Genesis 38:4

4 And again she gave birth to a son, and he gave him the name Onan.

Genesis 38:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 38:4

And she conceived again, and bare a son
As soon as she well could: and she called his name Onan;
the first son Judah gave the name to, but his wife named this, so called from grief or sorrow; the reason of it, according to the above Targum, was,

``because his father would mourn for him;''

he was a Benoni, see ( Genesis 35:18 ) , whose sin and immature death caused sorrow.

Genesis 38:4 In-Context

2 And there he saw the daughter of a certain man of Canaan named Shua, and took her as his wife.

3 And she gave birth to a son, and he gave him the name Er.

4 And again she gave birth to a son, and he gave him the name Onan.

5 Then she had another son, to whom she gave the name Shelah; she was at Chezib when the birth took place.

6 And Judah took a wife for his first son Er, and her name was Tamar.