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 furious with Rachel and exclaimed, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?” 3She replied, “Here is my servant Bilhah! Have sexual relations with her so that she can bear children for me and I can have a family through her.” So Rachel gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob had marital relations with her. 5Bilhah became pregnant and gave Jacob a son. 6Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me. He has responded to my prayer and given me a son.” That is why she named him Dan.

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 16:3So after Abram had lived in Canaan for ten years, Sarai, Abram’s wife, gave Hagar, her Egyptian servant, to her husband to be his wife.
• Genesis 21:10So she said to Abraham, “Banish that slave woman and her son, for the son of that slave woman will not be an heir along with my son Isaac!”
• Genesis 22:24His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore him children – Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
• Genesis 25:1Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah.
• Genesis 33:2He put the servants and their children in front, with Leah and her children behind them, and Rachel and Joseph behind them.
• Genesis 35:22While Israel was living in that land, Reuben had sexual relations with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:
• 2 Samuel 12:11This is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to bring disaster on you from inside your own household! Right before your eyes I will take your wives and hand them over to your companion. He will have sexual relations 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