Genesis 30:4

Genesis 30:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
• New International Version (NIV)So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacob slept with her,
• English Standard Version (ESV)So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.

Context of Genesis 30:4

2And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, Am I in God's stead, who has withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? 3And she said, Behold, there is my maid, Bilhah: go in to her, in order that she may bear on my knees, and I may also be built up by her. And she gave him Bilhah her maidservant as wife, and Jacob went in to her. 5And Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son. 6And Rachel said, God has done me justice, and has also heard my voice, and given me a son; therefore she called his name Dan.

Genesis 30:4 word by word

וַתִּתֶּן־ל֛וֹ אֶת־בִּלְהָ֥ה שִׁפְחָתָ֖הּ לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיָּבֹ֥א אֵלֶ֖יהָ יַעֲקֹֽב׃Read the interlinear

• gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• Bilhahבִּלְהָהbilhâh · BilhahH1090
• maidservantשִׁפְחָהshiphchâh · maidservantH8198
• wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
• wentבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935

Cross-references for Genesis 30:4

• Genesis 16:3And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar, the Egyptian, her maidservant, at the end of ten years that Abram had dwelt in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram, as his wife.
• Genesis 21:10And she said to Abraham, Cast out this handmaid and her son; for the son of this handmaid shall not inherit with my son — with Isaac.
• Genesis 22:24And his concubine, named Reumah, she also bore Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maacah.
• Genesis 25:1And Abraham took another wife named Keturah.
• Genesis 33:2and he put the maidservants and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindmost.
• Genesis 35:22And it came to pass when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine; and Israel heard of it. And the sons of Jacob were twelve.
• 2 Samuel 12:11Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

Commentaries on Genesis 30:4

• 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 30:4

• Bilhah
• Concubinage
• Emulation
• Family
• Jacob
• Polygamy
• Rachel

In the dictionaries

• Bilhah
• Jacob
• Jacob, Israel
• Add
• Agate
• Barren
• Coming
• Concubine
• Happy
• Reproach

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