Genesis 38:27 kjv
And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
Genesis 38:27 nkjv
Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb.
Genesis 38:27 niv
When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.
Genesis 38:27 esv
When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb.
Genesis 38:27 nlt
When the time came for Tamar to give birth, it was discovered that she was carrying twins.
Genesis 38 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 3:16 | "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children..." | Travail/pain in childbirth as a consequence. |
| Gen 17:6 | "I will make you exceedingly fruitful..." | Fulfillment of fruitfulness promise (abundance). |
| Gen 25:21-26 | "And the children struggled together within her..." | Prefigures struggle of twins in the womb. |
| Gen 35:11 | "Be fruitful and multiply..." | Reinforcement of Abrahamic blessing. |
| Gen 48:19 | "...but his younger brother shall be greater than he..." | Divine reversal of birth order precedence. |
| Num 26:20-21 | "...of Judah, Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul." | Perez's descendants listed, continuing the line. |
| Ruth 4:12 | "...through the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman, in place of the offspring of Tamar to Judah." | Direct link to Tamar's significance in lineage. |
| Ruth 4:18 | "Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron..." | Perez begins the recorded line to David. |
| 1 Chr 2:3-5 | "The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah; these three were born to him of Bath-shua the Canaanite. And Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah..." | Genealogical record confirming Tamar's children. |
| 1 Chr 4:1 | "The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal." | Further confirms Perez's position. |
| Isa 9:6 | "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given..." | Messianic expectation of a significant birth. |
| Mic 5:2 | "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel..." | Foreshadows the Ruler from Judah's line. |
| Matt 1:3 | "and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron..." | Direct inclusion in Jesus' genealogy. |
| Luke 3:33 | "...the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah..." | Luke's genealogy confirms Perez's line. |
| Rom 9:10-13 | "...when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our ancestor Isaac. Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call—she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.' As it is written, 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'" | Divine sovereignty in election, foreshadowed by birth order. |
| Heb 7:14 | "For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah..." | Confirms the tribe through which Christ came. |
| Judg 18:2 | "The Danites sent five mighty men...to spy out the land and explore it..." | Illustrates seeking divine direction for a critical action (indirect parallel). |
| 1 Sam 4:19 | "Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’s wife, was pregnant, about to give birth. And when she heard the news..." | Pain of childbirth tied to significant events. |
| John 16:21 | "When a woman is in labor, she has sorrow because her hour has come; but when she has given birth..." | Jesus' metaphor of labor and joy. |
| 2 Sam 12:24 | "Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon." | Divine continuation of royal line despite previous sin. |
Genesis 38 verses
Genesis 38 27 Meaning
Genesis 38:27 describes the onset of labor for Tamar, stating that she was found to be carrying twins in her womb. This verse sets the stage for the climactic birth of Perez and Zerah, events pivotal to the ongoing narrative of Judah’s lineage and ultimately, the Davidic and Messianic lines. The immediate discovery of twins during travail indicates a notable divine arrangement, preceding the dramatic circumstances of their birth order.
Genesis 38 27 Context
Genesis chapter 38 serves as a distinct interlude within the larger narrative of Joseph and his brothers. This seemingly digressive chapter is crucial for establishing the continuity of Judah's lineage, despite his moral failings and those of his sons, Er and Onan. Following Tamar's repeated widowhood and Judah's failure to give her his youngest son Shelah, Tamar conceives by Judah himself through deception (believing him to be a common harlot). The entire episode highlights divine providence in preserving the covenant line even through unconventional and morally questionable means. Verse 27 begins the final stage of this dramatic sub-narrative, revealing the unique nature of Tamar’s pregnancy—the birth of twins who will profoundly impact the future of Israel's royal and messianic lines.
Genesis 38 27 Word analysis
- And it came to pass (וַיְהִי, vay'hi): This is a very common Hebrew narrative opening, signifying that an event is unfolding as part of a continuous sequence. It indicates the progression of God's overarching plan within the story.
- in the time of her travail (בְּעֵת לִדְתָּהּ, be'et lidtah): "Travail" (לִדְתָּהּ, lidtah, from יָלַד, yalad – to bear, bring forth, give birth) specifically refers to the pangs, pains, and arduous process of childbirth. It underscores the physical reality of the moment and connects to the curse of multiplied pain in childbirth mentioned in Gen 3:16.
- that, behold (וְהִנֵּה, ve'hinneh): This Hebrew interjection serves to draw immediate attention to what follows, indicating something unexpected, significant, or divinely revealed. It acts as an exclamation, alerting the reader to a remarkable detail or event, emphasizing the surprise and importance of finding twins.
- twins (תְּאוֹמִים, t'omim): This term directly means "twins." The discovery of twins itself, especially in ancient times, could be seen as a notable event. The unique aspect here is that these particular twins (Perez and Zerah) will each have a distinct destiny, with Perez ultimately securing the primary lineage.
- were in her womb (בְּבִטְנָהּ, b'vitnah): "Womb" (בִּטְנָהּ, bitnah) signifies the place of life and formation. Stating they "were in her womb" at the time of travail emphasizes their full development and imminent arrival, setting the stage for the dramatic birthing sequence that will decide the order of birthright.
- "in the time of her travail, that, behold": This phrase combines human experience (childbirth pains) with divine insight or dramatic revelation ("behold"). It suggests that amidst the common suffering of birth, something truly extraordinary is about to happen, signaling divine intervention in the ordinary course of events to reveal God’s continued hand in shaping the future.
- "twins were in her womb": This concise statement of discovery emphasizes not merely her pregnancy, but the specific, impactful detail that two distinct lives, two individuals with separate destinies yet bound by their origin, were poised to emerge. The plurality immediately highlights the potential for complexity and differing outcomes within a single birth, foreshadowing the subsequent struggle and the unusual reversal of birth order between them.
Genesis 38 27 Bonus section
The motif of unexpected twin births, particularly those involving a struggle or a reversal of typical birth order, is a significant theme within the Book of Genesis. This phenomenon (first seen with Jacob and Esau in Gen 25) serves to illustrate God's elective sovereignty—His ability to choose one individual over another for His purposes, independent of conventional status or birthright. The "behold" here intensifies the drama, preparing the reader for the subsequent narrative (Gen 38:28-30) where the twins jostle for the "firstborn" position, culminating in Perez's unexpected emergence. This immediate pre-birth struggle underscores a deeper theological truth: even from the womb, God's plan is at work, shaping lives and destinies according to His perfect will, regardless of the chaos or human failing that may surround it.
Genesis 38 27 Commentary
Genesis 38:27, though brief, is a foundational verse that moves the unique narrative of Tamar and Judah to its critical resolution. It marks the commencement of a birth vital to Israel's future. The phrase "in the time of her travail" points to the human reality of pain in childbirth, yet the abrupt "behold, twins were in her womb" signals a moment of divine revelation and preordination. This revelation isn't just about Tamar's pregnancy; it's about the divine hand ensuring the continuation of Judah's line. The emergence of twins—Perez and Zerah—is pivotal. Their individual destinies and the specific manner of their birth, decided by a moment of struggle, foreshadow a recurring theme in the biblical narrative: God’s sovereign choice often overrides natural or conventional order (e.g., Jacob and Esau, Ephraim and Manasseh). This verse underscores that despite Judah's moral lapses and Tamar's unconventional methods, God remains faithful to His covenant promises, using unexpected means and unlikely characters to secure the lineage leading to King David and ultimately the Messiah, Jesus Christ.