Genesis 35:17

35:17 When her labor was at its hardest, ¹  the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for you are having another son.” ² 

Genesis 38:28

38:28 While she was giving birth, one child ³  put out his hand, and the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.”

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¹ tn The construction uses a Hiphil infinitive, which E. A. Speiser classifies as an elative Hiphil. The contrast is with the previous Piel: there “she had hard labor,” and here, “her labor was at its hardest.” Failure to see this, Speiser notes, has led to redundant translations and misunderstandings (Genesis [AB], 273).

² sn Another son. The episode recalls and fulfills the prayer of Rachel at the birth of Joseph (Gen 30:24): “may he add” another son.

³ tn The word “child” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.