Illustration created for this project.
Er
The wicked firstborn son of Judah, first husband of Tamar.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 3
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Family & lineage
Tribe & people
BibleOf the tribe of Judah.
Genesis 38:7
Name & titles
ScholarlyCommentators note a deliberate wordplay in the account of Judah's firstborn: the consonants of his name, Hebrew 'Er (reversed), spell raʿ, 'evil,' the very word used when the text says he 'was wicked in the sight of the LORD.' The name itself is usually derived from the root meaning 'to be awake / watchful.'
Onomastic and literary observation common in critical commentaries on Genesis 38 (e.g. Sarna, Wenham).