Verse

Genesis 38:6

ESV And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
NIV Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
NASB Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
CSB Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
NLT In the course of time, Judah arranged for his firstborn son, Er, to marry a young woman named Tamar.
KJV And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
NKJV Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

What does Genesis 38:6 mean?

Judah has moved away from the rest of his family (Genesis 38:1–3), married a Canaanite woman, and had several sons. The oldest is Er, who has now reached a marriageable age. Judah finds his son a wife, also likely a Canaanite, named Tamar. This continues Judah's defiance of the directive not to intermarry with the idol-worshipping Canaanite people (Genesis 28:1).

Sadly, Er's life will be cut short. Scripture gives no details other than to say he is killed by God in punishment for his sins (Genesis 38:7). Following custom, Tamar will be given to Er's brother Onan, to provide Er with descendants and Tamar with children to support her. That marriage, as well, will end in sin and tragedy (Genesis 38:7–10).
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Context Summary
Genesis 38:6–11 explains how Tamar came to be widowed twice. Judah's eldest, Er, marries Tamar but is killed by God for unspecified sins. By tradition, a widow would be given to the next surviving brother, with any resulting children considered successors of the deceased man. Er's brother, Onan, takes Tamar as a wife, including intercourse, but deliberately avoids providing her with children. For taking sexual advantage of Tamar, Onan is also killed by God. Judah apparently blames Tamar for his sons' deaths and tells her to wait before being married to the next brother, Shelah. When it becomes clear that Judah won't care for her, Tamar makes plans of her own.
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Chapter Summary
Jacob's son Judah marries a Canaanite woman and has three sons. His first son marries a woman called Tamar but is put to death by God for an unnamed sin. Judah follows tradition and marries Er's widow to the next oldest brother. Onan takes advantage of the situation for sex, but deliberately refuses to give her children. God puts him to death as well. When Judah abandons Tamar, she disguises herself as a prostitute and has sex with him. Found to be pregnant, she proves Judah is the father, and he admits his guilt. She then gives birth to twin boys.
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