Bible Strands
Genesis 38:7
But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Judah’s firstborn son Er is the subject, occurring after Judah arranged Er’s marriage to Tamar and before Judah commanded Onan to fulfill his levirate duty.
The words — The Hebrew phrase בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה (be/'ei.Nei Yah.weh) literally means "in the eyes of Yahweh," while וַ/יְמִתֵ֖/הוּ (va/y.mi.Te./hu) translates to "and he put him to death."
The thread — The narrative of Er’s death and his lineage appears in 1 Chronicles 2:3, Genesis 46:12, and Numbers 26:19.
Why it lands — The text states that Er’s wickedness directly triggered divine execution, requiring a reader to acknowledge God’s immediate judgment on moral corruption before the narrative shifts to Judah’s family line.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.
Cross-references
- 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.
- 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.
- Numbers 26:19 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.
- Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked, sinning greatly against the LORD.
- Genesis 19:13 because we are about to destroy this place. For the outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that He has sent us to destroy it.”
- Psalms 55:23 But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
- Genesis 6:8 Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 33:6 He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.