔יךָ, el-eshet achicha): Explicitly identifies Tamar, the widow of Er, as the specific woman. This distinguishes the act from a general marital union, underscoring its unique levirate context.

• and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her:

  • perform the duty of a brother-in-law (וְיַבֵּ֥ם אֹתָ֖הּ, veyabbem otah): Derived from the Hebrew root יבם (yabam), meaning "to act as a brother-in-law" or "to perform levirate marriage." This is the precise term for the custom, highlighting a defined legal and social obligation, called יִבּוּם (yibbum). It’s not merely marrying, but specifically for a specified purpose of procreating for the deceased brother.

• raise up offspring for your brother.”:

  • raise up (וְהָקֵ֥ם, vehakem): From the root קום (qum), meaning "to cause to stand, establish, raise up." It conveys the intent to bring into existence and establish the name or lineage of the deceased.
  • offspring (זֶ֖רַע, zera): Literally "seed," figuratively "descendants" or "progeny." This clarifies the ultimate goal of the levirate act—the birth of a child.
  • for your brother (לְאָחִֽיךָ, le'achicha): This crucial phrase indicates the legal and titular father of the forthcoming child. The child, though biologically Onan’s, would be considered legally and genealogically the son of Er, inheriting Er’s name, rights, and inheritance. This perpetuation of the deceased's name and line was the paramount aim of levirate marriage.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Go in to your brother’s wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her": This phrase succinctly captures the entire physical and social aspect of the command. It dictates the specific intimate action ("go in") and identifies its unique social categorization ("duty of a brother-in-law"), implying a pre-existing, recognized custom even before the Mosaic law was given. The combination signifies an obligation rather than mere desire or personal choice.
• "raise up offspring for your brother": This clarifies the precise theological, cultural, and familial purpose of the mandated union. The outcome desired is not simply more children for the living brother, but specific children who will bear the name and ensure the continuation of the deceased brother's lineage and share in his inheritance. This underlines the profound importance placed on legacy and remembrance within Israelite society.

Genesis 38 8 Bonus section

• Pre-Mosaic Institution: The presence of levirate marriage in Genesis, before the giving of the Law at Sinai (codified in Deut 25), indicates that this was an ancient customary law recognized and practiced within the patriarchal societies. This shows its deeply ingrained nature in the culture.
• Purpose of Name Continuation: The emphasis on "raising up offspring for your brother" signifies more than just producing a child. It's about preventing the "cutting off" of the deceased brother's name (Ruth 4:5, 10), ensuring his remembrance, inheritance, and a place in the genealogical record vital for tracing the covenant lineage, especially for the Messiah (Matt 1:3).
• Onan's Sin Misconception: Onan's sin in Gen 38:9-10 is often mistakenly interpreted as a prohibition against masturbation or contraception. However, the text clearly states his wicked act was specifically due to his refusal to give offspring to his brother. His deliberate spilling of seed was not for pleasure but to subvert his social and familial obligation and God's design for that specific union. He did not want to share the inheritance with a child who would not bear his own name.
• Significance for Judah's Line: This incident in chapter 38, particularly Tamar's role after Onan's failure, is crucial for understanding the continuation of Judah's lineage, from which the Messiah would eventually descend (Perez, through Tamar, becomes an ancestor of King David and Jesus). The dramatic nature of the story underscores divine providence in securing the promised line even amidst human sin and failure.

Genesis 38 8 Commentary

Genesis 38:8 serves as a pivotal verse demonstrating the early, pre-Mosaic practice of levirate marriage (yibbum). Judah's command to Onan underscores the societal imperative in patriarchal Israelite culture to preserve a deceased man's lineage and name, especially when he died childless. This custom protected the widow by providing a legal path for her and future offspring, while also maintaining the deceased's inheritance within the family unit. The legal fiction whereby the offspring were attributed to the deceased, not the biological father, highlights the premium placed on enduring family identity and ensuring that a name was not "cut off" in Israel. Onan's subsequent refusal, rooted in selfishness, directly contravenes this sacred duty, leading to divine judgment and further complicating the family's situation. The narrative not only reveals an ancient socio-religious law but also foreshadows the messianic line, as this interrupted lineage would eventually be secured through Tamar's own initiative and her children with Judah. This event, interrupting the Joseph story, thus dramatically emphasizes the vital importance of family continuity within God's covenant plan.