Genesis 38:8

38:8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Have sexual relations with ¹  your brother’s wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her so that you may raise ²  up a descendant for your brother.” ³ 

Genesis 27:35

27:35 But Isaac ⁴  replied, “Your brother came in here deceitfully and took away ⁵  your blessing.”

Genesis 33:9

33:9 But Esau said, “I have plenty, my brother. Keep what belongs to you.”

Genesis 43:13

43:13 Take your brother too, and go right away ⁶  to the man. ⁷ 

Genesis 44:19

44:19 My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’

[38:8]  ¹ tn Heb “go to.” The expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.

[38:8]  ² tn The imperative with the prefixed conjunction here indicates purpose.

[38:8]  ³ sn Raise up a descendant for your brother. The purpose of this custom, called the levirate system, was to ensure that no line of the family would become extinct. The name of the deceased was to be maintained through this custom of having a child by the nearest relative. See M. Burrows, “Levirate Marriage in Israel,” JBL 59 (1940): 23-33.

[27:35]  ⁴ tn Heb “and he said”; the referent (Isaac) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[27:35]  ⁵ tn Or “took”; “received.”

[43:13]  ⁷ tn Heb “arise, return,” meaning “get up and go back,” or “go back immediately.”

[43:13]  ⁸ sn The man refers to the Egyptian official, whom the reader or hearer of the narrative knows is Joseph. In this context both the sons and Jacob refer to him simply as “the man” (see vv. 3-7).