KJV ORIGINAL
And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
And Judah said to Onan, 'Go to your brother's wife and marry her, and have children to carry on your brother's family line.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Judah is telling his son Onan to marry his deceased brother's widow and have children who would be considered his brother's descendants.
📚 Historical Context
This verse reflects the ancient Hebrew practice of levirate marriage, where a man was obligated to marry his deceased brother's childless widow to continue the family line and provide for her welfare. This custom was later codified in the Mosaic Law and served both social and economic purposes in ancient Israel, ensuring that family names and inheritances were preserved.
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