6147. Er
Lexical Summary
Er: Er

Original Word: עֵר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: `Er
Pronunciation: ayr
Phonetic Spelling: (ayr)
KJV: Er
NASB: Er
Word Origin: [from H5782 (עוּר - awake)]

1. watchful
2. Er, the name of two Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
watchful; Er, the name of two Israelites

From uwr; watchful; Er, the name of two Israelites -- Er.

see HEBREW uwr

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from ur
Definition
two men of Judah
NASB Translation
Er (10).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
עֵר proper name, masculine Ηρ (compare עוּר Qal Participle); —

1 eldest son of Judah Genesis 38:3,6 = 1 Chronicles 2:3 (twice in verse), Genesis 38:7; Genesis 46:12 (twice in verse); Numbers 26:19 (twice in verse)

2 son of Judah's son Shelah 1 Chronicles 4:21. — See also

Qal Participle עֵר above

Topical Lexicon
Occurrences and Identification

The name עֵר (Er) appears ten times, always as a proper masculine name. Scripture distinguishes two men named Er, both related to the tribe of Judah:

1. Er son of Judah and a Canaanite woman, Shua’s daughter (Genesis 38:3, 6–7; Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19; 1 Chronicles 2:3).
2. Er son of Shelah, grandson of Judah through Shua (1 Chronicles 4:21).

Biblical Narrative

Er the firstborn of Judah is introduced in Genesis 38, a chapter that pauses the Joseph narrative to trace Judah’s line. Genesis 38:7 records, “But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death.” His specific sin is unrevealed, underscoring that divine judgment can fall without the details being disclosed to readers. The early death of Er precipitates the levirate-marriage episode involving Onan and Tamar, a practice later codified in Deuteronomy 25:5–10. The failure of Judah’s sons necessitates Judah himself to father Perez and Zerah by Tamar, preserving the messianic line (Matthew 1:3).

Subsequent genealogies mention Er only to note his death (Genesis 46:12; Numbers 26:19) or to keep historical records (1 Chronicles 2:3). These listings affirm the factual nature of his existence while highlighting that he left no posterity.

The second Er appears centuries later in post-exilic genealogies: “The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lechah…” (1 Chronicles 4:21). Nothing adverse is said of him; rather, he is noted for founding a clan in Judah. His inclusion illustrates the restoration of Judah’s fortunes after exile and God’s ongoing faithfulness to the tribe.

Theological Significance

1. Divine holiness and judgment: Er’s death testifies that God’s moral standards apply equally to covenant family members and outsiders. Judah’s house, destined for kingship, is not exempt from discipline (compare Hebrews 12:6).
2. Sovereign preservation of promise: By removing Er and Onan, the Lord guided events so that Perez would arise, through whom David and ultimately Jesus the Messiah descended. Human sin could not thwart God’s redemptive plan.
3. Witness to genealogical integrity: The chronicler’s dual listing of Er—one judged, one honored—demonstrates Scripture’s balanced record-keeping, neither omitting failure nor diminishing later grace.

Genealogical Role in Messianic Line

Although Er himself produced no heir, his narrative is indispensable. The levirate context set the stage for Perez, whose name appears in every messianic genealogy (Ruth 4:18–22; Matthew 1:3; Luke 3:33). Er’s omission from that line is a sobering reminder that biological position alone does not guarantee participation in God’s purposes; obedience does.

Lessons for Faith and Ministry

• Personal righteousness matters: Visible position in a believing community does not shield one from divine accountability.
• God redeems broken situations: Judah’s compromised household became the channel for salvation history, encouraging believers to trust God’s ability to overrule human failure.
• Heritage and legacy: The second Er illustrates that a restored lineage can be fruitful. Ministry should aim not merely at starting well but at finishing well and leaving a faithful heritage.
• Importance of spiritual vigilance: The root meaning often associated with ער (“awake” or “watchful”) challenges believers to remain alert, lest sin cut short useful service as it did for Judah’s firstborn.

Related Topics for Further Study

Levirate marriage; Genealogies of Jesus Christ; Discipline in the covenant community; Judah’s tribal history; Divine sovereignty in election and judgment.

Forms and Transliterations
לְעֵ֣ר לער עֵ֚ר עֵ֛ר עֵ֣ר עֵ֣ר ׀ עֵ֤ר עֵ֧ר עֵֽר׃ ער ער׃ ‘êr Er lə‘êr lə·‘êr leEr
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 38:3
HEB: אֶת־ שְׁמ֖וֹ עֵֽר׃
NAS: a son and he named him Er.
KJV: and he called his name Er.
INT: called his name Er

Genesis 38:6
HEB: יְהוּדָ֛ה אִשָּׁ֖ה לְעֵ֣ר בְּכוֹר֑וֹ וּשְׁמָ֖הּ
NAS: a wife for Er his firstborn,
KJV: a wife for Er his firstborn,
INT: now Judah A wife Er his firstborn name

Genesis 38:7
HEB: וַיְהִ֗י עֵ֚ר בְּכ֣וֹר יְהוּדָ֔ה
NAS: But Er, Judah's firstborn,
KJV: And Er, Judah's firstborn,
INT: become Er firstborn Judah's

Genesis 46:12
HEB: וּבְנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה עֵ֧ר וְאוֹנָ֛ן וְשֵׁלָ֖ה
NAS: of Judah: Er and Onan
KJV: of Judah; Er, and Onan,
INT: the sons of Judah Er and Onan and Shelah

Genesis 46:12
HEB: וָזָ֑רַח וַיָּ֨מָת עֵ֤ר וְאוֹנָן֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ
NAS: and Zerah (but Er and Onan
KJV: and Zerah: but Er and Onan
INT: and Zerah died Er and Onan the land

Numbers 26:19
HEB: בְּנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה עֵ֣ר וְאוֹנָ֑ן וַיָּ֥מָת
NAS: of Judah [were] Er and Onan,
KJV: of Judah [were] Er and Onan:
INT: the sons of Judah Er and Onan died

Numbers 26:19
HEB: וְאוֹנָ֑ן וַיָּ֥מָת עֵ֛ר וְאוֹנָ֖ן בְּאֶ֥רֶץ
NAS: and Onan, but Er and Onan
KJV: and Onan: and Er and Onan
INT: and Onan died Er and Onan the land

1 Chronicles 2:3
HEB: בְּנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה עֵ֤ר וְאוֹנָן֙ וְשֵׁלָ֔ה
NAS: of Judah [were] Er, Onan
KJV: of Judah; Er, and Onan,
INT: the sons of Judah Er Onan and Shelah

1 Chronicles 2:3
HEB: הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑ית וַיְהִ֞י עֵ֣ר ׀ בְּכ֣וֹר יְהוּדָ֗ה
NAS: the Canaanitess. And Er, Judah's
KJV: the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn
INT: the Canaanitess become and Er firstborn Judah's

1 Chronicles 4:21
HEB: בֶן־ יְהוּדָ֔ה עֵ֚ר אֲבִ֣י לֵכָ֔ה
NAS: of Judah [were] Er the father
KJV: of Judah [were], Er the father
INT: the son of Judah Er the father of Lecah

10 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6147
10 Occurrences


‘êr — 9 Occ.
lə·‘êr — 1 Occ.

6146
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