Keraia
Genesis 38

Genesis 38:7

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

Translations

Modern
But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death.
Traditional
And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.
Literal
And Er, firstborn of Judah, was evil in the eyes of YHWH; and YHWH killed him.
Latin
Fuit quoque Her primogenitus Judæ nequam in conspectu Domini: et ab eo occisus est.

Original

Hebrew
English
But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death.

Notes

Genesis 38:7

That Er was a wicked man is not surprising, since his mother was a Canaanite and his father a rebellious Israelite.

Genesis 38:7–10

This story describes the Lord as the sovereign judge who ended the lives of Judah's wicked sons.

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

Er: Judah's firstborn son, killed by God for his wickedness Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province

Glossary

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

Topics

Adultery: Judah Er: Son of Judah Inheritance: Provisions for Inheritance Under Levirate Marriages Tamar: Wife of the Sons of Judah