A son of the patriarch Judah by the Canaanite Shua and brother of Er, Onan, Shelah.
About Onan
Second son of Judah and a Canaanitess named Shua (Gn 38:4–10; 46:12; Nm 26:19; 1 Chr 2:3). Judah forced him to enter into a levirate marriage with Tamar, the wife of his deceased brother, Er. Er and Tamar had no children. Onan refused to have children by Tamar, knowing that they would be heirs to his brother’s estate. As a result of Onan’s refusal to raise up descendants for his brother, the Lord punished him with death (Gn 38:8–10).
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Judah, Bath-shua
- Siblings 2
- Er, Shelah
- Half-siblings 2
- Perez, Zerah
- Nieces & Nephews 12
- Er (1 Chronicles 4:21), Laadah, Jokim, Joash (1 Chronicles 4:22), Saraph, Hezron, Hamul, Zabdi, Ethan (1 Chronicles 2:6), Heman (1 Chronicles 2:6), Calcol (1 Chronicles 2:6), Dara
- Aunt
- Dinah
- Uncles 11
- Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Dan (Patriarch), Naphtali, Gad (Patriarch), Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin
- Cousins 52
- Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, Carmi, Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zerah, Shaul, Gershon, Kohath, Merari, Jochebed, Hushim (Genesis 46:23), Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, Shillem, Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arod, Areli, Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi (Genesis 46:17), Beriah, Serah, Tola, Puah, Jashub, Shimron, Sered, Elon (Genesis 46:14), Jahleel, Manasseh (Son of Joseph), Ephraim, Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, Ard, Ahiram, Jediael
Key References
Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and raise up offspring for your brother.”
But Onan knew that the offspring would not belong to him; so whenever he would sleep with his brother’s wife, he would spill his seed on the ground so that he would not produce offspring for his brother.
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanite. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death.
All Scripture References (6)
Genesis (4)
Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Onan.
Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and raise up offspring for your brother.”
But Onan knew that the offspring would not belong to him; so whenever he would sleep with his brother’s wife, he would spill his seed on the ground so that he would not produce offspring for his brother.
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
Numbers (1)
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.
1 Chronicles (1)
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanite. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death.