יָלַד497 H3205
To bear, give birth, beget, or be born; covering maternal birthing, paternal begetting, passive birth, and midwifery
At the heart of every biblical genealogy and birth narrative stands yalad, a verb whose semantic range traces the full arc of human generation. A mother 'bears' (Gen 4:1), a father 'begets' (Gen 4:18), and a child 'is born' (Gen 4:26) — all from the same root. The Piel stem yields an entirely distinct professional sense, 'to act as midwife,' confirmed by Arabic's shift to the unrelated root q-b-l. From the genealogical chains of Genesis to the messianic promise of Isaiah 9:6, yalad carries the biblical drama of lineage, inheritance, and divine purpose through birth.
8. sense 8 — An unusual register sense appearing only in Num 1:18, where the verb is used in the context of registering or declaring lineage — 'they declared their pedigrees.' The reflexive genealogical act of establishing one's birth-line, distinct from the physical act of generation. 1×
AR["فَانْتَسَبُوا"]·ben["এবং-তারা-বংশ-পরিচয়-দিল"]·DE["und-sie-registered-sich-selbst"]·EN["and-they-registered-themselves"]·FR["et-ils-registered-eux-mêmes"]·heb["ו-יתילדו"]·HI["और-वंशावली-लिखाई"]·ID["dan-mereka-mendaftarkan-silsilah-mereka"]·IT["e-essi-registered-se-stessi"]·jav["lan-dipun-daptari"]·KO["그리고-그들이-등록하였다"]·PT["e-registraram-por-linhagem"]·RU["и-записались-по-родам"]·ES["y-se-registraron"]·SW["na-wakajiandikisha"]·TR["ve-kaydettirdiler"]·urd["اور-رجسٹر-ہوئے"]
▼ 7 more senses below
Senses
1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) — Qal active with a female subject: to bear, give birth to a child. Arabic waladat (feminine active) and Korean nahda 'to give birth' consistently mark the maternal act. Dominates birth narratives from Eve bearing Cain (Gen 4:1) through the matriarchs (Gen 4:17, 25) and into prophetic oracles about women in labor. 204×
AR["فَوَلَدَتْ","وَ-وَلَدَتِ","وَ-وَلَدَتْ","وَوَلَدَتْ"]·ben["আর-প্রসব-করলেন","এবং-জন্ম-দিলেন","এবং-প্রসব-করল","এবং-সন্তান-প্রসব-করল","এবং-সে-প্রসব-করল","ও-জন্ম-দিল","ও-জন্ম-দিলেন"]·DE["und-gebar","und-sie-gebar"]·EN["And-bore","and-bore","and-she-bore"]·FR["Et-enfanta","et-elle-enfanta","et-enfanta"]·heb["ו-ילד"]·HI["और-जअनि","और-जनी","और-जन्म-दिया"]·ID["Dan-melahirkan","dan-ia-melahirkan","dan-melahirkan"]·IT["And-portò","e-ella-portò","e-partorì"]·jav["Lan-miyosaken","Lan-nglairaken","lan-nglairaken"]·KO["그리고-낳았다"]·PT["E-deu-à-luz","e-deu-à-luz"]·RU["И-родила","и-родила"]·ES["Y-dio-a-luz","Y-parió","y-dio-a-luz","y-parió"]·SW["Na-akamzaa","Na-akazaa","na-akajifanya","na-akazaa"]·TR["Ve-doğurdu","ve-doğurdu"]·urd["اور-جنا","اور-جنی","اور-جنی-اُس-نے","اور-جنے"]
2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) — Qal active with a male subject: to beget, to father a child. Arabic walada (masculine conjugation), Spanish engendro, and German zeugte all mark paternal generation. This sense builds the great genealogical chains — Genesis 4:18's threefold 'begot' and the toledot formulae — encoding lineage and covenant succession through the father. 198×
