Genesis 38:27 — Word Study
WLCוַיְהִ֖י בְּעֵ֣ת לִדְתָּ֑הּ וְהִנֵּ֥ה תְאוֹמִ֖ים בְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃
BSAWhen the timeʻêth [in the course of events, at the appointed moment] camehâyâh▸ for [Tamar] to give birthyâlad [to be delivered, to bear a child] therehinnêh were twinstâʼôwm [two children born at the same time, a dual birth] in her wombbeṭen [belly, the seat of life and emotions, behold, surprisingly]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיְהִ֖י | and it was | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| בְּעֵ֣ת | at [the] time | Preposition, noun common both singular construct |
| לִדְתָּ֑הּ | gave birth she | Verb qal infinitive construct common, suffix |
| וְהִנֵּ֥ה | and there! | Conjunction, particle |
| תְאוֹמִ֖ים | twins | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| בְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃ | [were] in womb her | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | When the time came for Tamar to give birth, there were twins in her womb. |
| KJV | ¶ And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. |
| ASV | And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. |
| YLT | And it cometh to pass in the time of her bearing, that lo, twins [are] in her womb; |
| WEB | In the time of her travail, behold, twins were in her womb. |
| BBE | And when the time came for her to give birth, it was clear that there were two children in her body. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of תְאוֹמִ֖ים — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by phrases that provide additional context about the event.
3 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectתֹּואֲמִם
verbהָיָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 38:27
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Birth of Tamar's Twinsgenerated
Genesis 38:27 describes the moment when Tamar gives birth to twins, a pivotal event in the lineage of Judah. This narrative illustrates the complexities of family and inheritance in biblical times, as Tamar's actions lead to significant developments in the genealogy of Israel. The context of this story also connects to themes of righteousness and justice, as seen in the preceding and following verses.
Cross References
The Key Word — תְאוֹמִ֖ים, te.'o.Mimgenerated
The Hebrew word תְאוֹם (ta'owm) means 'twin' and is specifically used in the plural form. It denotes two individuals born simultaneously, highlighting the miraculous nature of their birth. The word is derived from the root meaning 'to be double,' emphasizing the duality of their existence.
In this verse, the use of תְאוֹמִ֖ים indicates the significance of the twins in Tamar's womb, marking an important moment in the narrative. Their birth is not just a biological event but also carries theological implications for the lineage of Judah.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is וַיְהִ֖י, and it was, which introduces the event of Tamar's childbirth. The structure of the sentence is straightforward, with the main clause followed by a prepositional phrase that specifies the time of the event.
The phrase בְּעֵ֣ת לִדְתָּ֑הּ serves as a temporal marker, indicating when the event took place, while the noun phrase תְאוֹמִ֖ים acts as the subject, emphasizing the miraculous nature of the twins born.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַיְהִ֖י as ἐγένετο, which means 'it came to pass.' This choice reflects a common Greek expression for events occurring, aligning with the narrative style of the Old Testament.
For תְאוֹמִ֖ים, the LXX uses δίδυμα, which also means 'twins.' This translation maintains the duality of the birth, consistent with the Hebrew text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 38:27 tells us that when the time came for Tamar to give birth, she had twins in her womb. This event is significant in the story of Judah and Tamar, highlighting the importance of their lineage.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The term 'twins' indicates that Tamar gave birth to two children at the same time, which has implications for the lineage of Judah.
The timing emphasizes the fulfillment of God's plan and the significance of the events surrounding Judah's family.
Tamar's actions and her childbirth are pivotal in the continuation of Judah's lineage, which is essential in the biblical narrative.
This event reflects themes of family, justice, and God's providence in the unfolding story of Israel.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn from Tamar's story about the role of women in biblical narratives?
- How does the birth of twins impact the lineage of Judah?
- In what ways does this story reflect God's providence in seemingly ordinary events?
- How can we see the significance of timing in our own lives, similar to Tamar's childbirth?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church fathers have commented on this passage, noting its significance in the genealogy of Jesus and the themes of righteousness and justice.
