Onan
Encyclopedia
Onan is a minor biblical person in the Book of Genesis , who was the second son of Judah. Just like his older brother, Er
, Onan died prematurely by YHWH
's will for being wicked.
After Onan's brother Er died, his father Judah told him to fulfill his duty as a brother-in-law to Tamar, by giving her offspring. Centuries later, in the days of Moses
, this practice was formulated into a law of a Levirate marriage
, where the brother of the deceased would provide offspring to the childless widow to preserve the family line.
However, when Onan had sex with Tamar, he disregarded this principle when he withdrew
before climax and "spilled his seed (or semen
) on the ground", since any child born would not legally be considered his heir. This he did several times,
disregarding the principle of a Levirate union, and was accordingly sentenced to death by Yahweh for this wickedness. This biblical story does not refer to masturbation
, but to coitus interruptus
.
who contextually read this passage, the description of Onan is an eponym
ous aetiological story concerning fluctuations in the constituency of the tribe of Judah
, with the death of Onan reflecting the dying out of a clan
; Er and Onan are hence viewed as each being representative of a clan, with Onan possibly representing an Edom
ite clan named Onam, mentioned by an Edomite genealogy
in Genesis.
Also, it has been suggested that God's anger was directed not at the sexual act, but at Onan's disobedience by refusing to impregnate his brother's widow.
The text emphasizes the social and legal situation, with Judah explaining what Onan must do and why. A plain reading of the text is that Onan was killed because he refused to follow instructions. Scholars have argued that the secondary purpose of the narrative about Onan and Tamar, of which the description of Onan is a part, was to either assert the institution of levirate marriage, or present an aetiological myth for its origin; Onan's role in the narrative is, thus, as the brother abusing his obligations by agreeing to sexual intercourse
with his dead brother's wife, but refusing to allow her to become pregnant as a result. Emerton
regards the evidence for this to be inconclusive, although classical rabbinical writers argued that this narrative describes the origin of levirate marriage.
argues that this was where the death penalty's imposition originated. This interpretation was held by several early Christian apologists
. Jerome
, for example, argued:
Clement of Alexandria
, while not making explicit reference to Onan, similarly reflects an early Christian view of the abhorrence of '"spilling seed'":
regulations concerning ejaculation
, whether as a result of heterosexual intercourse or not, merely prescribe a ritual washing, and remaining ritually impure until the next day began on the following evening.
(1930) invokes this Biblical text in support of the teaching of the Catholic Church against contracepted sex
.
Er (Biblical name)
In the Biblical Book of Genesis, Er was the eldest son of Judah, and is described as marrying Tamar; According to the text, Yahweh killed Er because he was wicked, although it doesn't give any further details...
, Onan died prematurely by YHWH
Yahweh
Yahweh is the name of God in the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jews and Christians.The word Yahweh is a modern scholarly convention for the Hebrew , transcribed into Roman letters as YHWH and known as the Tetragrammaton, for which the original pronunciation is unknown...
's will for being wicked.
After Onan's brother Er died, his father Judah told him to fulfill his duty as a brother-in-law to Tamar, by giving her offspring. Centuries later, in the days of Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
, this practice was formulated into a law of a Levirate marriage
Levirate marriage
Levirate marriage is a type of marriage in which the brother of a deceased man is obligated to marry his brother's widow, and the widow is obligated to marry her deceased husband's brother....
, where the brother of the deceased would provide offspring to the childless widow to preserve the family line.
However, when Onan had sex with Tamar, he disregarded this principle when he withdrew
Coitus interruptus
Coitus interruptus, also known as the rejected sexual intercourse, withdrawal or pull-out method, is a method of birth-control in which a man, during intercourse withdraws his penis from a woman's vagina prior to ejaculation...
before climax and "spilled his seed (or semen
Semen
Semen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that may contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...
) on the ground", since any child born would not legally be considered his heir. This he did several times,
disregarding the principle of a Levirate union, and was accordingly sentenced to death by Yahweh for this wickedness. This biblical story does not refer to masturbation
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
, but to coitus interruptus
Coitus interruptus
Coitus interruptus, also known as the rejected sexual intercourse, withdrawal or pull-out method, is a method of birth-control in which a man, during intercourse withdraws his penis from a woman's vagina prior to ejaculation...
.
Criticism
According to some Bible criticsBiblical criticism
Biblical criticism is the scholarly "study and investigation of Biblical writings that seeks to make discerning judgments about these writings." It asks when and where a particular text originated; how, why, by whom, for whom, and in what circumstances it was produced; what influences were at work...
who contextually read this passage, the description of Onan is an eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous aetiological story concerning fluctuations in the constituency of the tribe of Judah
Tribe of Judah
According to the Hebrew Bible, the Tribe of Judah was one of the Tribes of Israel.Following the completion of the conquest of Canaan by the Israelite tribes after about 1200 BCE, Joshua allocated the land among the twelve tribes....
