New International VersionWhen the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb.
New Living TranslationWhen the time came for Tamar to give birth, it was discovered that she was carrying twins.
English Standard VersionWhen the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb.
Berean Standard BibleWhen the time came for Tamar to give birth, there were twins in her womb.
King James BibleAnd it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
New King James VersionNow it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb.
New American Standard BibleIt came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb.
NASB 1995It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb.
NASB 1977And it came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb.
Legacy Standard BibleNow it happened at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb.
Amplified BibleNow when the time came for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb.
Christian Standard BibleWhen the time came for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb.
Holman Christian Standard BibleWhen the time came for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb.
American Standard VersionAnd it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
English Revised VersionAnd it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThe time came for Tamar to give birth, and she had twin boys.
Good News TranslationWhen the time came for her to give birth, it was discovered that she was going to have twins.
International Standard VersionLater, when it was time for Tamar to give birth, she was carrying twins in her womb!
NET BibleWhen it was time for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb.
New Heart English BibleIt happened when it was time for her to give birth, that look, there were twins in her womb.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd it came to pass in the time of her travail, that behold, twins were in her womb. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhen the time came for Tamar to give birth, there were twins in her womb.
World English BibleIn the time of her travail, behold, twins were in her womb. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd it comes to pass in the time of her bearing, that behold, twins [are] in her womb;
Young's Literal Translation And it cometh to pass in the time of her bearing, that lo, twins are in her womb;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd it will be in the time of her bringing forth, and behold, twins in her womb. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when she was ready to be brought to bed, there appeared twins in her womb: and in the very delivery of the infants, one put forth a hand, whereon the midwife tied a scarlet thread, saying:
Catholic Public Domain VersionThen, at the moment of birth, there appeared twins in the womb. And so, in the very delivery of the infants, one put forth a hand, on which the midwife tied a scarlet thread, saying,
New American BibleWhen the time of her delivery came, there were twins in her womb.
New Revised Standard VersionWhen the time of her delivery came, there were twins in her womb. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd it came to pass in the time of her travail that, behold, there were twins in her womb.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd it was the time of her delivery, and behold twins were in her womb. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd it came to pass when she was in labour, that she also had twins in her womb.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Birth of Perez and Zerah27When the timecamefor Tamar to give birth,therewere twinsin her womb.28And as she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it around his wrist. “This one came out first,” she announced.…
Cross References Matthew 1:3Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.
Ruth 4:12And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.”
1 Chronicles 2:4Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.
Luke 3:33the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
Genesis 25:24When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb.
Hosea 12:3In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.
Romans 9:10-12Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac. / Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, / not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
Genesis 29:35And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.
Genesis 30:24She named him Joseph, and said, “May the LORD add to me another son.”
Genesis 35:23The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
Genesis 46:12The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
Numbers 26:20These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah.
Deuteronomy 25:5-10When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her. / The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. / But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.” ...
1 Samuel 1:20So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
1 Samuel 4:19-20Now Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news of the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth, for her labor pains overtook her. / As she was dying, the women attending to her said, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son!” But she did not respond or pay any heed.
Treasury of Scripture And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. twins. Genesis 25:24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold,there were twins in her womb. Jump to Previous BearingBirthBodyBoysChildrenClearDeliveryTimeTravailTwinTwinsWombJump to Next BearingBirthBodyBoysChildrenClearDeliveryTimeTravailTwinTwinsWombGenesis 38 1.Judah begets Er, Onan, and Shelah.6.Er's marriage with Tamar, and death.8.The trespass of Onan.11.Tamar is reserved for Shelah.12.Judah's wife dies.13.Tamar deceives Judah.27.She bears twins, Pharez and Zarah.When the time came for Tamar to give birthThis phrase marks the culmination of a significant narrative involving Judah and Tamar. Tamar, initially married to Judah's son Er, becomes a widow and is later denied levirate marriage by Judah's second son, Onan. After Onan's death, Judah withholds his third son, Shelah, from her. Tamar's actions to secure her rights and lineage through Judah himself reflect the cultural importance of family lineage and inheritance in ancient Israel. The timing of the birth is significant, as it fulfills the promise of progeny and continuity for Judah's line, which is crucial for the unfolding of Israel's history. there were twins in her womb
The mention of twins is significant in biblical narratives, often indicating a divine purpose or foreshadowing future events. The birth of twins here echoes the earlier story of Jacob and Esau, where the younger supplants the elder, a theme that recurs in the Bible. In this case, the twins Perez and Zerah are born, with Perez becoming an ancestor of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ, as noted in the genealogies in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. This connection underscores the providential unfolding of God's plan through seemingly ordinary and even morally complex circumstances. The birth of twins also highlights the theme of unexpected reversals and God's sovereignty in choosing the lineage through which the Messiah would come. Persons / Places / Events 1. TamarA Canaanite woman who was the daughter-in-law of Judah. She is central to this account as she ensures the continuation of Judah's lineage through her actions. 2. JudahOne of the twelve sons of Jacob, who plays a significant role in the account of Genesis. He is the father-in-law of Tamar and becomes the father of her children through an unusual set of circumstances. 3. Perez and ZerahThe twins born to Tamar. Perez is significant in the lineage of King David and ultimately Jesus Christ, as noted in the genealogies in the New Testament. 4. Birth of TwinsThe event of Tamar giving birth to twins is a pivotal moment in the account, highlighting themes of redemption and the continuation of God's covenant promises. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in Unlikely CircumstancesGod's plans often unfold in unexpected ways, using people and situations that may seem unlikely or even scandalous by human standards. The Importance of Lineage and LegacyThe birth of Perez and Zerah underscores the significance of family lineage in God's redemptive history, reminding us of the importance of faithfulness in our own family legacies. Redemption and RestorationTamar's account is one of redemption, showing how God can restore and use even the most difficult situations for His purposes. Faith and ActionTamar's actions, though unconventional, demonstrate a bold faith in pursuing justice and ensuring the continuation of Judah's line, challenging us to consider how we act in faith. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Genesis 38:27?
