Genesis 38:8

Judah [Praised] said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”

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In The King James Version

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

In Context

7Er, Judah [Praised]’s firstborn, was wicked in Adonai’s sight. Adonai killed him.

9Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother.

Read all of Genesis 38

Cross References

Leviticus 18:16+ 18:16. Lev 18:16 (Lev 18:24-30) (#7.451): Not to have sexual relations with your brother’s wife (sister-in-law) “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife. It is your brother’s nakedness.

Deuteronomy 25:5+ 25:5. Deut 25:5 (#7.480): T. The widow whose husband has died and remains childless shall only marry her deceased husband’s brother / R. The widow must not remarry until the ties with her brother-in-law are removed T. Example: Ruth [Friend] had to be released from the nameless first kinsman before Boaz [In majesty, in strength], the second kinsman, was able to act as go'el ·redeemer / kinsman· to Ruth (Ruth 4:4-10) If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies, and has no son, the wife of the dead shall not be married outside to a stranger. + 25:5. Deut 25:5 (#7.481): T. The brother-in-law is to marry the widow of his brother, should he die and his brother is childless / R. To preform yavam ·brother-in-law’s duty· T. Note: In Hebrew, the brother-in-law is called the yavam ·husband’s brother·, the widow is called the yevamah ·(deceased) husband’s wife·, thus the arrangement is called yavam ·brother-in-law’s duty· Her husband’s brother shall go in to her, and take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her.

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 →

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