, with the death of Onan reflecting the dying out of a clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
; Er and Onan are hence viewed as each being representative of a clan, with Onan possibly representing an Edom
Edom
Edom or Idumea was a historical region of the Southern Levant located south of Judea and the Dead Sea. It is mentioned in biblical records as a 1st millennium BC Iron Age kingdom of Edom, and in classical antiquity the cognate name Idumea was used to refer to a smaller area in the same region...
ite clan named Onam, mentioned by an Edomite genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
in Genesis.
Also, it has been suggested that God's anger was directed not at the sexual act, but at Onan's disobedience by refusing to impregnate his brother's widow.
The text emphasizes the social and legal situation, with Judah explaining what Onan must do and why. A plain reading of the text is that Onan was killed because he refused to follow instructions. Scholars have argued that the secondary purpose of the narrative about Onan and Tamar, of which the description of Onan is a part, was to either assert the institution of levirate marriage, or present an aetiological myth for its origin; Onan's role in the narrative is, thus, as the brother abusing his obligations by agreeing to sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
with his dead brother's wife, but refusing to allow her to become pregnant as a result. Emerton
Regius Professor of Hebrew
The Regius Professorship of Hebrew, founded by Henry VIII, is a professorship at both Cambridge and Oxford Universities.- List of Regius Professors of Hebrew at Cambridge :...
regards the evidence for this to be inconclusive, although classical rabbinical writers argued that this narrative describes the origin of levirate marriage.
Classical views
Early writers have sometimes focused on the spilling seed, and the sexual act being used for non-procreational purposes. One opinion expressed in the TalmudTalmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
argues that this was where the death penalty's imposition originated. This interpretation was held by several early Christian apologists
Christian apologetics
Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and expose the perceived flaws of other world views...
. Jerome
Jerome
Saint Jerome was a Roman Christian priest, confessor, theologian and historian, and who became a Doctor of the Church. He was the son of Eusebius, of the city of Stridon, which was on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia...
, for example, argued:
- "But I wonder why he the heretic Jovinianus set Judah and Tamar before us for an example, unless perchance even harlots give him pleasure; or Onan, who was slain because he grudged his brother his seed. Does he imagine that we approve of any sexual intercourse except for the procreation of children?"
Clement of Alexandria
Clement of Alexandria
Titus Flavius Clemens , known as Clement of Alexandria , was a Christian theologian and the head of the noted Catechetical School of Alexandria. Clement is best remembered as the teacher of Origen...
, while not making explicit reference to Onan, similarly reflects an early Christian view of the abhorrence of '"spilling seed'":
- "Because of its divine institution for the propagation of man, the seed is not to be vainly ejaculatedEjaculationEjaculation is the ejecting of semen from the male reproductory tract, and is usually accompanied by orgasm. It is usually the final stage and natural objective of male sexual stimulation, and an essential component of natural conception. In rare cases ejaculation occurs because of prostatic disease...
, nor is it to be damaged, nor is it to be wasted"
- "To have coitus other than to procreate children is to do injury to nature"
Early Jewish views
The view of wasted seed referring to masturbation, was upheld by many early rabbis. However, the LeviticalLeviticus
The Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, and the third of five books of the Torah ....
regulations concerning ejaculation
Keri
Keri is a Hebrew term which literally means "happenstance", "frivolity" or "contrariness" and has come to mean "seminal emission". The term is generally used in Jewish law to refer specifically to the regulations and rituals concerning the emission of semen, whether by nocturnal emission, or by...
, whether as a result of heterosexual intercourse or not, merely prescribe a ritual washing, and remaining ritually impure until the next day began on the following evening.
Roman Catholic views
The papal encyclical Casti ConnubiiCasti Connubii
Castī Connūbiī was a papal encyclical promulgated by Pope Pius XI on December 31, 1930 in response to the Lambeth Conference of the Anglican church. It stressed the sanctity of marriage, prohibited Catholics from using any form of artificial birth control, and reaffirmed the prohibition on abortion...
(1930) invokes this Biblical text in support of the teaching of the Catholic Church against contracepted sex
Christian views on contraception
Prior to the 20th century, contraception was generally condemned by all the major branches of Christianity including the major reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin...
.
Influences
- Timothy FindleyTimothy FindleyTimothy Irving Frederick Findley, OC, O.Ont was a Canadian novelist and playwright. He was also informally known by the nickname Tiff or Tiffy, an acronym of his initials.-Biography:...
uses a phrase "The Rain of Onan" in his novel Not Wanted on the VoyageNot Wanted on the VoyageNot Wanted on the Voyage is a novel by Canadian author Timothy Findley, which presents a magic realist post-modern re-telling of the Great Flood in the biblical Book of Genesis. It was first published by Viking Canada in the autumn of 1984.-Plot summary:...
