Genesis 38:8 - Judah 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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What does "Genesis 38:8" mean?
Genesis 38:8 describes a custom known as Levirate marriage. Let's break down the meaning:
Judah: He is the father-in-law of Tamar (his deceased son Er's wife) and the father of Onan.
Onan: He is Er's brother.
"Go in to your brother's wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her": This refers to the practice of Levirate marriage. If a man died without having a son, his brother was obligated to marry the widow.
"Raise up offspring for your brother": The purpose of this union was not just to provide for the widow but, more importantly, to continue the deceased brother's lineage. Any son born from this union would be considered the legal heir of the deceased brother, inheriting his name and property. This was vital in a patriarchal society where family lines and inheritance were paramount.
In essence, the verse is commanding Onan to fulfill his duty under Levirate law, which was to marry his deceased brother's widow, Tamar, and produce an heir that would be legally considered Er's child.
Significance of Onan's Response (which isn't in this verse but follows immediately after):
The story becomes significant because Onan doesn't want to fulfill this duty. He doesn't want the child to be legally his brother's heir, diminishing his own inheritance. The following verse (Genesis 38:9) explains what Onan does: "But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother." This action of deliberately preventing conception is what leads to God's displeasure and Onan's death (Genesis 38:10). This act is where the term "onanism" (though the act is different, but refers to sexual sin) comes from.
In summary, the verse you quoted is a key element of the Levirate law narrative, emphasizing the importance of continuing the family line and the obligations placed upon the surviving brother in such circumstances.
Genesis 38:8 - Judah 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.”
What does "Genesis 38:8" mean?
Genesis 38:8 describes a custom known as Levirate marriage. Let's break down the meaning:
Judah: He is the father-in-law of Tamar (his deceased son Er's wife) and the father of Onan.
Onan: He is Er's brother.
"Go in to your brother's wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her": This refers to the practice of Levirate marriage. If a man died without having a son, his brother was obligated to marry the widow.
"Raise up offspring for your brother": The purpose of this union was not just to provide for the widow but, more importantly, to continue the deceased brother's lineage. Any son born from this union would be considered the legal heir of the deceased brother, inheriting his name and property. This was vital in a patriarchal society where family lines and inheritance were paramount.
In essence, the verse is commanding Onan to fulfill his duty under Levirate law, which was to marry his deceased brother's widow, Tamar, and produce an heir that would be legally considered Er's child.
Significance of Onan's Response (which isn't in this verse but follows immediately after):
The story becomes significant because Onan doesn't want to fulfill this duty. He doesn't want the child to be legally his brother's heir, diminishing his own inheritance. The following verse (Genesis 38:9) explains what Onan does: "But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother." This action of deliberately preventing conception is what leads to God's displeasure and Onan's death (Genesis 38:10). This act is where the term "onanism" (though the act is different, but refers to sexual sin) comes from.
In summary, the verse you quoted is a key element of the Levirate law narrative, emphasizing the importance of continuing the family line and the obligations placed upon the surviving brother in such circumstances.