And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
Parallel translations
- WEB In the time of her travail, behold, twins were in her womb.
- BSB When the time came for Tamar to give birth, there were twins in her womb.
- NKJV Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb.
- NASB It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb.
- NLT When the time came for Tamar to give birth, it was discovered that she was carrying twins.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When Tamar gives birth, she is found to be carrying twins.
Overview
The twins recall the earlier rivalry of Jacob and Esau, signaling another contest over precedence. Tamar's vindication is now crowned with new life and a future. From these sons God will continue the royal and messianic line.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Gen 25:24And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 38:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.