Genesis 38:9

38:9 But Onan knew that the child ¹  would not be considered his. ²  So whenever ³  he had sexual relations with ⁴  his brother’s wife, he withdrew prematurely ⁵  so as not to give his brother a descendant.

¹ tn Heb “offspring.”

² tn Heb “would not be his,” that is, legally speaking. Under the levirate system the child would be legally considered the child of his deceased brother.

³ tn The construction shows that this was a repeated practice and not merely one action.

⁴ tn Heb “he went to.” This expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.

⁵ tn Heb “he spoiled [his semen] to the ground.” Onan withdrew prematurely and ejaculated on the ground to prevent his brother’s widow from becoming pregnant.