Hebrew word · H8380

תּוֹאָם

to'amim

twin

Twin(s). Used of Jacob and Esau (Gen 25:24) and Tamar's sons (Gen 38:27). In architecture it describes boards that are "doubled" or matched (Exod 26:24; 36:29). The related verb in Song 4:2 describes ewes that "bear twins."

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

twin

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Song of Songs 4:5

Range of meaning

Twin(s). Used of Jacob and Esau (Gen 25:24) and Tamar's sons (Gen 38:27). In architecture it describes boards that are "doubled" or matched (Exod 26:24; 36:29). The related verb in Song 4:2 describes ewes that "bear twins."

Against the English

Most versions keep "twins." The KJV's "two young roes that are twins" is accurate but wordy. The NIV-style "twin fawns of a gazelle" is fine.

Used elsewhere in the period

In a herding society, twin lambs or kids meant fertility and abundance (Song 4:2 / 6:6: "all of them bear twins, and not one among them is bereaved").

Where it appears

Genesis · 2

  1. Genesis 25:24 תוֹמִ֖ם twins

    When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb.

  2. Genesis 38:27 תְאוֹמִ֖ים twins

    When the time came for Tamar to give birth, there were twins in her womb.

Exodus · 2

  1. Exodus 26:24 תֹֽאֲמִים֮ twins

    coupled together from bottom to top and fitted into a single ring. These will serve as the two corners.

  2. Exodus 36:29 תוֹאֲמִם֮ twins

    coupled together from bottom to top and fitted into a single ring. He made both corners in this way.

Song of Songs · 2

  1. Song of Songs 4:5 תְּאוֹמֵ֣י twins of

    Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle grazing among the lilies.

    Here: "Twins of." It stresses that the two match exactly in size and form. It also echoes 4:2, where her teeth are ewes that all "bear twins" (same root): perfect pairing and wholeness.

  2. Song of Songs 7:3 תָּאֳמֵ֥י twins of

    Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.