Genesis 30:10
Genesis 30:10 in Multiple Translations
And Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son.
And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a son.
And Zilpah Leah’s handmaid bare Jacob a son.
And Zilpah, Leah's servant, gave birth to a son.
Zilpah had a son for Jacob.
And Zilpah Leahs mayde bare Iaakob a sonne.
and Zilpah, Leah's maid-servant, beareth to Jacob a son,
Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a son.
And Zilpah, Leah's maid, bore Jacob a son.
And when she had conceived and brought forth a son,
Zilpah soon became pregnant and gave birth to a son for Jacob.
Jacob slept with Zilpah, like a man sleeps with his wife, and she had a baby boy. He was another son for Jacob.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 30:10
BAB
Word Study
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Genesis 30:10 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/תֵּ֗לֶד
זִלְפָּ֛ה
שִׁפְחַ֥ת
לֵאָ֖ה
לְ/יַעֲקֹ֥ב
בֵּֽן
וַ/תֵּ֗לֶד
yâlad
H3205
to beget
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs
זִלְפָּ֛ה
Zilpâh
H2153
Zilpah
N-proper
שִׁפְחַ֥ת
shiphchâh
H8198
maidservant
N-fs
לֵאָ֖ה
Lêʼâh
H3812
Leah
N-proper
לְ/יַעֲקֹ֥ב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
Jacob
Prep | N-proper
בֵּֽן
bên
H1121
son
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 30:10
וַ/תֵּ֗לֶד
yâlad
H3205
"to beget"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to give birth or beget a child, like when Eve gave birth to Cain in Genesis 4:1. It can also mean to help someone give birth, like a midwife. This word is used in many KJV translations, including Genesis and Isaiah.
Definition: 1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to bear, bring forth 1a1a) of child birth 1a1b) of distress (simile) 1a1c) of wicked (behaviour) 1a2) to beget 1b) (Niphal) to be born 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cause or help to bring forth 1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife 1c3) midwife (participle) 1d) (Pual) to be born 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to beget (a child) 1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity) 1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive) 1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)
Usage: Occurs in 403 OT verses. KJV: bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman). See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 30:19; 2 Samuel 21:22.
זִלְפָּ֛ה
Zilpâh
H2153
"Zilpah"
N-proper
Zilpah was a servant of Leah and a concubine of Jacob, and the mother of Gad and Asher. She was given to Leah by her father Laban, and her name means a trickling or a dripping.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.24; married to Israel (H3478); mother of: Gad (H1410) and Asher (H0836) § Zilpah = "a trickling" the Syrian given by Laban to Leah as a handmaid, a concubine of Jacob, mother of Asher and Gad
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: Zilpah. See also: Genesis 29:24; Genesis 30:12; Genesis 46:18.
שִׁפְחַ֥ת
shiphchâh
H8198
"maidservant"
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.
לֵאָ֖ה
Lêʼâh
H3812
"Leah"
N-proper
Leah was the first wife of Jacob, daughter of Laban, and mother of many tribes of Israel, including Reuben and Judah, as told in Genesis 29:16.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.16; daughter of: Laban (H3837A); sister of: Rachel (H7354); married to Israel (H3478); mother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783) § Leah = "weary" daughter of Laban, first wife of Jacob, and mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: Leah. See also: Genesis 29:16; Genesis 30:18; Ruth 4:11.
לְ/יַעֲקֹ֥ב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
"Jacob"
Prep | N-proper
This word is the name of a person, Jacob, a key figure in the Bible. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the father of many tribes of Israel. The KJV simply translates it as Jacob.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478) § Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter" son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel
Usage: Occurs in 319 OT verses. KJV: Jacob. See also: Genesis 25:26; Genesis 34:1; Psalms 14:7.
בֵּֽן
bên
H1121
"son"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
Study Notes — Genesis 30:10
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Gad and Asher
8Then Rachel said, “In my great struggles, I have wrestled with my sister and won.” So she named him Naphtali.
9When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife.
10And Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son.
