Genesis 30:3

Genesis 30:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
• New International Version (NIV)Then she said, “Here is Bilhah, my servant. Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I too can build a family through her.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then she said, "Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear a child on my knees, that I also may have children by her.”

Context of Genesis 30:3

1When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. 2Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?” Then she said, “Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Sleep with her, that she may bear children for me, so that through her I too can build a family.” 4So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife, and he slept with her, 5and Bilhah conceived and bore him a son.

Genesis 30:3 word by word

וַתֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֛ה אֲמָתִ֥י בִלְהָ֖ה בֹּ֣א אֵלֶ֑יהָ וְתֵלֵד֙ עַל־בִּרְכַּ֔י וְאִבָּנֶ֥ה גַם־אָנֹכִ֖י מִמֶּֽנָּה׃Read the interlinear

• Then she saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Hereהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• is my maidservantאָמָה'âmâh · maidservantH519
• Bilhahבִּלְהָהbilhâh · BilhahH1090
• Sleep withבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• herאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• that she may bear childrenיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
• ·עַל‛al · uponH5921
• ·בֶּ֫רֶךְberek · kneeH1290
• so that through herמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480
• Iאָֽנֹכִ֫י'ânôkîy · IH595
• tooגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• can build a familyבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129

Cross-references for Genesis 30:3

• Genesis 30:9When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife.
• Genesis 16:2So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
• Genesis 50:23He saw Ephraim’s sons to the third generation, and indeed the sons of Machir son of Manasseh were brought up on Joseph’s knees.
• Job 3:12Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed?
• Ruth 4:11“We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.

Commentaries on Genesis 30:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3She shall bear upon my knees - The handmaid was the sole property of the mistress, as has already been remarked in the case of Hagar; and therefore not only all her labor, but even the children borne by her, were the property of the mistress. These female slaves, therefore, bore children vicariously for their mistresses; and this appears to be the import of the term, she shall bear upon my knees. That I may also have children by her - ממנה ואבנה veibbaneh…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-43Verses 1-43 - Jacob‘s Family and Wealth 6. דן dān Dan, “judge, lord.” 8. נפתלי naptālı̂y Naphtali, “wrestling.” 11. גד gād Gad, “overcoming, victory.” בגד bāgād “in victory or” =גד בא bā' gād “victory cometh.” גוּד gûd “press down.” גדוּד gedûd “troop.” 13. אשׁר 'ǎashēr Asher, “prosperity, happiness.” 18. ישׂשכר yı̂śāskār Jissakar, “reward.” The second Hebrew letter (ש s ) seems to have been merely a full mode of writing the word, instead of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4Rachel decided to have children through her servant, and Jacob agreed. This is similar to Sarai using Hagar (16:1–4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-93-9. Bilhah ... Zilpah--Following the example of Sarah with regard to Hagar, an example which is not seldom imitated still, she adopted the children of her maid. Leah took the same course. A bitter and intense rivalry existed between them, all the more from their close relationship as sisters; and although they occupied separate apartments, with their families, as is the uniform custom where a plurality of wives obtains, and the husband and father spends…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 30:3

• Bilhah
• Childlessness
• Emulation
• Family
• Jacob
• Polygamy
• Rachel
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Bilhah
• Add
• Agate
• Barren
• Coming
• Concubine
• Happy
• Reproach
• Archaeology; Archaeology and Criticism
• Bear; Born

Commentaries on Genesis 30

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings