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The Living Words: Boy

This article is an xcerpt from Mr. Benner's book The Living Words.


The Hebrew word for "boy" is ילד yeled [H:3206] and the feminine form of this word is ילדה yal'dah [H:3207], "girl." Both of these words come from the verbal root ילד yalad [H:3205] meaning "to bring forth" and usually used in the context of bearing children.

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth (yalad) children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Genesis 3:16 (KJV)

Another verse worthy of a look at is Genesis 20:17.

So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare (yalad) children. (KJV)

While the Hebrew word behind the word "bare" is the verb yalad, translators added the word "children" which does not exist in the Hebrew text. Because of the translator's insertion of this word, the reader assumes Abimelech's punishment by God was that his women could not "bear children." However, there is another interpretation of this verse. First note God healed not only the women but Abimelech as well as is stated in the verse above, "and God healed Abimelech..."

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife. Genesis 20:3 (KJV)

Here God tells Abimelech, because of his sin, he is a dead man, and evidently the punishment is something that causes death, possibly an illness, but definitely not the inability to bear children. Now, let's look at verse 17 again but this time with a literal translation from the Hebrew text.

And Abraham interceded to Elohiym and Elohiym healed Abimelech and his woman and his maid servants and they brought forth (yalad).

It is my opinion that they were constipated.


Ancient Hebrew Alphabet and Language



Related Pages by Jeff A. Benner


TheThe Living Words (Book)
A study of Hebrew words in the Old and New Testament from their original Hebraic perspective.


TheThe Living Words - Introduction (Article)
An introduction to Mr. Benner's book The Living Words expounding on the Ancient Hebrew culture and philosophy.


TheThe Living Words: Pray (Article)
Excerpt from Mr. Benner's Book "The Living Words" and examining the Hebrew word for pray.