Genesis 30:4
Genesis 30:4 in Multiple Translations
So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife, and he slept with her,
And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.
She gave her personal maid Bilhah to him as a wife and Jacob slept with her.
Then shee gaue him Bilhah her mayde to wife, and Iaakob went in to her.
and she giveth to him Bilhah her maid-servant for a wife, and Jacob goeth in unto her;
She gave him Bilhah her servant as wife, and Jacob went in to her.
And she gave him Bilhah, her handmaid, for a wife: and Jacob went in to her.
And she gave him Bala in marriage: who,
So she gave him her slave, Bilhah, to be another wife for him, and Jacob had sex [EUP] with her.
Then Rachel gave Bilhah to Jacob, and Bilhah became Jacob’s wife. And Jacob slept with Bilhah, like a man sleeps with his wife.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 30:4
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 30:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/תִּתֶּן
ל֛/וֹ
אֶת
בִּלְהָ֥ה
שִׁפְחָתָ֖/הּ
לְ/אִשָּׁ֑ה
וַ/יָּבֹ֥א
אֵלֶ֖י/הָ
יַעֲקֹֽב
וַ/תִּתֶּן
nâthan
H5414
to give
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs
ל֛/וֹ
Prep | Suff
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
בִּלְהָ֥ה
Bilhâh
H1090
Bilhah
N-proper
שִׁפְחָתָ֖/הּ
shiphchâh
H8198
maidservant
N-fs | Suff
לְ/אִשָּׁ֑ה
ʼishshâh
H802
woman
Prep | N-fs
וַ/יָּבֹ֥א
bôwʼ
H935
Lebo
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
אֵלֶ֖י/הָ
ʼêl
H413
to(wards)
Prep | Suff
יַעֲקֹֽב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
Jacob
N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 30:4
וַ/תִּתֶּן
nâthan
H5414
"to give"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs
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.
ל֛/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
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.
בִּלְהָ֥ה
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.
שִׁפְחָתָ֖/הּ
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.
לְ/אִשָּׁ֑ה
ʼishshâh
H802
"woman"
Prep | N-fs
The Hebrew word for woman, used to describe a female person, wife, or animal, appears in many biblical passages, including Genesis and Exodus, and is often translated as woman, wife, or female.
Definition: : woman 1) woman, wife, female 1a) woman (opposite of man) 1b) wife (woman married to a man) 1c) female (of animals) 1d) each, every (pronoun)
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. See also: Genesis 2:22; Genesis 34:4; Numbers 5:12.
וַ/יָּבֹ֥א
bôwʼ
H935
"Lebo"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Definition: A shortened name of Lebo Hamath complined withcha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574) This name means to go in, enter
Usage: Occurs in 2307 OT verses. KJV: abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. See also: Genesis 2:19; Genesis 32:7; Exodus 1:19.
אֵלֶ֖י/הָ
ʼêl
H413
"to(wards)"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Definition: 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Usage: Occurs in 4205 OT verses. KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in). See also: Genesis 1:9; Genesis 21:14; Genesis 31:13.
יַעֲקֹֽב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
"Jacob"
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.
Study Notes — Genesis 30:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Dan and Naphtali
2Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”
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. 6Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my plea and given me a son.” So she named him Dan.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 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!” |
| 3 | 2 Samuel 12:11 | This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight. |
| 4 | Genesis 25:1 | Now Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah, |
| 5 | Genesis 22:24 | Moreover, Nahor’s concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah. |
| 6 | Genesis 16:3–4 | 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. And he slept with Hagar, and she conceived. But when Hagar realized that she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. |
| 7 | Genesis 33:2 | He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear. |
| 8 | 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 30:4 Summary
In this verse, we see that Rachel gave her servant Bilhah to Jacob as a wife, because she was unable to bear children. This was a way for Rachel to build a family, but it also shows that she was trying to take control of her life, rather than trusting in God's plan. As seen in Jeremiah 1:5, God has a plan for each of our lives, and we need to trust in His sovereignty, rather than trying to take matters into our own hands. By trusting in God's plan, we can find peace and contentment, even in difficult circumstances, as seen in Philippians 4:13.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rachel give her servant Bilhah to Jacob as a wife?
Rachel gave Bilhah to Jacob as a wife because she was unable to bear children and wanted to build a family through her servant, as seen in Genesis 30:3. This was a common practice in ancient times, as mentioned in Genesis 16:1-3, where Sarah gave her servant Hagar to Abraham.
Is this practice of giving a servant as a wife to one's husband still acceptable today?
No, this practice is not acceptable today, as it is not in line with God's original design for marriage, which is between one man and one woman, as seen in Genesis 2:24. Additionally, the Bible teaches that marriage is a union between two consenting adults, as seen in 1 Corinthians 7:39.
How did Jacob feel about taking Bilhah as a wife?
The Bible does not explicitly state how Jacob felt about taking Bilhah as a wife, but it can be inferred that he was not opposed to the idea, as he slept with her and had children with her, as seen in Genesis 30:4-5. However, it is also clear that Jacob's primary love was for Rachel, as seen in Genesis 29:18.
What can we learn from Rachel's actions in this verse?
We can learn that Rachel was desperate to have children and was willing to go to great lengths to achieve this goal, as seen in Genesis 30:1-4. However, this also shows that Rachel was trying to take matters into her own hands, rather than trusting in God's sovereignty, as seen in Psalm 127:3 and Jeremiah 1:5.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I try to take control of my life, rather than trusting in God's sovereignty?
- How can I learn to trust in God's timing and plan, even when I am faced with difficult circumstances?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to let go and trust in God's provision?
- How can I apply the lesson of trusting in God's sovereignty to my own life, as seen in Psalm 37:7 and Proverbs 3:5-6?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 30:4
And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid,.... To be enjoyed as a wife, though she was no other than a concubine; yet such were sometimes called wives, and were secondary ones, and were under the proper
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 30:4
And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. She gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 30:4
Genesis 30:4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.Ver. 4. And Jacob went in unto her.] Merely to please his wife, he yielded to that which he could not but disallow as evil. Heed must be taken that the hen crow not, that the wife rule not. This γυναικοκρατεια was a part of Jacob’ s punishment.
Sermons on Genesis 30:4
| 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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Free Grace by C.H. Spurgeon | In this sermon, preached by Charles Haddon Spurgeon in 1859, he boldly proclaims a doctrine that goes against human merit and challenges the righteousness of moralists. He acknowle |
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Man's Extremity - God's Opportunity by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen emphasizes that Isaac represents the work of God through Abraham, contrasting it with Ishmael, who was born from Abraham's own strength. He explains that true service to |
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Sanctification Through the Blood by Andrew Murray | The preacher delves into the Greek word 'exegeiro,' which signifies bringing forward or lifting up historical figures to prominence, awakening from sleep, and causing to appear. Th |