The Hebrew verb yalad means to bear, bring forth, or beget. It is used approximately 498 times in the Old Testament and is the primary verb for both giving birth (feminine) and fathering children (masculine). The word encompasses the entire scope of generational succession and is the backbone of biblical genealogies.
Yalad is central to the biblical narrative of covenant promise. God's promises to Abraham, David, and through the prophets are all tied to offspring and descendants — the line through which the Messiah would come. The genealogical formulas "X begat Y" use this verb extensively, creating the unbroken chain from Adam to Christ. The messianic prophecy in Isaiah 9:6 ("unto us a child is born") and Psalm 2:7 ("today I have begotten you") make yalad a key messianic term.