Lexical Summary Er: Er Original Word: עֵר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance watchful; Er, the name of two IsraelitesFrom uwr; watchful; Er, the name of two Israelites -- Er. see HEBREW uwr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom 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). 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). 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. 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 leErLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 Genesis 38:7 Genesis 46:12 Genesis 46:12 Numbers 26:19 Numbers 26:19 1 Chronicles 2:3 1 Chronicles 2:3 1 Chronicles 4:21 10 Occurrences |
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