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

2Jacob became angry with Rachel and asked, “Can I take the place of God, who has kept you from having children?” 3She said, “Here’s my servant Bilhah. Sleep with her. She can have children for me, and I can build a family for myself through her.” So she gave him her slave Bilhah as his wife, and Jacob slept with her. 5Bilhah became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Jacob. 6Rachel said, “Now God has judged in my favor. He has heard my prayer and has given me a son.” So she named him Dan [He Judges].

Genesis 30:4 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And she gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• him Bilhahבִּלְהָהbilhâh · BilhahH1090
• her handmaidשִׁפְחָהshiphchâh · maidservantH8198
• to wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• and Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
• went inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935

Cross-references for Genesis 30:4

• Genesis 16:3After Abram had lived in Canaan for ten years, Abram’s wife Sarai took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
• Genesis 21:10She said to Abraham, “Get rid of this slave and her son, because this slave’s son must never share the inheritance with my son Isaac.”
• Genesis 22:24Nahor’s concubine, whose name was Reumah, had the following children: Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.”
• Genesis 25:1Abraham married again, and his wife’s name was Keturah.
• Genesis 33:2He put the slaves and their children in front, Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph last.
• Genesis 35:22While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went to bed with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had 12 sons.
• 2 Samuel 12:11“This is what the Lord says: I will stir up trouble against you within your own household, and before your own eyes I will take your wives and give them to someone close to you. He will go to bed with your wives in broad daylight.

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