Who was Onan?

The story of Onan

Onan is best known for his role in the story of Judah and Tamar, which is found in the book of Genesis. In the story, Judah promised to give his son, Er, to Tamar as a husband. When Er died, Judah told Onan to fulfill the promise and marry Tamar.

Onan refused, and instead spilled his seed on the ground when he went in to Tamar. This displeased God, and Onan was killed. Onan is best known for his disobedience to God, and for the phrase "onanism," which is derived from his name and refers to the act of masturbation.

He is also remembered for his role in the story of Judah and Tamar, which is seen as a lesson in the importance of fulfilling promises.

Name meaning

The name "Onan" is of biblical origin, most notably appearing in the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. In the Book of Genesis, Onan is the second son of Judah. The story of Onan is often associated with the concept of "onanism," due to his actions in the Bible where he is instructed to perform a levirate marriage with his deceased brother's wife, Tamar, in order to produce offspring in his brother's name. However, Onan disobeys, leading to his punishment by God. The name itself doesn't have a widely recognized specific meaning separate from the biblical narrative. In terms of etymology, some sources suggest that it could have roots in Hebrew, meaning "vigorous" or "strong," but these interpretations are more speculative. In modern use, the name Onan may carry certain historical or religious connotations due to its biblical association, but it is not commonly used as a given name

Name origin

Hebrew

Role

Son of Judah

First mention

Genesis 38:4

Appearances in the Bible

6 mentions

Questions about Onan