Genesis 38:9
But Onan, seeing that the offspring would not be his, went in to his brother's wife, but let his seed go on to the earth, so that he might not get offspring for his brother.
Bible in Basic English
In The King James Version
In Context
10And what he did was evil in the eyes of the Lord, so that he put him to death, like his brother.
Cross References
Deuteronomy 25:5If brothers are living together and one of them, at his death, has no son, the wife of the dead man is not to be married outside the family to another man: let her husband's brother go in to her and make her his wife, doing as it is right for a brother-in-law to do.
Ruth 1:11But Naomi said, Go back, my daughters; why will you come with me? Have I more sons in my body, to become your husbands?
Job 5:2For wrath is the cause of death to the foolish, and he who has no wisdom comes to his end through passion.
Titus 3:3For in the past we were foolish, hard in heart, turned from the true way, servants of evil desires and pleasures, living in bad feeling and envy, hated and hating one another.
James 3:16For where envy is, and the desire to get the better of others, there is no order, but every sort of evil-doing.
Matthew Henry on Genesis 38:2-12
Judah's Profligacy. ( b. c. 1717.) 1 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her. 3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er. 4 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan. 5 And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at… Read the whole commentary →