Genesi 38:9

9 Ma Onan, sapendo che quella progenie non sarebbe sua, quando entrava dalla moglie del suo fratello, si corrompeva in terra, per non dar progenie al suo fratello.

Genesi 38:9 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 38:9

And Onan knew that the seed should not be his
Should not be called a son of his, but a son of his brother Er; this is to be understood only of the firstborn; all the rest of the children born afterwards were reckoned the children of the real parent of them; this shows this was a custom in use in those times, and well known, and was not a peculiar case: and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife;
to cohabit with her, as man and wife, he having married her according to his father's direction: that he spilled [it] on the ground, lest he should give his seed to
his brother:
lest his brother's wife he had married should conceive by him, and bear a son that should be called his brother's, and inherit his estate; and this is the sin, which from him is called Onania, a sin condemned by the light of nature, as well as by the word of God, and very prejudicial to mankind, as well as displeasing to God, as follows:

Genesi 38:9 In-Context

7 Ma Er, primogenito di Giuda, dispiacque al Signore, e il Signore lo fece morire.

8 E Giuda disse ad Onon: Entra dalla moglie del tuo fratello, e sposala per ragion di consanguinità, e suscita progenie al tuo fratello.

9 Ma Onan, sapendo che quella progenie non sarebbe sua, quando entrava dalla moglie del suo fratello, si corrompeva in terra, per non dar progenie al suo fratello.

10 E ciò ch’egli faceva dispiacque al Signore; ed egli fece morire ancora lui.

11 E Giuda disse a Tamar, sua nuora: Stattene vedova in casa di tuo padre, finchè Sela, mio figliuolo, sia divenuto grande; perciocchè egli diceva: E’ si convien provvedere che costui ancora non muoia, come i suoi fratelli. Tamar adunque se ne andò, e dimorò in casa di suo padre.