Genesis 29:29
Genesis 29:29 in Multiple Translations
Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.
And Laban gave Rachel his servant-girl Bilhah to be her waiting-woman.
(Laban also arranged for his servant Bilhah to be Rachel's personal maid.)
Laban also gaue to Rahel his daughter Bilhah his mayde to be her seruant.
and Laban giveth to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his maid-servant, for a maid-servant to her.
Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
And Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her maid.
To whom her father gave Bala for her servant.
Laban gave his slave girl, Bilhah, to Rachel to be her maid/servant.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 29:29
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Genesis 29:29 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יִּתֵּ֤ן
לָבָן֙
לְ/רָחֵ֣ל
בִּתּ֔/וֹ
אֶת
בִּלְהָ֖ה
שִׁפְחָת֑/וֹ
לָ֖/הּ
לְ/שִׁפְחָֽה
וַ/יִּתֵּ֤ן
nâthan
H5414
to give
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
לָבָן֙
Lâbân
H3837
Laban
N-proper
לְ/רָחֵ֣ל
Râchêl
H7354
Rachel
Prep | N-proper
בִּתּ֔/וֹ
bath
H1323
Bath (Shua)
N-fs | Suff
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
בִּלְהָ֖ה
Bilhâh
H1090
Bilhah
N-proper
שִׁפְחָת֑/וֹ
shiphchâh
H8198
maidservant
N-fs | Suff
לָ֖/הּ
Prep | Suff
לְ/שִׁפְחָֽה
shiphchâh
H8198
maidservant
Prep | N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 29:29
וַ/יִּתֵּ֤ן
nâthan
H5414
"to give"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Definition: : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give, put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend 1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate 1a3) to make, constitute 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned 1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up 1c2) to be put upon
Usage: Occurs in 1816 OT verses. KJV: add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. See also: Genesis 1:17; Genesis 40:21; Exodus 30:12.
לָבָן֙
Lâbân
H3837
"Laban"
N-proper
Refers to Laban, a person in the Bible, or a place in the desert where the Israelites camped.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.24.29; son of: Bethuel (H1328A); brother of: Rebekah (H7259); father of: Rachel (H7354) and Leah (H3812) § Laban = "white" son of Bethuel, brother of Rebekah, and father of Leah and Rachel
Usage: Occurs in 47 OT verses. KJV: Laban. See also: Genesis 24:29; Genesis 30:40; Deuteronomy 1:1.
לְ/רָחֵ֣ל
Râchêl
H7354
"Rachel"
Prep | N-proper
Rachel was a wife of Jacob and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Her name means ewe, and she is an important figure in the book of Genesis, where her story is told in detail.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.6; daughter of: Laban (H3837A); sister of: Leah (H3812); married to Israel (H3478); mother of: Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144) Also named: Rhachēl (Ῥαχήλ "Rachel" G4478) § Rachel = "ewe" daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin
Usage: Occurs in 44 OT verses. KJV: Rachel. See also: Genesis 29:6; Genesis 30:25; Jeremiah 31:15.
בִּתּ֔/וֹ
bath
H1323
"Bath (Shua)"
N-fs | Suff
The Hebrew word for daughter is used to describe a female child or a woman, and can also be used figuratively. In the Bible, it is used to describe women like Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and later of King David.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.38.2; daughter of: Shua (H7770); married to Judah (H3063); mother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956) the wife of Uriah whom David had murdered, having had adulterous relations with her; subsequently wife of David and mother of Solomon, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan (alternate spelling to 'Bathsheba')
Usage: Occurs in 498 OT verses. KJV: apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. See also: Genesis 5:4; Exodus 2:21; Ruth 1:13.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
בִּלְהָ֖ה
Bilhâh
H1090
"Bilhah"
N-proper
Bilhah was a concubine of Jacob and also the name of a place in Palestine, meaning troubled. She appears in Genesis 29-30. Bilhah was given to Jacob by his wife Rachel.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.29; married to Israel (H3478); mother of: Dan (H1835H) and Naphtali (H5321) § Bilhah = "troubled" Rachel's handmaid whom she gave to Jacob as a concubine, mother to two of Jacob's children, Dan and Naphtali
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: Bilhah. See also: Genesis 29:29; Genesis 35:22; 1 Chronicles 7:13.
שִׁפְחָת֑/וֹ
shiphchâh
H8198
"maidservant"
N-fs | Suff
A shiphchah was a female slave or servant in a household, often belonging to a mistress. This term is used to describe a lowly position, and is sometimes used as a term of humility or respect.
Definition: 1) maid, maid-servant, slavegirl 1a) maid, maid-servant (as belonging to a mistress) 1b) of address, speaker, humility (fig)
Usage: Occurs in 58 OT verses. KJV: (bond-, hand-) maid(-en, -servant), wench, bondwoman, womanservant. See also: Genesis 12:16; Ruth 2:13; Psalms 123:2.
