Verses 3-5 give a standard genealogical phrasing repeated for the birth of each son: “she conceived … she bore … called his name….” Translators should refer to previous genealogies such as Leah’s births in 29.32-35.

She conceived and bore a son: that is, “She became pregnant and gave birth to a son [boy].”

He called his name Er: the Hebrew has the masculine singular pronoun, which is often used impersonally. However, some Hebrew manuscripts as well as the src Samaritan Pentateuchsrc* and one of the ancient Targums has “she,” which occurs in the Hebrew in verses 4 and 5. We encountered a parallel case in 29.34. Here, as well as in 29.34, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends “he called,” as in Revised Standard Version. Some may find it clearer to say “Judah named him Er.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .