The Sin of Onan

[Timothysis]

I think that we all know the story of Onan in Genesis chapter 38:

• 8Then Judah said to Onan, “(G)Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”
  9Onan knew that the (H)offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother.
  10But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He (I)took his life also. *

I am wondering, how many people think that the reason of Onan’s death was because he masturbated? This has long been the interpretation of many, yet a cursory reading of the event shows that the reason why Onan was destroyed was because he tried to circumvent the law which required him to raise up children in his dead brother’s name so that that the inheritance could be preserved. The masturbation question isn’t even at hand. But whenever someone says “well, where in the bible does it say that masturbation is wrong” is invariably pointed to this verse. My question is, why? Isn’t it obvious for the reason of Onan’s punishment? Or am I, once again, the only one who sees it this way?

BTW, I’m not trying to justify masturbation, so please don’t even go there!

 

[T700]

I’ve always heard that verse used to teach why should not disobey god and not that masturbation is wrong. Might just be a protestant slant on it, though (my background).

Paul

 

[Joe_Kelley]

. . . . t a cursory reading of the event shows that the reason why Onan was destroyed was because he tried to circumvent the law which required him to raise up children in his dead brother’s name so that that the inheritance could be preserved. . . . !

Note that the punishment for failure to raise up raise up children was

And if the man does not wish to take his brother’s wife, then his brother’s wife shall go up to the gate to the elders, and say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to perpetuate his brother’s name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.’ 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak to him: and if he persists, saying, ‘I do not wish to take her,’ 9 then his brother’s wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, and pull his sandal off his foot, and spit in his face; and she shall answer and say, ‘So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.’ 10 And the name of his house* shall be called in Israel, The house of him that had his sandal pulled off.

[Deuteronomy 25:8-10] considerably less than death.

 

[7rosario]

I think that we all know the story of Onan in Genesis chapter 38:

• 8Then Judah said to Onan, “(G)Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”
  9Onan knew that the (H)offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother.
  10But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He (I)took his life also. *

I am wondering, how many people think that the reason of Onan’s death was because he masturbated? This has long been the interpretation of many, yet a cursory reading of the event shows that the reason why Onan was destroyed was because he tried to circumvent the law which required him to raise up children in his dead brother’s name so that that the inheritance could be preserved. The masturbation question isn’t even at hand. But whenever someone says “well, where in the bible does it say that masturbation is wrong” is invariably pointed to this verse. My question is, why? Isn’t it obvious for the reason of Onan’s punishment? Or am I, once again, the only one who sees it this way?

BTW, I’m not trying to justify masturbation, so please don’t even go there!

The use of sexual faculty without intending for reproduction is a sin.

"There are three blessings arising from Matrimony, if it be made a good use of, viz : Children, fidelity, and the grace of the sacrament. The generation of children, together with their proper education, must be had in view, if we would make a good use of matrimony ; but on the contrary, he commits a most grievous sin, who seeks only carnal pleasure in it. Hence Onan, one of the children of the patriarch Juda, is most severely blamed in Scripture for not remembering this, which was to abuse, not use the holy Sacrament.

But if sometimes it happen that married people should be oppressed with the number of their children, whom through poverty they cannot easily support, there is a remedy pleasing to God; and this is, by mutual consent to separate from the marriage-bed, and spend their days in prayer and fasting. For if it be agreeable to Him, for married persons to grow old in virginity, after the example of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, (whose lives the Emperor Henry and his wife Chunecunda endeavoured to imitate, as well as King Edward and Egdida, Eleazor a knight, and his lady Dalphina, and several others,) why should it be displeasing to God or men, that married people should not live together as man and wife, by mutual consent, that so they may spend the rest of their days in prayer and fasting?"

