Er עֵר
Judah's firstborn son, killed by God for his wickedness.
Who is Er in the Bible?
Er was the firstborn son of Judah and his Canaanite wife, the daughter of Shua, as recorded in Genesis 38:3 and 1 Chronicles 2:3. He married a woman named Tamar, but the Lord put him to death because of his wickedness, though the specific nature of his sin is not detailed in Scripture (Genesis 38:6-7). After Er's death, Judah instructed his second son, Onan, to practice levirate marriage with Tamar to produce an heir for his deceased brother, though Onan also displeased the Lord and was executed. Despite his brief life, Er appears in the genealogies of Judah (Genesis 46:12, Numbers 26:19, 1 Chronicles 2:3), which underscores the theological significance of Judah's lineage in the unfolding of God's plan of salvation.
Biography
Er was the firstborn son of Judah and his Canaanite wife, the daughter of Shua (Gen. 38:3; 1 Ch. 2:3). He married Tamar, but the Lord put him to death because of his wickedness (Gen. 38:6-7). The nature of his wickedness is not specified in the text.
After Er's death, Judah instructed his second son, Onan, to marry Tamar and produce offspring for his deceased brother, a practice known as levirate marriage (Gen. 38:8). However, Onan also displeased the Lord and was put to death (Gen. 38:9-10).
Er is mentioned again in the genealogy of Judah (Gen. 46:12; Num. 26:19; 1 Ch. 2:3), which highlights the significance of his lineage despite his early death. His inclusion in these genealogies emphasizes the importance of Judah's descendants, particularly in light of the Messianic promise that would ultimately be fulfilled through this tribe (Gen. 49:10).
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Onan Tribe of JudahSon of JudahSon of JudahView full profile →
- Shelah Tribe of JudahSon of JudahJudah's youngest son and his descendantsView full profile →
- Perez Tribe of JudahSon of JudahSon of Judah, ancestor of David and JesusView full profile →
- Zerah Tribe of JudahJudah's sonSon of Judah, twin of PerezView full profile →
In Scripture
3 biblical books ; 1 with study contentGenesis 4 verses
- Genesis 38:3
"So she conceived and gave birth to a son, and Judah named him Er."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 38:6
"Now Judah acquired a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 38:7
"But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 46:12
"The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul."
Study Genesis →
Numbers 1 verse
- Numbers 26:19
"The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan."
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 2:3
"The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanite. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | עֵר |