Bible Dictionary
Onan
Onan was the second son of Judah. He died under God’s judgment because of his evil conduct toward Tamar and his refusal to fulfill his family duty.
Definition
Onan was the second son of Judah by the daughter of Shua. He died before Jacob’s family went down into Egypt.
Biblical Usage
Onan’s conduct toward Tamar was described as evil in the eyes of the Lord, and God judged him with death. His account is connected with the family duty described in relation to a deceased brother’s wife.
Historical Background
The supplied material places his death before the migration of Jacob’s family to Egypt and records him in Judah’s genealogies.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Strong, the second son of Judah (Gen. 38:4-10; comp. Deut. 25:5; Matt. 22:24). He died before the going down of Jacob and his family into Egypt.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(strong), the second son of Judah by the Canaanitess, “the daughter of Shua.” (Genesis 38:4; 1 Chronicles 2:3) “What he did was evil in the eyes of Jehovah and he slew him also, as he had slain his elder brother. (Genesis 38:9) His death took place before the family of Jacob went down into Egypt. (Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19) (B.C. 1706.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>o'-nan ('onan, "vigorous"; compare ONAM, a "son" of Judah (Ge 38:4,8-10; 46:12; Nu 26:19; 1Ch 2:3); "The story of the untimely death of Er and Onan implies that two of the ancient clans of Judah early disappeared" (Curtis, Chron, 84). See Skinner, Gen, 452, where it is pointed out that in Ge 38:11 Judah plainly attributes the death of his sons in some way to Tamar herself. The name is allied to Onam.</p>