Bible Dictionary

Er

The name Er means “watchman”.

Smith's Bible Dictionary 1863

(watchful).
  1. First-born of Judah. Er "was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him." (Genesis 38:3-7; Numbers 26:19)
  2. Descendant of Shelah the son of Judah. (1 Chronicles 4:21)
  3. Son of Jose and father of Elmodam. (Luke 3:28)

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia 1915

ar (`er, "watcher"; Er'):

(1) The eldest son of Judah, the son of Jacob, by Shua the Canaanite. Judah took for him a wife named Tamar. It is recorded that Er "was wicked in the sight of Yahweh; and Yahweh slew him" (Ge 38:3,6,7; 46:12).

(2) "Er the father of Lecah" is mentioned among "the sons of Shelah the son of Judah" (1Ch 4:21).

(3) An ancestor of Jesus in Luke's genealogy in the 7th generation before Zerubbabel (Lu 3:28).