–St. Robert Bellarmine, The Art of Dying Well CHAPTER XV. THE FIFTEENTH PRECEPT, ON MATRIMONY.

archive.org/stream/theartofdyingwel00belluoft/theartofdyingwel00belluoft_djvu.txt

goodcatholicbooks.org/pdf/bellarmine_art-of-dying-well.pdf

 

[eelpis]

I think that we all know the story of Onan in Genesis chapter 38:

• 8Then Judah said to Onan, “(G)Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”
  9Onan knew that the (H)offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother.
  10But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He (I)took his life also. *

I am wondering, how many people think that the reason of Onan’s death was because he masturbated? This has long been the interpretation of many, yet a cursory reading of the event shows that the reason why Onan was destroyed was because he tried to circumvent the law which required him to raise up children in his dead brother’s name so that that the inheritance could be preserved. The masturbation question isn’t even at hand. But whenever someone says “well, where in the bible does it say that masturbation is wrong” is invariably pointed to this verse. My question is, why? Isn’t it obvious for the reason of Onan’s punishment? Or am I, once again, the only one who sees it this way?

BTW, I’m not trying to justify masturbation, so please don’t even go there!

What’s condemned by God here is not so much masturbation as contraception.

I wonder sometimes what would happen if God treated all contraceptors the way he treated Onan.

 

[Matariel]

He did not masturbate; he was condemned because he performed coitus interruptus, which God condemned him for, since it is a contraceptive act.

 

[Timothysis]

Thanks for the replies but this just confirmed my suspicions, that everyone has their own interpretation of this event. Read this verse once again:

*10But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He (I)took his life also. *

What was it that he did that was displeasing? He wasted his seed “in order not to give offspring to his brother.” Once again, I submit that Onan’s punishment was due to his flagrant attempt to NOT produce children for his brother in accordance with the Law in order to secure his brother’s inheritance for himself since he "9 knew that the (H)offspring would not be his."

I think that this is one of those issues where everyone projects their own interpretation onto the subject, much like when some propose that Christ calls us to a life of pacifism when he says “if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn and offer them the left.” In any event, it is a curious phenomenon.

 

[CapIV]

Jerome cited Onan as Biblical evidence that masturbation is wrong. Modern scholars seem to disagree. It really doesn’t matter though. Most of the Catholic condemnation of masturbation is extra-biblical/philosophical.

 

[Scottgun]

Yes, lots of people have different interpretations. What else is new? If this really about trying to make a case that either masturbation or contraception are morally acceptable, it ain’t going to happen by appealing to multiple interpretations of Onan’s act and punishment.

 

[eelpis]

Thanks for the replies but this just confirmed my suspicions, that everyone has their own interpretation of this event. Read this verse once again:

*10But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He (I)took his life also. *

What was it that he did that was displeasing? He wasted his seed “in order not to give offspring to his brother.” Once again, I submit that Onan’s punishment was due to his flagrant attempt to NOT produce children for his brother in accordance with the Law in order to secure his brother’s inheritance for himself since he "9 knew that the (H)offspring would not be his."

I think that this is one of those issues where everyone projects their own interpretation onto the subject, much like when some propose that Christ calls us to a life of pacifism when he says “if someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn and offer them the left.” In any event, it is a curious phenomenon.

In fact the offspring would have been his, his brothers according to levirate law. To waste the seed is contraception whether the offspring is his brothers or not. Masturbation is a kind of contraception too, if you look at it that way or rather contraception is mutual masturbation. So both practices are condemned here.

 

[bluerose]

Huh. Sounds to me that if the man refuses to raise up children for his brother by refusing to marry (and thus, NOT having sex with) his brother’s wife, he got a slap (or spit) in the face. But Onan refuses to raise up children for his brother by having sex without getting his brother’s wife pregnant (contraception), and he got a death sentence.

No ambiguity there. Obviously even “back then”, contraception was a serious sin.

 

[StMartin_67]

Yes, lots of people have different interpretations. What else is new? If this really about trying to make a case that either masturbation or contraception are morally acceptable, it ain’t going to happen by appealing to multiple interpretations of Onan’s act and punishment.

Yes, and what matters is what the Church teaches here; not 'just anyone’s" opinion.

The Church uses the example of the sin of Onan in Her explanation of the sin of artifical birth control. See the Papal Encyclical on Christian Marriage,Casti Connubii, 1930 for the reference:

papalencyclicals.net/Pius11/P11CASTI.HTM

1. But no reason, however grave, may be put forward by which anything intrinsically against nature may become conformable to nature and morally good. Since, therefore, the conjugal act is destined primarily by nature for the begetting of children, those who in exercising it deliberately frustrate its natural power and purpose sin against nature and commit a deed which is shameful and intrinsically vicious.

