Genesis 38:7
But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death.
But Er, Judah’s firstborn,

Er was Judah’s eldest son and Tamar’s husband. Though the firstborn ordinarily held a place of inheritance and family leadership, Er’s place in Judah’s line was cut short. Judah’s family would nevertheless remain central to God’s covenant purposes, ultimately through Perez, Judah’s son by Tamar, in the ancestry of David and Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:3).

1Ch 2:3 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah.…
Gen 46:12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah;…
Num 26:19 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died…

was wicked in the sight of the LORD;

Er’s evil was fully known to God, even though Scripture does not record its particular form. The Lord judges human conduct according to His holy standard and sees what may be hidden from others.

2Ki 21:2 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD…
1Ki 16:25 But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD…
Deu 4:25 After you have children and grandchildren…

so the LORD put him to death.

Er’s death was a direct act of divine judgment and reveals the seriousness of sin before a holy God. His removal also set in motion the events involving Tamar, through whom God preserved Judah’s family line and advanced the promised lineage leading to the Messiah.

1Sa 2:25 If a man sins against another man, God can intercede…
Num 16:32-35 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them…
Act 5:1-11 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Er
The firstborn son of Judah and Shua's daughter. His wickedness in the sight of the LORD led to his death.

2. Judah
One of the twelve sons of Jacob, whose lineage is significant in the history of Israel and the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

3. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who is just and righteous, executing judgment on wickedness.

4. Death of Er
A divine act of judgment due to Er's wickedness, demonstrating God's intolerance of sin.
Teaching Points
The Seriousness of Sin
Er's death underscores the seriousness with which God views sin. It serves as a reminder that sin has consequences, both temporal and eternal.

God's Righteous Judgment
God's decision to put Er to death highlights His righteousness and justice. It is a call for believers to live in a way that is pleasing to God, avoiding wickedness.

The Importance of Holiness
As followers of Christ, we are called to pursue holiness and righteousness, understanding that God desires purity in His people.

The Role of Accountability
This passage encourages believers to hold one another accountable in their walk with God, recognizing that unchecked sin can lead to severe consequences.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does Er's death teach us about the nature of sin and its consequences?

2. How can we apply the principle of God's righteous judgment in our daily lives?

3. In what ways can we pursue holiness and avoid the pitfalls of wickedness as seen in Er's life?

4. How does the account of Er relate to the broader account of God's justice throughout the Bible?

5. What steps can we take to hold ourselves and others accountable in our spiritual journey, in light of Er's example?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 6:5-7
This passage describes God's grief over human wickedness, leading to the judgment of the flood. It parallels the divine judgment seen in Er's death.

Numbers 16:31-35
The rebellion of Korah and his followers results in their destruction, illustrating God's swift judgment on sin.

Romans 6:23
This verse speaks to the wages of sin being death, a principle evident in Er's fate.

1 Corinthians 10:11
This passage reminds us that the events in the Old Testament serve as examples and warnings for us today.
JudahM. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.Genesis 38:1-7
LessonsG. Hughes, B. D.Genesis 38:1-7
LessonsG. Hughes, B. D.Genesis 38:1-7
The Character of JudahT. H. Leale.Genesis 38:1-7
The Lessons of Judah's HistoryT. H. Leale.Genesis 38:1-7
The Goodness and Severity of GodR.A. Redford Genesis 38
People
Canaanitish, Er, Hirah, Onan, Perez, Pharez, Shelah, Shua, Shuah, Tamar, Timnah, Zarah, Zerah
Places
Chezib, Enaim, Timnah
Topics
Death, Er, Evil, Firstborn, First-born, Judah's, Killed, Lord's, Sight, Slew, Wicked
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Genesis 38:6-11

     5661   brothers
     5737   sisters

Genesis 38:6-26

     5674   daughters

Library
Because, Therefore, Lying Heretics Find not in the Books of the New Testament Any...
29. Because, therefore, lying heretics find not in the books of the New Testament any precedents of lying which are meet to be imitated, they esteem themselves to be most copious in their disputation wherein they opine that it is right to lie, when from the old prophetical books, because it doth not appear therein, save to the few who understand, to what must be referred the significative sayings and doings which as such be true, they seem to themselves to find out and allege many that be lies. But
St. Augustine—Against Lying

Cix. Jewish Rulers Seek to Ensnare Jesus.
(Court of the Temple. Tuesday, April 4, a.d. 30.) Subdivision B. Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection. ^A Matt. XXII. 23-33; ^B Mark XII. 18-27; ^C Luke XX. 27-39. ^a 23 On that day there came { ^b come} unto him ^c certain of the the Sadducees, they that { ^b who} say there is no resurrection [As to the Sadducees, see p. 71. We may regard their attitude toward Christ as expressed by their leader Caiaphas, see p. 528]; and they asked him, saying, 19 Teacher, Moses wrote unto us [See Deut. xxv. 5,
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Annunciation to Joseph of the Birth of Jesus.
(at Nazareth, b.c. 5.) ^A Matt. I. 18-25. ^a 18 Now the birth [The birth of Jesus is to handled with reverential awe. We are not to probe into its mysteries with presumptuous curiosity. The birth of common persons is mysterious enough (Eccl. ix. 5; Ps. cxxxix. 13-16), and we do not well, therefore, if we seek to be wise above what is written as to the birth of the Son of God] of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed [The Jews were usually betrothed ten or twelve months
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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