Genesis 38:9
But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went to his brother’s wife, he spilled his seed on the ground, to avoid giving offspring to his brother.
Additional Resources
Other Translations
Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts
However, Onan knew that the offspring would not be his, so whenever he went in to his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to avoid producing offspring for his brother.
King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)
And Onan knew that the seed should 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 that he should give seed to his brother.
American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers
And Onan{H209} knew{H3045} that the seed{H2233} would not be his; and it came to pass, when{H518} he went in{H935} unto his brother's{H251} wife,{H802} that he spilled{H7843} it on the ground,{H776} lest{H1115} he should give{H5414} seed{H2233} to his brother.{H251}
King James Version with Strong's Numbers
And Onan{H209} knew{H3045}{(H8799)} that the seed{H2233} should not be his; and it came to pass, when{H518} he went in{H935}{(H8802)} unto his brother's{H251} wife{H802}, that he spilled{H7843}{(H8765)} it on the ground{H776}, lest{H1115} that he should give{H5414}{(H8800)} seed{H2233} to his brother{H251}.
Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)
And when Onan perceaued that the seed shulde not be his: therfore when he went in to his brothers wife he spylled it on the grounde because he wold not geue seed vnto his brother.
Coverdale Bible (1535)
But when Onan knewe that the sede shulde not be his owne, whan he laye with his brothers wife, he let it fall vpon the earth and destroyed it, yt he shulde not geue sede vnto his brother.
Geneva Bible (1560)
And Onan knewe that the seede should not be his: therefore when he went in vnto his brothers wife, he spilled it on the grounde, least he should giue seede vnto his brother.
Bishops' Bible (1568)
And when Onan perceaued that the seede shoulde not be his, therfore when he wet in to his brothers wyfe, he spylled it on the grounde, & gaue not seede vnto his brother.
Authorized King James Version (1611)
And Onan knew that the seed should 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 that he should give seed to his brother.
Webster's Bible (1833)
Onan knew that the seed wouldn't be his; and it happened, when he went in to his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother.
Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)
and Onan knoweth that the seed is not `reckoned' his; and it hath come to pass, if he hath gone in unto his brother's wife, that he hath destroyed `it' to the earth, so as not to give seed to his brother;
American Standard Version (1901)
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.
American Standard Version (1901)
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.
Bible in Basic English (1941)
But Onan, seeing that the offspring would not be his, went in to his brother's wife, but let his seed go on to the earth, so that he might not get offspring for his brother.
World English Bible (2000)
Onan knew that the seed wouldn't be his; and it happened, when he went in to his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother.
NET Bible® (New English Translation)
But Onan knew that the child would not be considered his. So whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he wasted his emission on the ground so as not to give his brother a descendant.
Referenced Verses
- Deut 25:6 : 6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she bears shall succeed in the name of his brother who is dead, that his name may not be put out of Israel.
- Ruth 1:11 : 11 And Naomi said, Turn back, my daughters: why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
- Ruth 4:10 : 10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that his name will not be cut off from his brethren or from the gate of his place. You are witnesses this day.'
- Job 5:2 : 2 For anger kills the foolish man, and envy slays the simple one.
- Prov 27:4 : 4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous, but who can stand before envy?
- Titus 3:3 : 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
- Jas 3:14 : 14 But if you have bitter envy and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
- Jas 3:16 : 16 For where envy and strife are, there is confusion and every evil work.
- Jas 4:5 : 5 Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The spirit that dwells in us yearns jealously?
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Gen 38:7-82 verses87%
7 But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death.
8 Then Judah said to Onan, Go to your brother’s wife, marry her, and raise offspring for your brother.
- Gen 38:10-112 verses80%
10 What he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD, so He put him to death also.
11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, Stay a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up; for he thought, Lest he also die like his brothers. So Tamar went and lived in her father's house.
- Gen 38:3-42 verses76%
3 She conceived and bore a son, and he named him Er.
4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she named him Onan.
- Lev 20:20-212 verses73%
20 And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
21 And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.
- Deut 25:5-73 verses72%
5 If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry outside to a stranger; her husband's brother shall go to her and take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her.
6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she bears shall succeed in the name of his brother who is dead, that his name may not be put out of Israel.
7 And if the man does not want to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate to the elders, and say, 'My husband's brother refuses to raise up a name for his brother in Israel; he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother.'
- 72%
19 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
- Gen 19:31-355 verses70%
31 And the firstborn said to the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us in the manner of all the earth.
32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve the seed of our father.
33 So they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he did not perceive when she lay down, nor when she arose.
34 And it came to pass the next day, that the firstborn said to the younger, Behold, I lay last night with my father: let us make him drink wine tonight also; and go in, lie with him, that we may preserve the seed of our father.
35 And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he did not perceive when she lay down, nor when she arose.
- 70%
16 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife: it is your brother's nakedness.
- Gen 38:15-162 verses70%
15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, because she had covered her face.
16 He turned to her by the roadside and said, Let me come in to you; for he did not know she was his daughter-in-law. She said, What will you give me, that you may come in to me?
- 70%
3 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by the daughter of Shua, the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD, and He put him to death.
- Mark 12:19-213 verses70%
19 'Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies and leaves behind a wife and no children, his brother should marry the wife and raise up offspring for his brother.
20 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died, leaving no offspring.
21 The second took her, and died, leaving no offspring; and the third likewise.
- 70%
16 And if any man's seed of emission goes out from him, then he shall wash all his body in water, and be unclean until the evening.
- 70%
9 Then his brother's wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, remove his shoe from his foot, spit in his face, and shall answer and say, 'So shall it be done to the man who will not build up his brother's house.'
- 69%
25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother.
- Gen 38:23-242 verses68%
23 Judah said, Let her keep them, lest we become a laughingstock; after all, I sent the young goat, and you did not find her.
24 About three months later, it was told Judah, Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; moreover, she is pregnant by harlotry. Judah said, Bring her out, and let her be burned.
- 68%
26 Judah acknowledged them and said, She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son. And he never knew her again.
- 68%
30 You shall marry a wife, and another man shall lie with her: you shall build a house, and you shall not dwell therein: you shall plant a vineyard, and shall not gather the grapes thereof.
- 68%
13 And a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and she is undetected, though she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her, nor is she caught in the act;
- 67%
9 You shall not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seeds, lest the fruit of your seed which you have sown, and the fruit of your vineyard, be defiled.
- Luke 20:28-292 verses67%
28 Saying, Teacher, Moses wrote to us, If any man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up offspring for his brother.
29 There were therefore seven brothers: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
- 67%
14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother; you shall not approach his wife: she is your aunt.
- 67%
30 A man shall not take his father's wife, nor uncover his father's bed.
- Num 27:9-102 verses67%
9 And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.
10 And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father's brothers.
- 67%
7 And, behold, the whole family has risen against your maidservant, and they said, Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall extinguish my last remaining ember, and shall not leave to my husband either name or remnant on the earth.
- 66%
18 He said, What pledge shall I give you? She replied, Your signet, your bracelets, and your staff that is in your hand. So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.
- 66%
28 And if the woman is not defiled, but is clean, then she shall be free and shall conceive children.
- 66%
11 And does not do any of those duties, but has eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbor's wife,