2.How does Genesis 38:27 illustrate God's sovereignty in unexpected circumstances?
3.What lessons can we learn from Tamar's role in Genesis 38:27?
4.How does Genesis 38:27 connect to the lineage of Jesus in Matthew 1?
5.What does Genesis 38:27 teach about God's plans despite human actions?
6.How can we trust God's timing in our lives, as seen in Genesis 38:27?
7.What is the significance of twins being born in Genesis 38:27?
8.How does Genesis 38:27 fit into the larger narrative of Judah and Tamar?
9.What theological themes are highlighted by the birth in Genesis 38:27?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 38?
11.In Genesis 38:27–30, how do we reconcile the unusual birth story of Perez and Zerah with other scriptural and modern biological understandings of twins?
12.Who are the twins mentioned in the Bible?
13.How does 1 Chronicles 2:3-4 align with Genesis 38 regarding Judah and Tamar's lineage, and does it create inconsistencies?
14.Who is Jacob, also known as Israel?What Does Genesis 38:27 Mean when the time came for Tamar to give birth• The wording signals the completion of a divinely appointed period (Galatians 4:4). God had already overseen every twist in Tamar’s story (Genesis 38:6-26), and now the pregnancy reaches full term exactly when He intends. • Scripture often emphasizes God’s perfect timing in births that carry covenant significance—Sarah (Genesis 21:2), Rebekah (Genesis 25:24), Rachel (Genesis 30:22-24), and eventually Mary (Luke 1:57). Each instance reminds readers that human circumstances, whether sinful or righteous, cannot derail God’s redemptive calendar. • Tamar’s childbirth follows Judah’s confession, “She is more righteous than I” (Genesis 38:26), underscoring how repentance clears the way for God’s blessing to unfold.
there were twins in her womb• Like Rebekah before her, Tamar bears twins, linking this moment back toGenesis 25:23-24 and forward to divine patterns where God chooses younger over older, grace over human expectation—Esau/Jacob, Manasseh/Ephraim (Genesis 48:13-20), and later David over his brothers (1 Samuel 16:11-13). • The surprise of twins magnifies the Lord’s generosity; Tamar asked only to preserve her husband’s line, and God doubles the posterity (Ephesians 3:20). • The twins—Perez and Zerah (named inGenesis 38:29-30)—carry prophetic weight: – Perez becomes the forefather of Boaz, David, and ultimately Jesus (Ruth 4:18-22;Matthew 1:3, 16). – Zerah’s line, although lesser-known, testifies that no offspring of Judah is forgotten (1 Chronicles 2:4-8). • The verse quietly teaches that God can turn the darkest chapters—deception, immorality, family dysfunction—into conduits of Messianic hope (Romans 8:28).
summaryGenesis 38:27 shows God bringing Tamar’s pregnancy to term at His ordained moment and revealing that she carries twins. These details affirm His sovereignty over time and life, display His pattern of surprising reversals, and set up the lineage through which the promised Messiah will come. The verse stands as a witness that God’s redemptive purposes move forward even through flawed people and complicated circumstances, guaranteeing that His covenant promises will never fail. Verse 27. - And it came to pass in the timeof her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. Cf. the case of Rebekah ( Genesis 25:24).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew When the timeבְּעֵ֣ת(bə·‘êṯ)Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 6256:Time, now, whencameוַיְהִ֖י(way·hî)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, befor [Tamar] to give birth,לִדְתָּ֑הּ(liḏ·tāh)Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3205:To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineagethereוְהִנֵּ֥ה(wə·hin·nêh)Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009:Lo! behold!were twinsתְאוֹמִ֖ים(ṯə·’ō·w·mîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8380:A twinin her womb.בְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃(bə·ḇiṭ·nāh)Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 990:The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything
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OT Law: Genesis 38:27 It happened in the time of her (Gen. Ge Gn) |
