from יָלַד; nativity (plural birth-place); by implication, lineage, native country; also offspring, family; begotten, born, issue, kindred, native(-ity).
Transliteration:môwledeth
Pronunciation:mo-leh'-deth
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word môwledeth (מוֹלֶדֶת, `{{H4138}}`) is derived from the verbal root yālad (יָלַד, `{{H3205}}`), meaning "to bear, bring forth, or beget." This etymological foundation firmly places môwledeth within the semantic field of birth and origin. Its primary meanings include:
* "Nativity" or "birth": referring to the act or state of being born.
* "Birthplace": the specific location where one is born.
By implication, the term expands to encompass broader concepts related to one's origins:
* "Lineage" or "ancestry": the line of descent from a common progenitor.
* "Native country" or "homeland": the land of one's birth and inherent belonging.
* "Offspring," "issue," or "family": those who are generated or born from a common source, encompassing a collective group of relatives.
* "Kindred": a group of people related by blood or marriage.
Thus, môwledeth is a multifaceted term that can refer to an event, a place, a group of people, or an abstract concept of origin and identity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Môwledeth appears approximately 20 times in the Hebrew Bible, with significant concentrations in Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers, and Ezekiel.
* **Genesis:** The term is most famously used in the narrative of Abraham's call. God commands Abraham to leave his "land, his kindred (môwledeth), and his father's house" ([[Genesis 12:1]]). Here, môwledeth signifies the deep-seated familial and tribal ties that defined a person's identity and security in the ancient Near East. Abraham's departure from his môwledeth represented a profound act of faith and obedience, severing natural bonds to embrace a divine promise. It also appears when Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac from his "kindred" (môwledeth) and "native country" ([[Genesis 24:4]], [[Genesis 24:7]]), emphasizing the importance of shared origin in marriage and continuity of lineage.
* **Leviticus & Numbers:** In these legal books, môwledeth frequently denotes "native" or "homeborn" within the context of Israelite law and covenant. It distinguishes between those "born in the land" (môwledeth) and sojourners or foreigners (ger, `{{H1616}}`) concerning participation in religious rites like the Passover ([[Leviticus 18:9]], [[Leviticus 18:11]]) and responsibilities within the community ([[Numbers 15:13]], [[Numbers 15:29]]). This usage underscores the concept of an inherited identity and inherent rights within the covenant community of Israel.
* **Ezekiel:** The prophet Ezekiel employs môwledeth in a striking metaphorical sense when describing Jerusalem's origins. He states, "Your origin (môwledeth) and your birth were from the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite" ([[Ezekiel 16:3]]). This vivid imagery highlights Jerusalem's humble, pagan beginnings, contrasting sharply with its later divine election. It serves as a powerful indictment of the city's spiritual unfaithfulness, tracing its moral corruption back to its "spiritual nativity."
Across its occurrences, môwledeth consistently points to the concept of origin, whether it is familial, tribal, national, or even metaphorically spiritual, defining belonging, identity, and sometimes accountability.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding môwledeth is enhanced by examining its relationship with other key Hebrew terms:
* **yālad (יָלַד, `{{H3205}}`):** As the root verb, yālad ("to bear, bring forth, beget") is foundational. Môwledeth is the noun form that describes the result or state of this generative process, whether it be the act of birth, the place of birth, or the people born.
* **bayit (בַּיִת, `{{H1004}}`):** "House" or "household." Often used in conjunction with môwledeth as in "father's house and kindred" ([[Genesis 12:1]]). While bayit refers to the immediate family unit and dwelling, môwledeth extends to the broader kinship group and place of origin.
* **eretz (אֶרֶץ, `{{H776}}`):** "Land" or "earth." Frequently paired with môwledeth when referring to one's "native land" or "birthplace," emphasizing the geographical aspect of origin and belonging (e.g., "land of your kindred," [[Genesis 24:7]]).
* **zera (זֶרַע, `{{H2233}}`):** "Seed" or "offspring." While zera emphasizes the generative line and progeny, focusing on future generations, môwledeth encompasses a broader sense of origin, including birthplace and existing kinship.
* **ger (גֵּר, `{{H1616}}`):** "Sojourner" or "foreigner." This term often stands in contrast to môwledeth in legal contexts, highlighting the distinction between those born into the covenant community and those who are outsiders, though the law often provided for the inclusion of the ger who assimilated.
### Theological Significance
The theological import of môwledeth is profound, particularly in its implications for divine election, covenant identity, and human accountability.
* **Divine Call and Radical Separation:** The command to Abraham to leave his môwledeth ([[Genesis 12:1]]) is a foundational theological moment. It signifies that God's election is sovereign and can require a complete break from human-defined security, identity, and natural ties. This act underscores the demand for absolute trust in God and the redefinition of belonging not by birthright but by divine calling and covenant. It sets a precedent for the pilgrim nature of faith.
* **Covenant Identity and Distinctiveness:** In the Mosaic Law, the use of môwledeth to distinguish between "natives" and "foreigners" highlights the importance of Israel's unique identity as a people chosen by Yahweh. This distinction served to preserve the purity and distinctiveness of the covenant community, ensuring adherence to its laws and rituals. While emphasizing an inherited identity, the law also allowed for the incorporation of sojourners who embraced the covenant, demonstrating that divine grace could extend beyond natural môwledeth.
* **Spiritual Origin and Accountability:** Ezekiel's metaphorical use of môwledeth for Jerusalem's "birth" from pagan stock ([[Ezekiel 16:3]]) carries significant theological weight. It reveals that even a divinely chosen entity can have a corrupted spiritual origin, which contributes to its subsequent unfaithfulness. This imagery serves as a basis for God's righteous judgment, emphasizing that divine grace does not negate accountability for spiritual rebellion, regardless of initial election.
* **Foreshadowing New Covenant Kinship:** While môwledeth primarily focuses on physical lineage and national identity in the Old Testament, its underlying concept of "origin" resonates with New Testament themes. The New Testament speaks of a "new birth" (e.g., gennao `{{G1080}}` or anothen `{{G509}}`, "born from above") and a new spiritual "kindred" in Christ. This spiritual môwledeth transcends physical descent, redefining belonging and identity based on faith in Jesus Christ, where "there is neither Jew nor Gentile" ([[Galatians 3:28]]).
### Summary
The Hebrew term môwledeth (מוֹלֶדֶת, `{{H4138}}`), derived from the root yālad (`{{H3205}}`, "to bear, beget"), is a rich and multifaceted word signifying "nativity," "birthplace," "lineage," "native country," and "kindred." It encompasses both the event and location of birth, as well as the broader social and national identity derived from one's origins. Biblically, môwledeth is pivotal in the narrative of Abraham's call, where leaving his môwledeth ([[Genesis 12:1]]) symbolizes a radical break from natural security for divine promise. In legal contexts, it defines "native" Israelites within the covenant community ([[Leviticus 18:9]], [[Numbers 15:13]]), highlighting inherited identity and distinctiveness. Ezekiel uses it metaphorically to depict Jerusalem's pagan "origin" ([[Ezekiel 16:3]]), underscoring spiritual unfaithfulness. Theologically, môwledeth illuminates divine election, the nature of covenant identity, and accountability for one's spiritual roots. Ultimately, while rooted in physical birth and lineage, its conceptual framework points towards the New Testament's redefinition of "birth" and "kindred" through spiritual regeneration in Christ, where true belonging is found not in earthly môwledeth but in a heavenly one.
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