### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tâʼôwm**, represented by `{{H8380}}`, is the word for **twins**. It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible. Its base definition describes a twin, used literally or figuratively, and appears in scripture only in its plural form.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The use of `{{H8380}}` occurs in two distinct contexts. In Genesis, it is used literally to mark the births of actual twins. After her days were fulfilled, it is written that "behold, there were **twins** in her womb" [[Genesis 25:24]], and similarly in a later account, "behold, **twins** were in her womb" [[Genesis 38:27]]. In the Song of Solomon, the word is used figuratively in a simile to express perfect symmetry and beauty, where the subject's breasts are described as "like two young roes that are **twins**" ([[Song of Solomon 4:5]], [[Song of Solomon 7:3]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help to frame the context in which **tâʼôwm** is used:
* `{{H8147}}` **shᵉnayim** (two): This word for a couple or pair is used to quantify the subjects being compared to twins. It appears directly before the mention of twins in Song of Solomon [[Song of Solomon 4:5]] and is used in the prophecy preceding the birth of Jacob and Esau, stating "Two nations are in thy womb" [[Genesis 25:23]].
* `{{H7699}}` **shad** (breast, pap, teat): This is the subject of the figurative comparison in Song of Solomon, where two breasts are likened to twins [[Song of Solomon 7:3]]. It is also mentioned as part of a patriarchal blessing in Genesis [[Genesis 49:25]].
* `{{H6082}}` **ʻôpher** (a fawn; young roe): This word identifies the young animal used in the poetic simile for twins in Song of Solomon, highlighting themes of youth and natural beauty [[Song of Solomon 4:5]].
* `{{H6646}}` **tsᵉbîyâh** (a female gazelle; roe): Used alongside `{{H6082}}`, this term specifies the animal in the comparison, grounding the imagery of twins in the natural world [[Song of Solomon 7:3]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H8380}}` is tied directly to its literal and figurative applications.
* **Literal Duality and Lineage:** In Genesis, the arrival of **twins** is a significant event in the patriarchal lineage. The birth of twins from one womb marks a moment of shared origin from which two distinct peoples will emerge ([[Genesis 25:24]], [[Genesis 38:27]]).
* **Figurative Symmetry and Beauty:** The usage in Song of Solomon employs **twins** as a symbol of perfect, identical beauty. The comparison to "two young roes that are **twins**" establishes an aesthetic ideal of a matched and harmonious pair [[Song of Solomon 4:5]].
* **Fulfillment of Prophecy:** The literal birth of **twins** in [[Genesis 25:24]] is the direct fulfillment of the prophecy in the preceding verse that "Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated" [[Genesis 25:23]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8380}}` is a specific term whose meaning shifts dramatically with its context. It describes the literal birth of **twins** in the patriarchal narratives, marking moments of significant lineage, while also being employed as a poetic device in Song of Solomon to convey perfect symmetry and natural beauty. Though used infrequently, the word **tâʼôwm** effectively illustrates concepts of duality, from the physical birth of two individuals in one womb to the aesthetic ideal of a perfectly matched pair.
TRV