What is one to say of Tamar, who brought to birth the twins Zerah and Perez? Their separation at the moment of birth was like a wall that divides the two peoples,Early Church Fathers on Genesis 38 →
Observe in this, I ask you, a mystery and a prediction of what is to come. You see, after the midwife bound the scarlet thread around his hand to make Zerah recognizable, then “he drew his hand back,Early Church Fathers on Genesis 38 →
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 38:27 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd it came to pass in the time of her travail,.... When her time to bring forth was come, and her pains were on her, and her midwife with her: that, behold, twins [were] in her womb; which the
Read John Gill on Genesis 38 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 38 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 38:27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins [were] in her womb.Ver. 27. Behold, twins were in her womb.] Betokening two peoples pertaining to Christ. The Jews first put forth their hand, as it were, willing to be justified by their works, and to regenerate themselves. For this, they were bound with a scarlet thread - condemned by the law: wherefore, pulling back their hand, they fell from God. Then came forth Pharez, the breach-maker, that is, the violent and valiant Gentiles; who took the first birthright and kingdom by force: who when they are fully born, then shall the Jews come forth again. And that this is not far off, hear what a worthy divine…
Read John Trapp on Genesis 38 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
When the time came for Tamar to give birth, there were twins in her womb.
In the time of her travail, behold, twins were in her womb.
When the time came for Tamar to give birth, there were twins in her womb.
When it was time for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb.
Tyndale line
¶ And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that behold, twins were in her womb.
Now, when the time was come that she should be deliuered, beholde, there were twinnes in her wombe.
Strictly literal
And it came to pass at the time of her delivery, that behold, twins were in her womb.
And it cometh to pass in the time of her bearing, that lo, twins [are] in her womb;
And it comes to pass in the time of her bearing, that behold, twins [are] in her womb;
And it came to pass at the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
It came about at the time for her to give birth that, behold, twins were in her womb.
From the Latin
And when she was ready to be brought to bed, there appeared twins in her womb: and in the very delivery of the infants, one put forth a hand, whereon the midwife tied a scarlet thread, saying:
Simplified
When the time came for Tamar to give birth, she was found to be carrying twins.
And when the time came for her to give birth, it was clear that there were two children in her body.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text states: וַיְהִ֖י בְּעֵ֣ת לִדְתָּ֑הּ וְהִנֵּ֥ה תְאוֹמִ֖ים בְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃. The Septuagint matches this closely, with a word-for-word correspondence. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly, using תאמים (twins) instead of תְאוֹמִ֖ים, but the meaning remains consistent.
וַיְהִ֖י בְּעֵ֣ת לִדְתָּ֑הּ וְהִנֵּ֥ה תְאוֹמִ֖ים בְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ויהי בעת לדתה והנה תאמים בבטנה
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: תאמים (twins)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 38:27
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
עֵת (eth) means 'time,' covering various aspects such as the time of an event, a usual time, or an appointed time. It can also refer to experiences or occurrences. The entries suggest it can denote both specific and uncertain times, but they do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
עֵת 297 n.f. time
time of an event
= usual time
proper, suitable time
appointed time
as uncertain
= experience, fortunes
occurrence, occasion
base
H6256 עֵת time . time of an event
. . = usual time
. proper, suitable time
. appointed time
. as uncertain
. = experience, fortunes
. occurrence, occasion
6256 `eth ayth
from 5703; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now,
when, etc.:--+ after, (al-)ways, X certain, + continually, +
evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-,
noon-)tide, ((meal-)), what) time, when.
see HEBREW for 05703
עֵת (et) — time.
1) time
1a) time (of an event)
1b) time (usual)
1c) experiences, fortunes
1d) occurrence, occasion
Prep | N-cs — Preposition · noun common both singular constructHR/Ncbsc
tim: The basis of the Hebrew measurement of time was the day and the lunar month, as with the Semites generally. The division of the day into hours was late, probably not common until after the exile, although the sun-dial of Ahaz (2Ki 20:9; Isa 38:8) would scent to indicate some division of the day into periods of some sort, as we know the night was divided, The word used for "hour" is Aramaic she`a' (sha`ta'), and does not occur in the Old Testament until the Book of Daniel (4:33; 5:5), and even there it stands for an indefinite period for which "time" would answer as well.
