What is onanism?

Response

Onanism is another English term with its origins in the Bible. The word itself is derived from a character in the book of Genesis. Onanism, also known as coitus interruptus, involves the intentional withdrawal of the penis from the vagina before ejaculation during sexual intercourse. Onanism is commonly referred to as the “withdrawal method” of birth control. However, in Judaism, it encompasses a broader definition, including withdrawal (coitus interruptus), masturbation, and any other improper release of semen.

In the patriarchal societies of the ancient Near East, the uninterrupted passing down of land and property from father to son held significant importance. This practice was crucial enough that the Mosaic Law detailed the regulations for levirate marriage: if a married man died without children, his brother (or another relative) was required to marry the widow and produce a son who could inherit the deceased man’s possessions and continue his lineage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). The concept of levirate marriage was established and accepted by the Israelites long before the Law was given, as evidenced in Genesis 38, which recounts the narrative of Onan and his onanism.

When Judah’s son Er was struck down by God due to his wicked ways and left without an heir, Er’s wife, Tamar, adhered to the custom of levirate marriage by marrying his next eldest brother, Onan. Although Onan was willing to engage in sexual relations with Tamar, he refused to father a child with her—a child who would not be legally his and would jeopardize his claim to his deceased brother’s inheritance. Thus, while in the act with Tamar, Onan withdrew and “spilled his seed on the ground” “And Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so whenever he went in to his brother’s wife, he would waste his seed on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother” (Genesis 38:9).

He spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.” , (Genesis 38:9). In this way, Onan ensured he would not provide a child to Tamar, even though it was his “duty” to do so (verse 8). Genesis 38:10 says, “What he did was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to death also.”

The word onanism is, therefore, an eponym, since it is derived from the personal name of an individual. Onan’s action of “spilling his seed” rather than impregnating his wife is now called “onanism.” Historically, there has been a great amount of confusion about Onan’s sin. Contrary to what some teach, his sin was not masturbation. Nor is Genesis 38 teaching that the withdrawal method of birth control is sinful. No, the sin of Onan was his greedy, selfish refusal to sire a son on behalf of his brother. Onan was of the tribe of Judah, the kingly tribe and the tribe of the Messiah. In fact, Tamar, the woman wronged by Onan, is listed in the genealogy of Christ «and Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; », (Matthew 1:3). God had a vested interest in Tamar’s children and Judah’s grandchildren.

Is onanism a sin? The true crime of Onan was refusing to sire a son on his brother’s behalf, which doesn’t really apply to modern culture, anyway. The debate over masturbation has been thoroughly discussed elsewhere. Onanism for the purposes of birth control is fine biblically but not very effective physically—effectiveness rates vary from 96 to 73 percent. Therefore, the question of onanism’s morality does not really apply to us today.