לָ֖/הּ
""
Prep | Suff
לְ/שִׁפְחָֽה
shiphchâh
H8198
"maidservant"
Prep | N-fs
A shiphchah was a female slave or servant in a household, often belonging to a mistress. This term is used to describe a lowly position, and is sometimes used as a term of humility or respect.
Definition: 1) maid, maid-servant, slavegirl 1a) maid, maid-servant (as belonging to a mistress) 1b) of address, speaker, humility (fig)
Usage: Occurs in 58 OT verses. KJV: (bond-, hand-) maid(-en, -servant), wench, bondwoman, womanservant. See also: Genesis 12:16; Ruth 2:13; Psalms 123:2.
Study Notes — Genesis 29:29
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
27Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.”
28And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife.
29Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.
30Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years. 31When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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: |
| 2 | Genesis 29:24 | And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant. |
| 3 | Genesis 30:3–8 | 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.” So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife, and he slept with her, and Bilhah conceived and bore him a son. Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my plea and given me a son.” So she named him Dan. And Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “In my great struggles, I have wrestled with my sister and won.” So she named him Naphtali. |
| 4 | Genesis 37:2 | This is the account of Jacob. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was tending the flock with his brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah, and he brought their father a bad report about them. |
| 5 | Genesis 35:25 | The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali. |
Genesis 29:29 Summary
In this verse, Laban gives his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maidservant, showing his wealth and generosity. This was a common practice in biblical times, where servants were given as gifts to provide for the needs of a new wife, as seen in Genesis 24:10, 22, 53. This act of kindness also highlights the importance of providing for those in our care, as seen in other biblical accounts, such as Genesis 25:12-18 and Exodus 21:2-6. By examining this verse, we can learn about the cultural context of biblical times and the importance of treating others with kindness and respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Laban give Bilhah to Rachel as a maidservant?
Laban gave Bilhah to Rachel as a maidservant as a way to provide for her daughter's needs and to show his wealth and generosity, similar to how Abraham gave gifts to his servant to find a wife for Isaac, as seen in Genesis 24:10, 22, 53.
What was the role of a maidservant in biblical times?
A maidservant like Bilhah was a female servant who attended to the personal needs of her mistress, in this case, Rachel, and was often given to a wife by her father as a wedding gift, as seen in Genesis 29:29 and Genesis 30:3-4.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the story of Jacob and Rachel?
This verse shows Laban's attempts to appease Jacob and solidify their family bond, but it also foreshadows the tensions that will arise between Rachel and Leah, as well as the use of their maidservants to bear children, as seen in Genesis 30:1-13.
What can we learn about the cultural context of biblical times from this verse?
This verse highlights the cultural practice of giving servants as gifts, particularly to women of higher social status, and shows how this practice was used to strengthen family bonds and secure alliances, as seen in other biblical accounts, such as Genesis 25:12-18.
Reflection Questions
- What can I learn from Laban's actions in this verse about the importance of providing for those in my care?
- How does this verse relate to the theme of family and relationships in the book of Genesis?
- What role do servants and maidservants play in the biblical narrative, and what can I learn from their examples?
- How does this verse foreshadow the challenges that Rachel and Leah will face in their relationships with each other and with Jacob?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 29:29
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 29:29
And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. Gave to Rachel ... Bilhah ... to be her maid.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 29:29
Genesis 29:29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.Ver. 29. Bilhah his handmaid.] Who afterward played false play with her master and husband, and incestuously lay with Reuben.
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 29:29
JACOB’S DOUBLE , Genesis 29:15-30. What shall thy wages be — Jacob, the plain, domestic man, (Genesis 25:27,) doubtless made himself very useful in Laban’s household.
Sermons on Genesis 29:29
| Sermon | Description | |
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(Genesis) Genesis 34 Introduction by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the focus is on Jacob and his family, particularly the children of Leah. The speaker highlights the fact that Jacob's family is always full of excitement and events |
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(Genesis) Genesis 48:4-6 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the promises made by God to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God promised to make them fruitful and multiply them, and to give them the land as an |
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Christ in Genesis: Jacob's Pillars by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the life of Jacob and the four pillars that make up the testimony of Jesus entrusted to the church. The first pillar is awakening, where indi |
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12 Real Christian Morals by George Verwer | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of sexual immorality and its consequences. He shares a personal experience of dealing with similar situations and emphasizes the imp |
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(Genesis) Genesis 38:27-30 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis. Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers and ends up in Egypt, where he becomes a prominent |
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(Genesis) Genesis 37 Introduction by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the 37th chapter of the book of Genesis, which introduces the story of Joseph. The preacher explains that there is more emphasis on Joseph t |
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Christ in Genesis: Joseph's Throne by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the lives of four individuals from the book of Genesis: Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Paul. He emphasizes the importance of accepting Jesus as the sa |