Genesis 30:4
New International Version
So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacob slept with her,

New Living Translation
So Rachel gave her servant, Bilhah, to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her.

English Standard Version
So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.

Berean Standard Bible
So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife, and he slept with her,

King James Bible
And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

New King James Version
Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.

New American Standard Bible
So she gave him her slave Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob had relations with her.

NASB 1995
So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.

NASB 1977
So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.

Legacy Standard Bible
So she gave him her servant-woman Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.

Amplified Bible
So she gave him Bilhah her maid as a [secondary] wife, and Jacob went in to her.

Christian Standard Bible
So Rachel gave her slave Bilhah to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Rachel gave her slave Bilhah to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her.

American Standard Version
And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

Contemporary English Version
Then Rachel let Jacob marry Bilhah,

English Revised Version
And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So she gave him her slave Bilhah as his wife, and Jacob slept with her.

Good News Translation
So she gave Bilhah to her husband, and he had intercourse with her.

International Standard Version
So Rachel gave Jacob her woman servant Bilhah to be his wife, and Jacob had sex with her.

Majority Standard Bible
So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife, and he slept with her,

NET Bible
So Rachel gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob had marital relations with her.

New Heart English Bible
So she gave him Bilhah her servant as a wife, and Jacob slept with her.

Webster's Bible Translation
And she gave him Bilhah, her handmaid, for a wife: and Jacob went in to her.

World English Bible
She gave him Bilhah her servant as wife, and Jacob went in to her.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and she gives Bilhah her maidservant to him for a wife, and Jacob goes in to her;

Young's Literal Translation
and she giveth to him Bilhah her maid-servant for a wife, and Jacob goeth in unto her;

Smith's Literal Translation
And she will give to him Bilhah her maid for a wife, and Jacob will go in to her.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And she gave him Bala in marriage: who,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And she gave him Bilhah in marriage.

New American Bible
So she gave him her maidservant Bilhah as wife, and Jacob had intercourse with her.

New Revised Standard Version
So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife; and Jacob went in to her.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And she gave him her maid Bilhah to wife; and Jacob went in unto her.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And she gave to him Balha her Handmaid as a wife and he went in unto her.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife; and Jacob went in unto her.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And she gave him Balla her maid, for a wife to him; and Jacob went in to her.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Dan and Naphtali
3Then 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.…

Cross References
Genesis 16:2
So 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 16:3
So after he had lived in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to Abram to be his wife.

Genesis 29:24
And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.

Genesis 29:29
Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.

Genesis 35:22
While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:

Genesis 16:4
And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.

Genesis 21:10
and she said to Abraham, “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac!”

Genesis 25:6
But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.

Genesis 38:18
“What pledge should I give you?” he asked. She answered, “Your seal and your cord, and the staff in your hand.” So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.

Genesis 38:25
As she was being brought out, Tamar sent a message to her father-in-law: “I am pregnant by the man to whom these items belong.” And she added, “Please examine them. Whose seal and cord and staff are these?”

Exodus 21:7-11
And if a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as the menservants do. / If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who had designated her for himself, he must allow her to be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has broken faith with her. / And if he chooses her for his son, he must deal with her as with a daughter. ...

Judges 19:24
Look, let me bring out my virgin daughter and the man’s concubine, and you can use them and do with them as you wish. But do not do such a vile thing to this man.”

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.

1 Samuel 1:2
He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

2 Samuel 5:13
After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.


Treasury of Scripture

And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in to her.

to wife.

Genesis 16:3
And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

Genesis 21:10
Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

Genesis 22:24
And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.

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Bilhah Handmaid Jacob Maid Maidservant Maid-Servant Servant Slept Wife
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Genesis 30
1. Rachel, in grief for her barrenness, gives Bilhah her maid unto Jacob.
5. Bilhah bears Dan and Naphtali.
9. Leah gives Zilpah her maid, who bears Gad and Asher.
14. Reuben finds mandrakes,
15. with which Leah buys her husband's company of Rachel.
17. Leah bears Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah.
22. Rachel bears Joseph.
25. Jacob desires to depart.
27. Laban detains him on a new agreement.
37. Jacob's policy, whereby he becomes rich.














So Rachel gave
The act of giving here is significant in the cultural and historical context of the ancient Near East. The Hebrew word for "gave" is "נָתַן" (natan), which implies a deliberate and purposeful action. Rachel's decision to give her servant Bilhah to Jacob reflects the customs of the time, where a wife could offer her maidservant to her husband to bear children on her behalf. This was a socially accepted practice, as seen in other ancient texts, and highlights the desperation and lengths to which Rachel was willing to go to secure her place and legacy within the family.

Jacob her servant Bilhah
The mention of "Jacob" and "her servant Bilhah" underscores the complex family dynamics at play. Jacob, the patriarch, is central to God's covenantal promises, yet his family life is fraught with tension and competition. Bilhah, whose name means "bashful" or "timid," is a servant, indicating her lower social status. However, her role becomes pivotal in the unfolding narrative of Israel's tribes. This phrase reminds us of God's ability to work through imperfect human relationships to fulfill His divine purposes.

as a wife
The term "wife" here is translated from the Hebrew word "אִשָּׁה" (ishah), which can mean woman or wife. In this context, it signifies a formal recognition of Bilhah's new status, albeit secondary to Rachel. This arrangement, while foreign to modern sensibilities, was a legitimate means of ensuring progeny and inheritance in the ancient world. It reflects the patriarchal structure of the society and the importance placed on lineage and offspring.

and he slept with her
The phrase "slept with her" is a euphemism for sexual relations, derived from the Hebrew "שָׁכַב" (shakab), meaning to lie down. This act was not merely physical but carried significant implications for family and inheritance. It was through such unions that the tribes of Israel were established, demonstrating how God can use even the flawed and morally complex actions of individuals to advance His covenantal promises. This phrase invites reflection on the sovereignty of God in using human actions, even those driven by rivalry and desperation, to fulfill His divine plan.

Verse 4. - And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. "Whence we gather that there is no end of sin where once the Divine institution of marriage is neglected" (Calvin). Jacob began with polygamy, and is now drawn into concubinage. Though God overruled this for the development of the seed of Israel, he did not thereby condone the offense of either Jacob or Rachel.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Rachel gave
וַתִּתֶּן־ (wat·tit·ten-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

[Jacob]
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

her servant
שִׁפְחָתָ֖הּ (šip̄·ḥā·ṯāh)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8198: Maid, maidservant

Bilhah
בִּלְהָ֥ה (bil·hāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1090: Bilhah -- a concubine of Jacob

as his wife,
לְאִשָּׁ֑ה (lə·’iš·šāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

and [he]
יַעֲקֹֽב׃ (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

slept with
וַיָּבֹ֥א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

her,
אֵלֶ֖יהָ (’ê·le·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to


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OT Law: Genesis 30:4 She gave him Bilhah her handmaid as (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 30:3
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