יִלּוֹד (yil.lod)
yil.lod
born
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective yil·lod simply means "born." It functions as a participle derived from the verb yalad, describing someone who has come into existence through birth. With only five occurrences in the Hebrew Bible, it is a rare term compared to more common words for offspring or children.
Its usage highlights specific individuals rather than general lineage. For instance, it appears in Joshua 15:14 to identify Caleb’s youngest son, and in Jeremiah 38:6 to describe the son of Ebed-Melech who was trapped in a cistern. In these contexts, the word serves as a precise identifier for a person defined by their origin.
Because it is so infrequent, yil·lod does not carry the broader theological weight of related terms like ben (son) or yeled (child). Instead, it acts as a factual marker, anchoring a character in the narrative through the simple reality of their birth. Translators typically render it directly as "born" to maintain this straightforward descriptive quality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yil·lod is a simple Hebrew term meaning "born." It appears only five times in the Old Testament, serving as a precise marker for individuals defined by their origin. Unlike broader terms for children or lineage, this adjective highlights specific people within the biblical narrative. It reminds us that every person enters history through a concrete moment of birth.
In Exodus 1:22, Pharaoh orders that every son who is born be cast into the river. This harsh command underscores the value of life in God's eyes, even when human power seeks to destroy it. The word anchors the story in the reality of physical existence and divine sovereignty over our beginnings.
For your faith, this term invites you to see yourself as known by name from the start. Your life is not an accident but a specific entry into God's story. Whether in times of safety or danger, your birth is part of a larger narrative where God remains present and purposeful.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ born4×
- the/ [ones] born1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/יִּלּוֹדִ֖ים1×
- הַ/יִּלֹּדִ֨ים1×
- הַ/יִּלֹּדִ֥ים1×
- הַ/יִּלּ֥וֹד1×
- הַ/יִּלּ֗וֹד1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 1:22
Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”
This verse uses the word to mark the target of Pharaoh's decree, highlighting the immediate threat to newborn life in Egypt.
-
Joshua 5:5
For all the people who came out were circumcised; but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.
Here it distinguishes those born during the wilderness journey from the generation that left Egypt, explaining their lack of circumcision.
-
II Samuel 5:14
These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
The term identifies Solomon and his brothers as sons born in Jerusalem, marking a new chapter in David's reign after his move to the capital.
-
Jeremiah 16:3
For Yahweh says concerning the sons and concerning the daughters who are born in this place, and concerning their mothers who bore them, and concerning their fathers who became their father in this land:
God uses this word to declare judgment on children born in Judah during the coming exile, emphasizing their specific fate in that land.