Who was Er?

Father of the faithful

The story of Er

Er - Er was a son of Judah and a brother of Onan and Shelah, according to the book of…
Er - Er was a son of Judah and a brother of Onan and Shelah, according to the book of…

Er was a son of Judah and a brother of Onan and Shelah, according to the book of Genesis in the Bible. He lived in the land of Canaan and was killed by God for his wickedness. Little else is known about Er.

Name meaning

The name "Er" has historical and biblical roots. In the Bible, Er is a minor character—a son of Judah and the husband of Tamar, mentioned in the Book of Genesis. This name is of Hebrew origin, and it is considered to mean "awake" or "watchful." However, Er is not widely used as a given name in modern times, and its meaning may not hold significant cultural recognition outside of its biblical context.

Name origin

Hebrew

First mention

Genesis 1:2

Appearances in the Bible

21975 mentions

Family

Relatives of Er

Er in the Bible

Explore all 10 chapters where Er appears

Genesis

Chapter 10

The Nations of the Earth

This chapter lists the descendants of the three sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. It also describes the different na...

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Genesis

Chapter 38

The Story of Judah and Tamar

The chapter tells the stories of Judah and Tamar, and of Judah and his three sons.

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Genesis

Chapter 46

Jacob and His Family Move to Egypt

Jacob and his family move to Egypt and settle in the land of Goshen.

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Numbers

Chapter 26

The Census of the Israelites

A second census is taken of the Israelites and the land is apportioned among the tribes.

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Luke

Chapter 3

The Ministry of John the Baptist

John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus, who begins His ministry with a baptism and the descent of the Holy Spirit.

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The Acts of the Apostles

Chapter 19

The Riot in Ephesus

Paul performs miracles in Ephesus and teaches about the Holy Spirit.

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Romans

Chapter 16

Greetings and Closing Remarks

Paul greets some of his friends and closes the letter.

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1 Chronicles

Chapter 2

Genealogy of David

A genealogy of each of the twelve tribes of Israel, detailing their family lineages and populations.

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1 Chronicles

Chapter 4

Descendants of Judah and Simeon

A genealogy of each of the twelve tribes of Israel, detailing their family lineages and populations.

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2 Timothy

Chapter 4

Final Exhortations and Farewell

Paul encourages Timothy to be ready to defend the faith, to preach the word, and to fulfill his ministry. He also gives ...

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Showing all 10 chapter appearances