Exegetical Brief: Genesis 38:8-10 – Is the Sin of Onan Applicable to Birth Control in General?

Abstract

Forrest L. Bivens’ exegetical brief examines Genesis 38:8–10 to determine whether Onan’s sin should be equated with the general practice of birth control. Bivens analyzes the historical and linguistic context of Onan’s refusal to fulfill his levirate duty to Tamar, noting that Onan’s actions—coitus interruptus to prevent conception—were motivated by selfishness, deception, and disregard for familial and divine responsibilities. While Onan practiced contraception, Bivens argues that his sin was not the act itself but the motives behind it. The essay distinguishes between descriptive and prescriptive biblical texts and emphasizes that Scripture does not explicitly forbid birth control. Instead, Bivens concludes that contraception becomes sinful when driven by greed, lust, or contempt for God’s gift of children. The account of Onan serves as a warning that God weighs motives as well as actions, and that ethical use of birth control must align with godly purposes. Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4).