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Er

Er Firstborn of Judah, Husband of Tamar

Old Testamentc. 1900 BC

About Er

Er was Judah's eldest son, born in Canaan to a daughter of Shua. Judah took Tamar for him as a wife. Genesis says only that he was wicked in the sight of the LORD, who slew him, and gives no detail of what he did.

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Er's Character Traits

FirstbornWickedChildless

Er's Life Timeline

  1. Birthc. 1900 BC

    Er is born to Judah in Canaan, his firstborn son.

    GEN 38:3

  2. Married to Tamarc. 1885 BC

    His father takes Tamar as a wife for him.

    GEN 38:6

  3. Deathc. 1884 BC

    Er is wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD slays him.

    GEN 38:7

Who is linked to Er

Who is linked to Er
  • parent of
  • sibling of
  • spouse of
  • covenant with
  • master of
  • in conflict with

Er's Key Relationships

Judah
JudahFamily

Father - Er was his firstborn, by the daughter of Shua.

Onan
OnanFamily

Brother - who was told to raise up seed to him, and would not.

Tamar
TamarFamily

Wife - left a widow by his death, without a child.

Er's Key Locations

Canaan
Canaan

Where he was born, married and died.

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Spiritual Lessons from Er

What Scripture Does Not Say

Genesis says Er was wicked in the sight of the LORD and stops there. No act is named, no speech recorded, no explanation offered. The silence is uncomfortable and deliberate: the text is not a court transcript, and readers who fill the gap are writing their own verse.

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