Who
Judah’s second son. Told to take his brother Er’s widow Tamar and raise up offspring for him, “Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother” (Genesis 38:9). What he did displeased the LORD, and he died (Genesis 38:10). Augustine saw in his act a sin against the end of marriage itself, and Pius XI, quoting him in Casti Connubii (1930), taught that any use of marriage deliberately frustrated of its power to give life is against the law of God.
Key verses
- Genesis 38:9
Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother.
- 1 Chronicles 2:3
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah, which three were born to him of Shua’s daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight; and he killed him.
Where the Bible names him
Family
- Parents
Discussed by
Comments on the verses that name him.
- Jerome, Against Jovinianus Book 1
Jovinianus, concerning whom we know little more than is to be found in the two following books, had published at Rome a Latin treatise containing all, or part of the opinions here controverted, viz. (1) “That a…