Keraia
Genesis 38

Genesis 38:4

Judah and Tamar · Genesis 38:1–26
Read Genesis 38

Translations

Modern
Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Onan.
Traditional
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.
Literal
And she conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.
Latin
Rursumque concepto fœtu, natum filium vocavit Onan.

Original

Hebrew
English
Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Onan.

Notes

Genesis 38:1–30

The story of Judah and Tamar is a carefully placed break in the larger story. It shows what was happening in Judah’s family. Judah would later become an important leader. The story also shows the early stages of the family mixing with the people of the land. This helps explain why God sent the family to Egypt (chapters 39–47).

The Egyptians kept themselves separate from other peoples (43:32). Because of that, the Israelites were more likely to keep their own identity in Egypt than in Canaan.

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt Judah Human Sexuality Symbolic Numbers

Parallels

1 Chronicles 2:3–4

People

Onan: Son of Judah

Glossary

Adullam, Adullamite Bathshua Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Genesis, Book of Jacob Judah (Person) Onan Patriarchs, Period of the Shua Shuah

Topics

Adultery: Judah Judah: Son of Jacob: Takes Two Wives Onan: Killed for his Refusal to Raise Seed (Offspring) for his Deceased Brother