AR["وَلَدَ"]·ben["জন্ম-দিল","জন্ম-দিলেন"]·DE["gebar","zeugte"]·EN["begot","fathered"]·FR["engendra","fathered"]·heb["הולד","הוליד","ילד"]·HI["उतपन्न-किया","जनम-दिय","जना","जन्म-दिया","जन्माया"]·ID["memperanakkan"]·IT["begot","fathered","genero","generò"]·jav["nglairaken","nurunaken","peputra"]·KO["낣았다","낳았다"]·PT["gerou"]·RU["родил"]·ES["engendró"]·SW["alimzaa","alizaa"]·TR["babası-oldu","doğurdu"]·urd["جنا","نے-جنایا","پیدا-کیا"]
3. Qal passive / Niphal: be born — Qal passive and Niphal: to be born. Arabic wulida (passive of walada) and Korean taeonada 'to be born' confirm the passive orientation. Appears in genealogical summaries ('to them were born sons,' Gen 6:1; 10:1), the pivotal 'a child is born' oracles, and the Psalms' declarations of divine sonship (Ps 2:7). 71×
AR["وُلِدوا","وُلِدَ","وُلِدُوا","وُلِدُوا-","وُلِدْنَ","يولَدُ","يُولَدُ"]·ben["জন্ম-হয়েছিল","জন্ম-হয়েছিল-","জন্ম-হল","জন্ম-হল-","জন্মগ্রহণ-করবে","জন্মগ্রহণ-করল","জন্মগ্রহণ-করে","জন্মগ্রহণ-করেছিল","তাদের-জন্ম-হল"]·DE["gebaeren","gebar","geboren-wurden","ihnen-geboren-wurden","waren-geboren","wurde-geboren","wurden-geboren"]·EN["born","is-born","was-born","were-born","were-born-"]·FR["enfanter","engendrer","furent-né","naquit","étaient-né","étaient-né-"]·heb["הוליד","יולד","יולדו","ייוולד","ילד","ילדו","נולד"]·HI["उतपन्न-हुआ","उतपन्न-हुए","जनमीन","जन्म-लेगा","जन्मा-था","जन्मा-है","जन्मा-होता-है","जन्मे","जन्मे-थे"]·ID["dilahirkan","dilahirkan-","lahir"]·IT["erano-nato","fu-born","furono-born","furono-born-","generare"]·jav["dipun-lairaken","dipunlairaken","kalairaken","kalairaken-","lair","miyos"]·KO["태어나리라","태어난","태어난-","태어난다-그가","태어났느니라","태어났다","태어났으니"]·PT["foi-gerado","foi-gerado-","nasce","nasceram","nascerá","nasceu"]·RU["родились","родились-","родился","родится","рождается"]·ES["fue-engendrado","fueron-engendrados","le-nacieron","le-nació","nace","nacieron","nazca."]·SW["aliwazaliwa","alizaliwa","anazaliwa","atazaliwa","mwana","walizaliwa","walizaliwa-"]·TR["doğar","doğdu","doğdu-","doğdular","doğdular-","doğmuştu"]·urd["پیدا-ہوئیں","پیدا-ہوئے","پیدا-ہوئے-","پیدا-ہوا","پیدا-ہوا-تھا","پیدا-ہوتا-ہے"]
4. Hifil: cause to beget/father (causative) — Hifil causative: to cause to beget, to bring about offspring. Arabic awlada (Form IV causative) marks the external agency. Appears in prophetic warnings where God causes or permits descendants to be brought forth (Gen 17:20 for Ishmael; Deut 28:41) and in court prophecies about royal lineage (2 Kgs 20:18; Isa 39:7). 11×
