Boy Old Testament Rare
Er
watchman
עֵר er
Er (Hebrew: עֵר, er) means “watchman”, by traditional interpretation. Three men in scripture bear the name; the best attested belongs to the Patriarchal period. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Addi in Luke 3.
Which Er?
Three men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Er
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Er
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Er
son of Joshua
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 8 across 4 books
- Bearers
- 3 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Both
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 38:3 |
| Last appears | Luke 3:28 |
| Cross-references | 101 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Onan co-occurrence Appears with Onan in Numbers 26.
- Shua co-occurrence Appears with Shua in Genesis 38.
- Laadah co-occurrence Appears with Laadah in 1 Chronicles 4.
- Lecah co-occurrence Appears with Lecah in 1 Chronicles 4.
- Elmadam co-occurrence Appears with Elmadam in Luke 3.
- Addi co-occurrence Appears with Addi in Luke 3.
- Cosam co-occurrence Appears with Cosam in Luke 3.
- Mareshah co-occurrence Appears with Mareshah in 1 Chronicles 4.
Origin & meaning
A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at 1Ch.4.21;
son of: Shelah (H7956);
brother of: Laadah (H3935), Jokim (H3137), Joash (H3101K) and Saraph (H8315);
father of: Lecah (H3922)
§ Er = "awake"
1) the eldest son of Judah
2) son of Shelah and grandson of Judah
Er was Judah's grandson, ancestor of linen workers at Beth-ashbea.
The biblical story
Er was the son of Shelah, son of Judah. Unlike his uncle with the same name, he had descendants, and these became the linen workers at Beth-ashbea.
Key verses
Er appears in 1 verse. Here are some of the most notable:
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The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,
1 Chronicles 4:21
Show all 1 reference
1 Chronicles (1)
- 1 Chronicles 4:21