יָלַד

From the study of Proverbs 17:17

Range of meaning

To give birth, to father; in the passive (niphal), "to be born". It is also used figuratively of something coming into being: "you do not know what a day will bring forth" (Prov 27:1), and "before the mountains were born" (Ps 90:2).

Against the English

Every major English version keeps "is born". NLT and NET add "to help" to spell out the purpose. NJPS (the Jewish Publication Society translation) reads it as a brother born "to share" adversity. The Latin Vulgate turns it into "is proved", which interprets rather than translates.

How it drifted

English readers sometimes hear "born for adversity" as "born to cause trouble" (siblings who fight). The Hebrew lə- marks purpose, "for the sake of" distress, meaning to meet it, not to create it.

Used elsewhere in the period

The ancient Greek translation (the Septuagint) expands it: brothers are to be useful in hardships, "for this reason they are born", keeping the idea of purpose. The Vulgate's "in angustiis conprobatur" ("is proved in distresses") shows that ancient readers already took the line to mean that trouble shows who a brother really is.

From the study of Psalm 2:7

Range of meaning

Most often a woman giving birth ("to bear"). In the simple active form with a male subject it means "to father, beget" (e.g. the genealogies, Gen 4:18). It is used as a picture for God bringing something into being: Deut 32:18 ("the God who gave you birth"), Ps 90:2 (the mountains "born"), and Job 38:28-29 (rain and frost).

Against the English

KJV and ESV keep "begotten"; NASB 2020 has "fathered." BSB, NIV, WEB and NLT render the sense, "I have become your Father." "Begotten" keeps the birth image but now sounds churchly and technical. "Become your Father" makes the relational meaning clear but loses the bold picture of God "giving birth" to the king on a single day.

How it drifted

From the 4th century, "begotten" took on a technical meaning in creeds ("eternally begotten of the Father," "begotten, not made"), describing the Son's eternal relation within the Godhead. Readers who meet "begotten" here often hear that meaning. The Hebrew verb, tied to "today," describes something that happens on a particular day.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used figuratively of God in Deut 32:18. The Greek translation (LXX) has gegennēka, "I have begotten." Psalm 110:3 may hold a similar royal birth image ("from the womb of the dawn… your youth"; the LXX reads "I have begotten you"), though that verse is textually difficult. In the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Rule of the Congregation (1QSa 2:11-12) may speak of God "begetting" (yôlîd) the Messiah, but the reading is damaged and disputed.

From the study of Genesis 21:2

Range of meaning

Yalad means 'to bear, give birth' (of a woman) or 'to father' (of a man). The construction 'bear X a son' / 'bear a son to X' names the father as the one who receives the heir.

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'bare Abraham a son' and BSB 'bore a son to Abraham' keep the beneficiary sense. NLT's 'for Abraham' makes it explicit.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exactly the same wording is used of Hagar: 'Hagar bore Abram a son' (16:15–16). Sarah had said she would 'be built up' through Hagar's child (16:2). Compare also Leah and Rachel's births 'to Jacob' (30:1–24).