1. The Day:
The term "day" (yom) was in use from the earliest times, as is indicated in the story of the Creation (Ge 1). It there doubtless denotes an indefinite period, but is marked off by "evening and…
Besides the ordinary uses of this word, the Bible sometimes employs it to denote a year, as in Da 4:16; or a prophetic year, consisting of three hundred and sixty natural year, a day being taken for a year. Thus in Da 7:25 12:7, the phrase "a time, times, and the dividing of a time" is supposed to mean three and a half prophetic years, or 1,260 natural years. This period is elsewhere paralleled by the expression, "forty-two months," each month including thirty years, Re 11:2-3 12:6,14 13:5.
The Hebrew word יָלַד (*yalad*) means to bear, bring forth, or beget, and it encompasses various forms of childbirth and lineage declaration. It can refer to both the act of giving birth and the role of a midwife. The entries also note its use in contexts of distress and wicked behavior, as well as in reference to birthdays.
יָלַד 497 vb. bear, bring forth, beget
Qal
bear, bring forth
less often beget
of both parents
Niph. be born
Pi. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
Pu. be born
Hiph.
beget (a father a child)
bear
Hoph. day of one's being born = birthday
Hithp. declared their pedigree
base
H3205 יָלַד bear, bring forth, beget .. bear, bring forth
. less often beget
. of both parents
. be born
. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
. be born
. . beget (a father a child)
. bear
. day of one's being born = birthday
. declared their pedigree
3205 yalad yaw-lad'
a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget;
medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show
lineage:--bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring
forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be
delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch,
labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be
the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
יָלַד (ya.lad) — to beget.
1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to bear, bring forth
1a1a) of child birth
1a1b) of distress (simile)
1a1c) of wicked (behaviour)
1a2) to beget
1b) (Niphal) to be born
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to cause or help to bring forth
1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife
1c3) midwife (participle)
1d) (Pual) to be born
1e) (Hiphil)
1e1) to beget (a child)
1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity)
1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive)
1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)
V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff — Verb qal infinitive construct common · suffixHVqcc/Sp3fs
הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a Hebrew word meaning 'behold' or 'lo!' It serves as a demonstrative particle used to draw attention, appearing in contexts such as Genesis 19:2. The word is derived from a prolongation of another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this.
הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!
base
H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!
2009 hinneh hin-nay'
prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.
see HEBREW for 02005
הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.
behold, lo, see, if
Conj | Part — Conjunction · particleHC/Tj
תּוֹאָם (ta'owm) means 'twin' and is used only in the plural form. It is derived from the root word for 'to be double' and is referenced in various contexts, though specific verses are not provided in the entries.
[תּוֹאָם] n.m. twin
base
H8380 [תּוֹאָם] twin
8380 ta'owm taw-ome'
or taom {taw-ome'}; from 8382; a twin (in plural only),
literally or figuratively:--twins.
see HEBREW for 08382
תּוֹאָם (ta.om) — twin.
twin
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
→ Jacob and Esau Ge 25:24-26
→ Pharez and Zerah Ge 38:27-30
Ge 25:24; 38:27
The Hebrew word בֶּ֫טֶן (*beten*) primarily means 'belly,' 'body,' or 'womb.' It is derived from a root suggesting hollowness and encompasses various uses, including the physical abdomen and metaphorical meanings, such as the seat of hunger or mental faculties. The lexicons consistently highlight these aspects without significant disagreement.
בֶּ֫טֶן n.f. belly, body, womb
base
H990 בֶּ֫טֶן belly, body, womb
990 beten beh'-ten
from an unused root probably meaning to be hollow; the belly,
especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything:--
belly, body, + as they be born, + within, womb.
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: abdomen.
: abdomen
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: womb.
: womb/pregnancy
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: hump.
: hump
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: body.
: body
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp3fs