Onan was given his name by his mother, and it mean 'vigorous'. In Biblical riddles, the female represents those who do not see clearly, since Paul said, "...the woman was deceived". ([[1Ti 2:14]]) We can say that Onan was wrongly named 'vigorous' and he proved this out by also dying fruitless, unwilling to provide an heir for Er. Likewise, Israel dies fruitless. Even though he had many children, they were still dead in sin and an earthly people more concerned for their own flesh than in providing a living seed on Adam's behalf.