What was the sin of Onan?

[Joe Chandler]

Here is the account in Genesis 38:8-10 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. 9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

Please notice Judah’s instructions to Onan in verse 8. “and marry her (Tamar), and raise up seed to thy brother.” This means that the product of the union of Tamar and Onan would inherit Er’s birthright, not Onan himself. This duty of the husband’s brother is later codified by Moses in Deut 25:5-10.

Deuteronomy 25:5-10 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. 6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel. 7 And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; 9 Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. 10 And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.

Onan did not want to raise up seed to his brother, so in verse 9, he spilled his seed on the ground to prevent Tamar from bearing a child. Onan’s sin was not the act of spilling his seed per se but was disobedience to his father and refusing to raise up seed to his brother. This whole issue is raised in the book of Ruth. If there is any interest in this topic, I will explain Ruth 4 in the light of Gen 38.

[SureWord]

Yup, not a sin we have to worry about today.

[Joe Chandler]

21 minutes ago, SureWord said:

Yup, not a sin we have to worry about today.

Except as it pertains to Jewish history and the lineage of Christ.

[BrotherTony]

I'm thankful that this was only given to Israel, and not to the Gentiles. I don't think I would want any of my brothers raising up seed for me if I was to die. I believe I'm the only one amongst my brothers that hasn't been arrested or spent time in prison. Don't get me wrong. They're not bad people, but they have made some really bad choices at times which they've had to pay for.

Edited June 20, 2023 by BrotherTony

[Joe Chandler]

As recorded in 3 gospels, Matt 22, Mark 12, and Luke 20, the Sadducees use this very law to disprove the resurrection.

Mark 12:18-27   Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,  19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.  20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.  21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.  22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. 23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. 24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? 25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. 26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.