11Then Leah said, “How fortunate!” So she named him Gad. 12When Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son,Genesis 30:10 Summary
In Genesis 30:10, we see that Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son, which was a significant event in the story of Jacob's family. This verse shows that God is sovereign over all things, even in the midst of complex human relationships, as seen in Genesis 28:15. It also highlights the importance of trusting in God's plan, rather than trying to control or manipulate circumstances, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6. By trusting in God, we can find peace and hope, even in difficult situations, and we can learn to surrender our desires and plans to His sovereign will.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Leah give her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife in Genesis 30:9, and what does this mean for our understanding of marriage and family?
This act was a common practice in ancient cultures, where a woman would give her servant to her husband as a wife to bear children, as seen in Genesis 30:9, and it reflects the cultural and societal norms of the time, but it also highlights the complex family dynamics in Genesis 29-31.
How does the birth of Zilpah's son relate to the larger story of Jacob's family and the promise of God in Genesis?
The birth of Zilpah's son is part of the larger narrative of Jacob's family and the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, as seen in Genesis 12:2-3 and Genesis 15:5, which highlights God's faithfulness and sovereignty over all things.
What can we learn from Leah's actions and reactions in this verse, particularly in regards to her relationship with Rachel and her desire for children?
Leah's actions and reactions reveal her deep desire for children and her longing for Jacob's love and attention, as seen in Genesis 29:31-35 and Genesis 30:1, which serves as a reminder of the complexities of human relationships and the importance of trusting in God's plan.
How does this verse fit into the broader theme of God's sovereignty and providence in the book of Genesis?
This verse demonstrates God's sovereignty and providence in the lives of Jacob, Leah, and Zilpah, as He works out His plan despite the complexities and challenges of human relationships, as seen in Genesis 28:15 and Genesis 31:3, which highlights God's faithfulness and power.
Reflection Questions
- What can I learn from Leah's example about trusting God in the midst of difficult circumstances and unmet desires?
- How does the birth of Zilpah's son challenge or affirm my understanding of God's sovereignty and providence in my own life?
- In what ways can I relate to Leah's desire for love, attention, and children, and how can I trust God to meet my deepest needs?
- What does this verse reveal about the complexities of human relationships and the importance of trusting in God's plan, and how can I apply this to my own relationships?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 30:10
And Zilpah, Leah's maid, bore Jacob a son. For it seems he consented to take her to wife at the motion of Leah, as he had took Bilhah at the instance of Rachel; and having gratified the one, he could
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 30:10
When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. Leah ... took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 30:10
Genesis 30:10 And Zilpah Leah’ s maid bare Jacob a son.Ver. 10. Bare Jacob a son.] Here Jacob was too indulgent both to his wives and to himself.
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 30:10
(9-13) Leah . . . took Zilpah . . . —By ceasing to bear, Leah had lost her one hold upon her husband’s affection, and to regain it she follows Rachel’s example. The struggle of these two women for the husband gives us a strange picture of manners and morals, but must not be judged by our standard. Leah herself regards the bestowal of her handmaid upon Jacob as a deserving act of self-sacrifice (Genesis 30:18). The names, moreover, which she gives to Zilpah’s children show that the happier frame of mind to which she had attained when she called her fourth son “Judah,” praise, remained unbroken. On the birth of the first, she says, “With good luck!” and calls his name “Gad,” that is, luck. The Jews read, in their synagogue, Luck cometh, whence the rendering of the Authorised Version, “A troop cometh;” but there is no justification for the change. With regard to the meaning of the word “Gad,” all the Versions render it prosperity, good fortune. Nor is the Samaritan, as has been alleged, an exception; for though the worthless Latin translation of it has “a troop cometh,” the Samaritan itself has with good luck. In Isaiah 65:11 we find Gad used as the name of an idol. Zilpah’s other son is called Asher, that is, happy, in Latin Felix, and Leah says, “With my happiness,” using just the same turn of speech as before.
The first child came bringing her good luck; the second brought her happiness.