Genesis 38:4

4 And she again conceived and bore a son, and she called his 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 Judah saw there the daughter of a Canaanitish man whose name was Shua; and he took her, and went in to her.

3 And she conceived and bore a son; and he called his name Er.

4 And she again conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.

5 And again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah; and he was at Chezib when she bore him.

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