King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins [were] in her womb.
Complete Jewish Bible:
When she went into labor, it became evident that she was going to have twins.
Berean Standard Bible:
When the time came for Tamar to give birth, there were twins in her womb.
American Standard Version:
And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And it came to pass in the time{H6256} of her travail{H3205}, that, behold, twins{H8380} were in her womb{H990}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 25:24
- And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, [there were] twins in her womb.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 38:27
Genesis 38:27 is part of the story of Judah and his family, which is inserted into the larger narrative of Joseph in Egypt. This verse specifically describes the birth of twins to Tamar, who is Judah's daughter-in-law. The historical context is the period when the patriarchs of Israel were living in the land of Canaan, and the themes include family dynamics, the lineage of Israel, and the providence of God in the unfolding of the messianic line, as the twins are part of the direct ancestry of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ.
The story leading up to this verse involves Tamar's complicated relationship with Judah. After her first two husbands (Judah's sons) die, Judah fails to give her his third son in marriage as was the custom, leaving Tamar in a precarious social position. Tamar then disguises herself as a prostitute and becomes pregnant by Judah, who does not recognize her. When Judah learns of her pregnancy, he initially condemns her to be burned, but she reveals his own involvement, leading Judah to acknowledge his wrongdoing.
The birth of the twins is significant because it shows God's providence in ensuring the continuation of the family line despite human failings and moral complexity. The theme of redemption and the fulfillment of God's promises are also evident, as the twins' birth ensures the continuation of Judah's lineage, which is crucial for the Messianic promise given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The twin who is born first extends his hand out of the womb, prompting the midwife to tie a scarlet thread around his wrist, but he then withdraws his hand, and his brother is born first. This incident is symbolic and foreshadows the recurring theme in the Bible of the younger son being chosen over the older (as in the cases of Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, and Joseph's precedence over his brothers). The twin born first is named Perez, who becomes an ancestor of David and Jesus.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6256
There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵת
Transliteration: ʻêth
Pronunciation: ayth
Description: from עַד; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.; [phrase] after, (al-) ways, [idiom] certain, [phrase] continually, [phrase] evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, evening-, noon-) tide, (meal-), what) time, when. - Strong's Number: H3205
There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַד
Transliteration: yâlad
Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
Description: 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). - Strong's Number: H8380
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תָּאוֹם
Transliteration: tâʼôwm
Pronunciation: taw-ome'
Description: or תָּאֹם; from תָּאַם; a twin (in plural only), literally or figuratively; twins. - Strong's Number: H990
There are 72 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֶּטֶן
Transliteration: beṭen
Pronunciation: beh'-ten
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be hollow; the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything; belly, body, [phrase] as they be born, [phrase] within, womb.