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).