AR["أُولِدُ","الْمُنْجِبِينَ","الْمُولِدُ","تَلِدُ","تَلِدُهُمْ","تُولِدُ","وَ-أَوْلَدَهَا","وَأَنْجِبُوا","يَلِدُ"]·ben["-এবং-তাকে-জন্ম-দেয়","আর-জন্ম-দাও","জন্ম-দেবে","জন্মদাতা","তুমি-জন্ম-দিচ্ছ","তুমি-জন্ম-দেবে","প্রসব-করাব","যিনি-প্রসব-করাই"]·DE["du-wird-beget","du-zeugen","gebaeren","und-gebaeren","wird-er-zeugen"]·EN["and-beget","and-caused-it-to-bring-forth","cause-to-give-birth","do-you-beget","he-will-beget","the-one-causing-to-give-birth","the-ones-begetting","you-beget","you-shall-father","you-will-beget"]·FR["enfanter","et-enfanter","il---engendrer","tu-beget","tu-fera-beget"]·heb["אוליד","ה-מוליד","ה-מולידים","ו-הולידה","ו-הולידו","ילד","תוליד"]·HI["और-जन्माती-है","और-जन्मो","जनेगा","जन्म-देगा","जन्म-देने-वालों","जन्म-दोगे","जन्माऊँ","जन्माने-वाला","तू-जन्म-देता-है","तू-जन्माएगा","वह-जनेग"]·ID["dan-membuatnya-bertunas","dan-peranaklah","engkau-melahirkan","engkau-peranakkan","kamu-beranak","kamu-peranakkan","melahirkan","memperanakkan","yang-engkau-peranakkan","yang-membuat-melahirkan","yang-memperanakkan"]·IT["e-partorire","egli-will-beget","partorire","tu-generare","tu-vorrà-beget"]·jav["badhé-peputra","ingkang-ndamel-nglairaken","ingkang-nglairaken","kang","lan-ndadosaken-nglairaken","lan-nglairaken-a","miyosaken","nglairaken","panjenengan-nglairaken","panjenengan-peputra"]·KO["그리고-낳게-하고","그리고-낳으라","낣을-바","낳게-하는-자이면서","낳게하지","낳느냐","낳는","낳으리라","낳을-것이다","네가-낳을"]·PT["e-fez-dar-à-luz","e-gerai","farei-nascer","gerardes","gerará","gerarás","geras","o-que-faz-nascer","os-que-geram"]·RU["hа-Рождающий","и-родить-заставил-её","и-рождайте","родивших","родит","родишь","родишь-ты","рождаешь","рожу-ли"]·ES["el-que-hace-dar-a-luz","engendrará","engendrarás","engendras?","engendres","haré-dar-a-luz?","los-que-los-engendraron","y-engendrad","y-la-hace-producir"]·SW["atazaa","kuzaa","na-kuifanya-izae","na-mzae","ninayezalisha","nisizalishe","unazaa","utazaa","wanaowazaa"]·TR["doguracaksin","doğuracak","doğuracaksın","doğurtan","doğurtanlar","doğurtmamalıyım","doğurursun","ve-dogurtturduisa","ve-doğurtun"]·urd["اور-پیدا-کرو","اور-پیدا-کرے-اُسے","تو-پیدا-کرتا-ہے","تُو-جنے-گا","جنم-دوں-گا","جنم-دینے-والا-ہوں","جنےگا","پیدا-کرنے-والے","پیدا-کرے","پیدا-کرے-گا","پیدا-کرے-گا-تُو"]
5. Piel: act as midwife — Piel intensive: to act as midwife, to assist in childbirth. Arabic shifts entirely to the unrelated root q-b-l (qabila 'midwife, to receive'), proving this is a recognized specialized role, not just intensive birthing. Central to the Exodus narrative where Hebrew midwives defy Pharaoh (Exod 1:15-21) and to the births of Benjamin (Gen 35:17) and Perez (Gen 38:28). 10×
AR["إِلَى-الْقَابِلَتَيْنِ","الْ-قَابِلَةُ","الْقابِلَةُ","الْقَابِلَةُ","الْقَابِلَتَانِ","الْقَابِلَتَيْنِ","حِينَ-تُوَلِّدْنَ","لِ-الْقَابِلَتَيْنِ"]·ben["-ধাত্রী","ধাত্রী","ধাত্রীদের-কাছে","ধাত্রীদের-প্রতি","ধাত্রীরা","যখন-তোমরা-প্রসব-করাও"]·DE["als-du-Geburt","der-Hebamme","der-Hebammen","die-Hebamme","zu-der-Hebammen"]·EN["the-midwife","the-midwives","to-the-midwives","when-you-birth"]·FR["le-sage-femme","le-sages-femmes","quand-tu-naissance","à-le-sages-femmes"]·heb["ב-ילדכן","ה-ילד","ה-מילדות","ה-מילדת","ל-מילדות"]·HI["जब-जनमाती-हो","दाइयõ-का","दाइयõ-को","दाइयõ-ने","दाइया̃","दाई","दाई-ने"]·ID["Ketika-kamu-menolong-melahirkan","bidan","bidan-bidan-itu","kepada-bidan-bidan","kepada-bidan-bidan-itu"]·IT["a-il-levatrici","il-levatrice","il-levatrici","quando-tu-birth"]·jav["dhateng-dukun-bayi","dhukunbayi-punika","dukun-bayi","nalika-sami-nulungi-lair"]·KO["너희가-받을-때에","산파가","산파들을","산파들이","에게-산파들"]·PT["a-parteira","as-parteiras","quando-partejardes","às-parteiras"]·RU["Когда-принимаете-роды","к-повивальным-бабкам","повивальная-бабка","повивальные-бабки","повивальным-бабкам","повивальных-бабок","повитуха"]·ES["a-las-parteras","cuando-asistáis","la-partera","las-parteras"]·SW["kwa-wakunga","mkunga","mnapozalisha","wakunga"]·TR["-ebe","doğurttuğunuzda","ebe","ebeler","ebelere","ebeleri"]·urd["جب-جنائی-تم","دائی","دائی-نے","دائیاں","دائیوں-سے","دائیوں-نے","دائیوں-کو"]
6. Hofal: birth/being born (causative passive) — Hofal causative-passive: birth as a nominalized event, being born. Arabic milad 'birthday' and wilada 'birth' — both nominal event forms — appear in these contexts. The three occurrences include Pharaoh's birthday feast (Gen 40:20) and Ezekiel's vivid description of Jerusalem's neglected birth (Ezek 16:4-5). 3×
AR["مِيلَادِ","وِلاَدَتِكِ"]·ben["জন্মগ্রহণ-করা","জন্মের"]·DE["der-Geburt","gebaeren"]·EN["being-born","birthday-of"]·FR["anniversaire-de","enfanter"]·heb["הולדת","ילד"]·HI["जन्म-होने","जन्मदिन"]·ID["engkau-dilahirkan,","engkau-dilahirkan.","kelahiran"]·IT["birthday-di","generare"]·jav["miyosipun","panjenengan-dipun-lairaken","piyambakipun-dipun-lairaken"]·KO["태어난"]·PT["nasceres","nascimento-de"]·RU["рождения"]·ES["nacer","nacimiento-de"]·SW["ulipozaliwa","ya-kuzaliwa"]·TR["doğdurmakta","doğdurulmanın","doğumunun"]·urd["جنم-لینے-کے","پیدا-ہونے-کے","پیدائش-کا"]
7. sense 7 — A substantival usage referring to 'the child' — the born one as a person rather than the act of birthing. Appears in Solomon's famous judgment (1 Kgs 3:26-27) where the living child is the focal object. Spanish el nacido and German der Kind confirm the nominal reading of the newborn as a distinct entity. 2×
AR["الْمَوْلُودَ"]·ben["জীবিত","না"]·DE["der-Kind"]·EN["the-child"]·FR["le-enfant"]·heb["ה-ילוד"]·HI["जन्मा-हुआ"]·ID["anak-yang-dilahirkan"]·IT["il-bambino"]·jav["lare"]·KO["그-아이를"]·PT["o-nascido"]·RU["рождённого"]·ES["el-nacido"]·SW["msimue","na-huyu"]·TR["doğmuşu","doğumuş"]·urd["بچے-پیدا-شدہ"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
יָלַד497 vb. bear, bring forth, beget (NH id.; Aramaic יְלִיד, יְלֵיד, ܝܺܠܶܕ; Arabic وَلَدَ bear, bring forth, so Ethiopic ወለደ Assyrian alâdu, COTGloss)— Qal Pf. יָלַד Gn 4:18(×3) + 16 times; יָלָ֑ד Je 17:11; וְיָלַד consec. ψ 7:15; sf. יְלָֽדְךָ Dt 32:18; 2 fs. sf. ילדתני Je 2:27 Kt; Qr יְלִדְתָּנוּ Köi. 410 Ges§ 69 s); 1 s. sf. יְלִדְתִּ֫יךָ ψ 2:7; יְלִדְתִּ֫יהוּ Nu 11:12, etc.; Impf.…