(1984). "it was now that the rain, having lost its translucence and its mauveness, began to take on an opaque milky look, and Noah said that what had been an "evil" rain was now a 'passionate' rain being poured from the sky-spent and wasted on the dying earth and this he called 'The Rain of Onan.'"
- Robert Jordan, the main character in Ernest Hemingway's book "For Whom the Bell Tolls", also makes reference to Onan, the night before he is due to fight in battle:
He smiled and thought: "I'll keep any oversupply of that for tomorrow. I'll need all of that there is tomorrow. There are no pine needles that need that now as I will need it tomorrow. Who was it cast his seed upon the ground in the Bible? Onan. How did Onan turn out?" he thought. "I don't remember ever hearing any more about Onan". He smiled in the dark.
- Christopher Moore references the story of Onan in his book LambLamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood PalLamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal is the sixth novel by absurdist author Christopher Moore, published in 2002. In this work the author seeks to fill in the "lost" years of Jesus through the point of view of Jesus' childhood pal, "Levi bar Alphaeus who is called Biff".The...
:
"The sin of Onan. Spilling the old seed on the ground. Cuffing the camel. Dusting the donkey. Flogging the Pharisee. Onanism, a sin that requires hundreds of hours of practice to get right, or at least that's what I told myself."
- Italian rock band VerdenaVerdenaVerdena are an Italian alternative rock band originating from Albino, Bergamo. As of February 2011, they have released five full-length albums on Universal music.-History:...
has a song titled "Onan" on their album, Solo un Grande Sasso (Only a Large Stone).
- Japanese cartoonist Demerin Kaneko makes reference to Onan in her manga Iyan, Ecchi no Suke
- Tom StoppardTom StoppardSir Tom Stoppard OM, CBE, FRSL is a British playwright, knighted in 1997. He has written prolifically for TV, radio, film and stage, finding prominence with plays such as Arcadia, The Coast of Utopia, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Professional Foul, The Real Thing, and Rosencrantz and...
makes reference to Onan in his play ArcadiaArcadia (play)Arcadia is a 1993 play by Tom Stoppard concerning the relationship between past and present and between order and disorder and the certainty of knowledge...
in the following exchange in Scene One:
Septimus [...] I am sorry that the seed fell on stony ground.
Thomasina That was the sin of Onan, wasn't it, Septimus?
Septimus Yes. He was giving his brother's wife a Latin lesson and she was hardly the wiser after it than before.
- Though Onan is not named, the idea is referenced in the song "Every Sperm is SacredEvery Sperm Is Sacred"Every Sperm Is Sacred" is a musical sketch from the movie Monty Python's The Meaning of Life. The song was released on the album Monty Python Sings and was nominated for a BAFTA Music Award for Best Original Song in a Film in 1983...
" in the Monty PythonMonty PythonMonty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
film The Meaning of LifeThe Meaning of LifeMonty Python's The Meaning of Life is a 1983 comedy film by the Monty Python team. Unlike Holy Grail and Life of Brian, this movie's two immediate predecessors, which each told a single, more or less coherent story, The Meaning of Life returns to the sketch comedy format of the troupe's original...
- ONAN is the acronymical name of the conglomerate North American government in David Foster WallaceDavid Foster WallaceDavid Foster Wallace was an American author of novels, essays, and short stories, and a professor at Pomona College in Claremont, California...
's novel Infinite JestInfinite JestInfinite Jest is a 1996 novel by David Foster Wallace. The lengthy and complex work takes place in a semi-parodic future version of North America, and touches on tennis, substance addiction and recovery programs, depression, child abuse, family relationships, advertising and popular entertainment,...
.
- Cabaret group Fascinating AidaFascinating AidaFascinating Aïda is a British comedy singing group and satirical cabaret act, which has retired twice, most recently in 2004. After the death in 2007 of the group's pianist and musical director, Russell Churney, all plans for a new show were shelved. Some of their most famous songs include...
mention Onan in their song 'Getting It':
It's barbaric, he's like Conan
Wish he'd do it on his Onan
Couldn't he make do with a cup of tea?
- The folk band Poxy BoggardsPoxy BoggardsThe Poxy Boggards are an American all-male folk band based in Pasadena. They were founded in 1994 at the Southern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire. Since this time, they have achieved success in the re-burgeoning of the Irish-folk movement, playing with bands such as The Fenians...
sings a tribute to Onan in the song "The Ballad of Onan."