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Genesis 38:9

World English Bible

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

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Genesis 38:9 in other translations

And Onan knew that the seed would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother.

Genesis 38:9 · American Standard Version

Genesis 38:9 in context

  1. 7Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in Yahweh’s sight. So Yahweh killed him.
  2. 8Judah 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.”
  3. 9Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother.
  4. 10The thing which he did was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and he killed him also.
  5. 11Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up;” for he said, “Lest he also die, like his brothers.” Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.