וַיִּמְלְא֥וּ יָמֶ֖יהָ לָלֶ֑דֶת וְהִנֵּ֥ה תֹומִ֖ם בְּבִטְנָֽהּ׃
When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb.
Morphology
- וַיִּמְלְא֥וּ (Vayyimleʾu) – Root: מלא (m-l-ʾ); Form: Qal, wayyiqtol (past narrative), 3mp; Translation: “And were completed”; Notes: Refers to the fulfillment of the term of pregnancy.
- יָמֶ֖יהָ (Yameha) – Root: יָם (y-m); Form: Noun, mp construct with 3fs suffix; Translation: “Her days”; Notes: Indicates the duration of her pregnancy.
- לָלֶ֑דֶת (Laledet) – Root: ילד (y-l-d); Form: Qal infinitive construct with preposition לְ; Translation: “To give birth”; Notes: Describes the imminent act of delivery.
- וְהִנֵּ֥ה (Vehinneh) – Root: None; Form: Interjection; Translation: “Behold”; Notes: Draws attention to the observation.
- תֹומִ֖ם (Tomim) – Root: תּוֹם (t-w-m); Form: Noun, mp; Translation: “Twins”; Notes: Indicates the plurality of children.
- בְּבִטְנָֽהּ (Bevitnah) – Root: בטן (b-t-n); Form: Noun, fs construct with 3fs suffix; Translation: “In her womb”; Notes: Refers to Rivqa’s pregnancy.
Morphological Analysis
וַיִּמְלְא֥וּ (wayyimləʾû)
- Root: מלא (mlʾ)
- Form: Qal Imperfect 3mp with conversive vav
- Translation: “And they were fulfilled”
יָמֶ֖יהָ (yāmêhā)
- Root: יום (ywm)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural construct with 3fs suffix
- Translation: “her days”
לָלֶ֑דֶת (lāleḏeṯ)
- Root: ילד (yld)
- Form: Qal Infinitive construct with preposition
- Translation: “to give birth”
וְהִנֵּ֥ה (wəhinnê)
- Form: Interjection
- Translation: “behold”
תֹומִ֖ם (tōmim)
- Root: תאם (tʾm)
- Form: Noun, masculine plural
- Translation: “twins”
בְּבִטְנָֽהּ (bəḇiṭnāh)
- Root: בטן (btn)
- Form: Noun, feminine singular construct with 3fs suffix
- Translation: “in her womb”
Syntax Analysis
The verse begins with the fulfillment of time indicated by וַיִּמְלְא֥וּ יָמֶ֖יהָ לָלֶ֑דֶת (“And when her days to give birth were fulfilled”), setting up the timing of the event. The interjection וְהִנֵּ֥ה (“behold”) introduces a surprising or significant detail, followed by תֹומִ֖ם בְּבִטְנָֽהּ (“there were twins in her womb”), which emphasizes the unexpected nature of the multiple births.
Grammatical Analysis
The Qal infinitive construct לָלֶ֑דֶת indicates the purpose or timing related to giving birth. The noun תֹומִ֖ם (“twins”) is in the plural form, aligning with the context of multiple children. The use of וְהִנֵּ֥ה serves as an emphatic marker, drawing attention to the surprising presence of twins.
Lexical Semantics and Word Study
- מלא (mlʾ): Means “to be full” or “to be completed,” often referring to the completion of time or events.
- תאם (tʾm): Refers to “twins,” indicating a pair of offspring born at the same time.
Textual Criticism
The phrase “וַיִּמְלְא֥וּ יָמֶ֖יהָ לָלֶ֑דֶת” is found consistently in the Masoretic Text and corroborated by the Septuagint (καὶ ἐπληρώθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι αὐτῆς τοῦ τεκεῖν). The Dead Sea Scrolls (4QGen) and versions such as the Vulgate (et impleti sunt dies eius ut pareret) and the Peshitta align closely with this reading, indicating strong textual stability across traditions.