Genesis 38:3

3 And she conceiveth, and beareth a son, and he calleth his name Er;

Genesis 38:3 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 38:3

And she conceived, and bare a son, and he called his name Er.
] Which signifies a "watchman": but the reason of the name given by the Targum of Jonathan is,

``because he should die without children;''
as if it was the same with Ariri, "childless".

Genesis 38:3 In-Context

1 And it cometh to pass, at that time, that Judah goeth down from his brethren, and turneth aside unto a man, an Adullamite, whose name [is] Hirah;
2 and Judah seeth there the daughter of a man, a Canaanite, whose name [is] Shuah, and taketh her, and goeth in unto her.
3 And she conceiveth, and beareth a son, and he calleth his name Er;
4 and she conceiveth again, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Onan;
5 and she addeth again, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Shelah; and he was in Chezib in her bearing him.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.