ONAN: A SIN OF REBELLION, NOT A SEXUAL TECHNIQUE

ONAN: A SIN OF REBELLION, NOT A SEXUAL TECHNIQUE Onan appears briefly in Scripture, yet his account is often misunderstood and misused. His story is found in Genesis 38, and it is not primarily about sexual mechanics—it is about deliberate rebellion against God’s revealed will. Onan was the second son of Judah, the patriarch whose lineage would later bring forth kings—and ultimately the Messiah. Judah’s firstborn son, Er, married a woman named Tamar. Scripture tells us only this about Er: “Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.” (Genesis 38:7) The specific nature of Er’s wickedness is not disclosed, but his death sets the stage for what follows. The Law of Levirate Marriage: According to ancient custom later codified in Deuteronomy 25:5–10, when a man died childless, his brother was required to marry the widow and produce offspring in the dead brother’s name. This protected the family line, inheritance, and the widow herself. Onan was commanded to fulfill this duty. But Onan knew the child would not be considered his. Onan’s Sin Genesis 38:9 states plainly: “And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.” This was not a moment of weakness. This was intentional, repeated defiance. Onan was willing to use Tamar for pleasure while refusing the responsibility God required of him. He deliberately sought the benefits of the act while rejecting its God-ordained purpose. Scripture then delivers a sober verdict: “And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.” (Genesis 38:10) God’s judgment fell not because of contraception as a concept, but because of selfishness, deception, covenant violation, and contempt for God’s command. The Story Gets Darker.. Judah had a third son, Shelah, who by custom should have married Tamar. Fearing the loss of another son, Judah withheld him—leaving Tamar childless and dishonored. In a desperate act for justice and survival, Tamar later disguised herself and conceived by Judah himself. She gave birth to twins, Zerah and Perez. And here is where redemption enters the story. God’s Sovereign Grace: Perez—born from a broken, sinful, morally tangled situation—became part of the royal lineage. The Gospel of Matthew records that Perez appears in the genealogy leading to Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:3). This does not excuse the sin. It magnifies God’s grace. The Takeaway: The account of Onan is not about inventing a sexual term. It is about: • Rebellion against God’s revealed will • Selfish misuse of another person • Refusing responsibility while demanding pleasure • The seriousness with which God views covenant obligations And yet—even in this dark chapter—God’s redemptive plan moves forward. Sin never thwarts God’s purposes. But it always carries consequences. - More Joy Ministries