Genesis 38:9
BSB · Public Domain (CC0)“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.”
A short, plain-language explanation of Genesis 38:9 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.
“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.”
Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)“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.”
King James Version · Public Domain“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 · Public Domain“and Onan knoweth that the seed is not <FI>reckoned<Fi> his; and it hath come to pass, if he hath gone in unto his brother's wife, that he hath destroyed <FI>it<Fi> to the earth, so as not to give seed to his brother;”
Young's Literal Translation · Public DomainOther passages that echo Genesis 38:9 — 10 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 25:5When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her.
- Deuteronomy 25:6The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.
- Ruth 1:11But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?
- Ruth 4:10Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”
- Job 5:2For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
- Proverbs 27:4Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
- Titus 3:3For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- James 3:14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
- James 3:16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
- James 4:5Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).