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.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **beṭen**, represented by `{{H990}}`, refers to **the belly or the womb**. It appears 72 times across 72 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning extends from the literal, physical abdomen to the figurative source of life and the innermost parts of a person, derived from a root meaning to be hollow.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H990}}` is used to emphasize God's intimate involvement in creation. The Lord is described as the one who "formed thee from the **womb**" [[Isaiah 44:2]] and knew His prophets before they were formed in the **belly** [[Jeremiah 1:5]]. The word also signifies the physical point of origin and lineage, as seen in Job's declaration, "Naked came I out of my mother's **womb**" [[Job 1:21]]. Furthermore, it can represent the innermost seat of human experience, whether for receiving divine instruction [[Ezekiel 3:3]] or feeling deep distress [[Habakkuk 3:16]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concepts of the womb and inner being:
* `{{H7358}}` **rechem** (womb): Defined as "from רָחַם; (compare רַחַם); the womb; matrix, womb." It is often used interchangeably or in parallel with `beṭen` to refer specifically to the uterus, as when God sanctified Jeremiah before he came forth from the **womb** [[Jeremiah 1:5]].
* `{{H4578}}` **mêʻeh** (bowels, womb): Meaning "from an unused root probably meaning to be soft; used only in plural the intestines, or (collectively) the abdomen, figuratively, sympathy; by implication, a vest; by extension the stomach, the uterus (or of men, the seat of generation), the heart (figuratively); belly, bowels, [idiom] heart, womb." This term for the internal organs is used alongside `beṭen` when God calls his servant from the **womb** and makes mention of his name from his mother's **bowels** [[Isaiah 49:1]].
* `{{H6529}}` **pᵉrîy** (fruit): This word, meaning "from פָּרָה; fruit (literally or figuratively); bough, (first-)fruit(-ful), reward," is essential to understanding the concept of children as a blessing, referred to as the "**fruit** of the womb" [[Psalms 127:3]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H990}}` is significant. It illustrates core doctrines about God's relationship with humanity.
* **Divine Formation and Calling**: `beṭen` is central to the theology of God's sovereignty. It is the place where God forms individuals with a purpose, as He did for His servant Israel [[Isaiah 44:24]] and the prophet Jeremiah [[Jeremiah 1:5]]. This establishes that a person's life is known by God even before birth.
* **Covenant Blessing and Cursing**: The "fruit of thy body `{{H990}}`" is a primary sign of God's covenant blessing upon Israel [[Deuteronomy 7:13]]. Conversely, the loss of this fruit is a sign of cursing and judgment [[Deuteronomy 28:18]].
* **The Innermost Being**: Beyond the physical, `beṭen` represents the core of a person. It is where God's word is received [[Ezekiel 3:3]], where deep emotions like fear reside [[Habakkuk 3:16]], and where the spirit of man acts as the Lord's candle, searching its depths [[Proverbs 20:27]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H990}}` is more than a biological term for the belly or womb. It is a theological anchor for understanding God's personal and sovereign formation of human life, the physical evidence of covenant blessings, and the metaphorical space of a person's innermost being. From the conception of nations to the trembling of a prophet, **beṭen** reveals a biblical worldview where God is intimately involved in every aspect of creation and human experience.
TRV