Lexical Definition
אוֹנָן ʼÔwnân (o-nawn') Onan N:N-M-P
a variation of אוֹנוֹ; strong
Onan.
- § Onan = "strong"
- Onan, a son of Judah
1) second son of Judah, slain by God for not fulfilling the levitical requirement to beget a child with the wife of a dead, childless brother
| Form | Translated As | In Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| לְאוֹנָ֔ן | to Onan | Gen.38.8 |
| וְאוֹנָן֙ | and Onan | Gen.46.12 • 1Chr.2.3 |
| וְאוֹנָ֛ן | and Onan | Gen.46.12 |
| וְאוֹנָ֖ן | and Onan | Num.26.19 |
| וְאוֹנָ֑ן | and Onan | Num.26.19 |
| אוֹנָֽן | Onan | Gen.38.4 |
| אוֹנָ֔ן | Onan | Gen.38.9 |
| Αυνάν | On | LXX.Num.16.1 |
| Onan | LXX.Gen.38.4 • LXX.Gen.38.9 • LXX.Gen.46.12 • LXX.Gen.46.12 • LXX.Num.26.19 • LXX.Num.26.19 • LXX.1Chr.2.3 | |
| to Onan | LXX.Gen.38.8 |
Extended Information
- A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.38.4
- son of: Judah (יְהוּדָה) and Bath-shua (בַּת)
- brother of: Er (עֵר) and Shelah (שֵׁלָה)
- half-brother of: Perez (פֶּרֶץ) and Zerah (זֶרַח)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
אוֺנָן proper name, masculine (vigorous) son of Judah Gen 38:4; Gen 38:8; Gen 38:9; Gen 46:12 (twice in verse); Num 26:19 (twice in verse); 1Chr 2:3.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 38:4 · 38:8 · 38:9 · 46:12 |
| Numbers | 26:19 |
| 1 Chronicles | 2:3 |
Profile
Male • Son of Judah • Son of Judah
Man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness
Onan was the second son of Judah, who was punished by God for his wicked actions.
- A man from the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Gen.38.4;
- only referred to as Onan אוֹנָן;
- son of Judah יְהוּדָה and Bath-shua בַּת ;
- a brother of Er עֵר and Shelah שֵׁלָה;
- half-brother of: Perez פֶּרֶץ and Zerah זֶרַח.
Onan was the second son of Judah and his Canaanite wife, the daughter of Shua (Genesis 38:4; 1 Chronicles 2:3). After the death of his older brother Er, Judah instructed Onan to marry Er's widow, Tamar, and produce an heir for his brother (Genesis 38:8). However, Onan, knowing that the child would not be his own, practiced coitus interruptus to avoid providing an heir for his brother (Genesis 38:9). This act was displeasing to the Lord, and as a result, God put Onan to death (Genesis 38:10). Onan's death left Tamar without an heir and set the stage for the unusual events that followed, which ultimately led to the birth of Perez and Zerah, twin sons of Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38:27-30). Onan is also mentioned in the genealogies of Judah (Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19; 1 Chronicles 2:3).
All entries for Onan: אוֹנָן