Genesis 38:28

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And it came to pass, when she travailed, that one put out a hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְהִ֥י בְלִדְתָּ֖הּ וַיִּתֶּן־יָ֑ד וַתִּקַּ֣ח הַמְיַלֶּ֗דֶת וַתִּקְשֹׁ֨ר עַל־יָד֤וֹ שָׁנִי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר זֶ֖ה יָצָ֥א רִאשֹׁנָֽה

Transliteration

And wayehî in her bəlidtāh and wayyitten-yād, and wattiqaḥ the hameyalledet and wattiqšōr on his yādô šānî lēʾmōr, this one yāṣāʾ rīʾšōnāh

Grammar Details

*wayehî*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and it happened
*bəlidtāh*: preposition + qal infinitive construct + 3rd feminine singular suffix - in her giving birth
*wayyitten*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he gave
*yād*: noun, feminine singular - hand
*wattiqaḥ*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - and she took
*hameyalledet*: definite article + piel participle, feminine singular - the midwife
*wattiqšōr*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - and she tied
*yādô*: noun, feminine singular construct + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his hand
*šānî*: noun, masculine singular - scarlet thread
*lēʾmōr*: preposition + qal infinitive construct - saying
*yāṣāʾ*: qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - he came out
*rīʾšōnāh*: adverb - first

Word Meanings

*wayehî*: and it happened/came to pass
*bəlidtāh*: in her giving birth/while she was in labor
*wayyitten*: and he gave/put out/extended
*yād*: hand/arm
*wattiqaḥ*: and she took/grasped
*hameyalledet*: the midwife/the one helping with birth
*wattiqšōr*: and she tied/bound/fastened
*šānî*: scarlet thread/crimson cord
*lēʾmōr*: saying/to say
*yāṣāʾ*: he came out/emerged
*rīʾšōnāh*: first/firstly

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

🔄 Compare with

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Additional Resources

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Gen 38:29-30
2 verses
86%
29And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, Wherefore hast thou made a breach for thyself? therefore his name was called Perez.
30And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zerah.
Gen 38:27
84%
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24And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
25And the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
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Gen 38:23-25
3 verses
70%
23And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be put to shame: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
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Josh 2:18
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18Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt gather unto thee into the house thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household.
Gen 35:16-17
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16And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was still some distance to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor.
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Gen 38:18-19
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Gen 38:3-5
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66%
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Gen 29:34-35
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