1. Small wonder, therefore, if Holy Writ bears witness that the Divine Majesty regards with greatest detestation this horrible crime and at times has punished it with death. As St. Augustine notes, “Intercourse even with one’s legitimate wife is unlawful and wicked where the conception of the offspring is prevented. Onan, the son of Juda, did this and the Lord killed him for it.”[45]

 

[Timothysis]

In fact the offspring would have been his, his brothers according to levirate law. To waste the seed is contraception whether the offspring is his brothers or not. Masturbation is a kind of contraception too, if you look at it that way or rather contraception is mutual masturbation. So both practices are condemned here.

Actually, scripture says that he “knew that the (H)offspring would not be his,” so we’ll have to let it sort that out with “levirate law.” In any event, I still think that it is far fetched to say that Onan’s punishment was due to self abuse. What if scripture said that Onan plied himself with wine each night so that he would fall asleep before he could commit the act? Wouldn’t that still be “displeasing to the Lord” because he tried to NOT raise up sons for his brother?

 

[Timothysis]

Jerome cited Onan as Biblical evidence that masturbation is wrong. Modern scholars seem to disagree. It really doesn’t matter though. Most of the Catholic condemnation of masturbation is extra-biblical/philosophical.

Exactly my point. The Church doesn’t need the example of Onan to “prove” that masturbation is wrong. Many Church teachings arise from logic and reason. I trust that I am not more dense than my fellow man but even I can read these lines of scripture and comprehend the point. It was Onan’s intention that brough the Lord’s wrath, not his action.

 

[mark_a]

Thanks for the replies but this just confirmed my suspicions, that everyone has their own interpretation of this event.

The following website explains the Jewish roots of the Catholic teaching about onanism.

ccli.org/nfp/morality/bible.php

Ever wonder why Protestants and Protestant ministries such as Focus on the Family have discontinued this teaching in spite of the teachings of the original reformers? Click my signature.

Catholic teaching has remained true from the beginning.

 

[StMartin_67]

The following website explains the Jewish roots of the Catholic teaching about onanism.

ccli.org/nfp/morality/bible.php

Ever wonder why Protestants and Protestant ministries such as Focus on the Family have discontinued this teaching in spite of the teachings of the original reformers? Click my signature.

Catholic teaching has remained true from the beginning.

Yes, and it was the Lambeth Conference that really changed things for the protestants. It also prompted the Papal Encyclical Casti Connubii on Christian Marriage that very forcefully condemned both abortion and contraception as contrary to natural and divine law.

 

[Matariel]

Yes, and it was the Lambeth Conference that really changed things for the protestants. It also prompted the Papal Encyclical Casti Connubii on Christian Marriage that very forcefully condemned both abortion and contraception as contrary to natural and divine law.

Yeah, the Protestants followed the Anglicans’ footsteps, unfortunately. There are still Continuing Anglican churches with valid Orders and that maintain this prohibition on contraception, such as the Anglican Catholic Church, of which I am a former member. Really wonderful people.

 

[mark_a]

Yeah, the Protestants followed the Anglicans’ footsteps, unfortunately. There are still Continuing Anglican churches with valid Orders and that maintain this prohibition on contraception, such as the Anglican Catholic Church, of which I am a former member. Really wonderful people.

Can you provide a link? I need to add this church to my list for reference purposes.

Thanks.

 

[eelpis]

Exactly my point. The Church doesn’t need the example of Onan to “prove” that masturbation is wrong. Many Church teachings arise from logic and reason. I trust that I am not more dense than my fellow man but even I can read these lines of scripture and comprehend the point. It was Onan’s intention that brough the Lord’s wrath, not his action.

I don’t think he would have been killed by God from having abstained from sexual relations. He was slain because he committed mortal sin.

 

[mark_a]

I don’t think he would have been killed by God from having abstained from sexual relations. He was slain because he committed mortal sin.

Yes. There was a system in place (involving public humiliation by the widow) if the surviving brother refused his duty.