^38:8Then Judah said to Onan, “Have sexual relations with¹³ your brother’s wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her so that you may raise¹⁴ up a descendant for your brother.”¹⁵

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Footnotes

13 Heb “go to.” The expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
14 The imperative with the prefixed conjunction here indicates purpose.
15 Raise up a descendant for your brother. The purpose of this custom, called the levirate system, was to ensure that no line of the family would become extinct. The name of the deceased was to be maintained through this custom of having a child by the nearest relative. See M. Burrows, “Levirate Marriage in Israel,” 59 (1940): 23–33.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and produce offspring for your brother.”

NLTNew Living Translation

Then Judah said to Er’s brother Onan, “Go and marry Tamar, as our law requires of the brother of a man who has died. You must produce an heir for your brother.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to the wife of your brother and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”

KJV 1900King James Version

And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

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