Onan

Onan (Hebrew: "וֹנָן, Modern Onan Tiberian ʼÔn"n ; "Strong") is a minor biblical person in the Book of Genesis Chapter 38, who was the second son of Judah. Like his older brother, Er, Onan died prematurely by Yahweh's will for being wicked.

Biblical account

After Onan's brother Er died, his father Judah told him to fulfill his duty as a brother-in-law to Tamar, by giving her offspring. Centuries later, in the days of Moses, this practice was formulated into a law of a Levirate marriage, where the brother of the deceased would provide offspring to the childless widow to preserve the family line.

However, when Onan had sex with Tamar, he disregarded this principle when he withdrew before climax and "spilled his seed (or semen) on the ground", (coitus interruptus) since any child born would not legally be considered his heir. This he did several times, disregarding the principle of a Levirate union, and was accordingly sentenced to death by Yahweh for this wickedness. (Genesis 38:8-10)

See also [ Onanism ]

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