Genesis 30:4

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

King James Version (KJV)

Other Translations for Genesis 30:4

And shee gaue him Bilhah her handmayd to wife: and Iacob went in vnto her.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.
- New American Standard Version (1995)

And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
- American Standard Version (1901)

So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.
- Basic English Bible

And she gave him Bilhah her maidservant as wife, and Jacob went in to her.
- Darby Bible

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

She gave him Bilhah her handmaid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.
- World English Bible

and she giveth to him Bilhah her maid-servant for a wife, and Jacob goeth in unto her;
- Youngs Literal Bible

And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife; and Jacob went in unto her.
- Jewish Publication Society Bible

Bible Commentary for Genesis 30:4

Wesley's Notes for Genesis 30:4


30:2 And Jacob's anger was kindled - He was angry, not at the person, but at the sin: he expressed himself so as to shew his displeasure. It was a grave and pious reply which Jacob gave to Rachel, Am I in God's stead? - Can I give thee that which God denies thee? He acknowledges the hand of God in the affliction: He hath withheld the fruit of the womb. Whatever we want, it is God that with - holds it, as sovereign Lord, most wise, holy, and just, that may do what he will with his own, and is debtor to no man: that never did, nor ever can do, any wrong to any of his creatures. The key of the clouds, of the heart, of the grave, and of the womb, are four keys which God has in his hand, and which (the Rabbins say) he intrusts neither with angel nor seraphin. He also acknowledges his own inability to alter what God appointed, Am I in God's stead? What, dost thou make a God of me? There is no creature that is, or can be, to us in God's stead. God may be to us, instead of any creature, as the sun instead of the moon and stars; but the moon and all the stars will not be to us instead of the sun. No creature's wisdom, power, and love will be to us instead of God's. It is therefore our sin and folly to place that confidence in any creature, which is to be placed in God only.

30:3 Behold my maid, Bilhah - At the persuasion of Rachel he took Bilhah her handmaid to wife, that, according to the usage of those times, his children by her might be adopted and owned as her mistresses children. She would rather have children by reputation than none at all; children that she might call her own, though they were not so. And as an early instance of her dominion over the children born in her apartment, she takes a pleasure in giving them names, that carry in them nothing but marks of emulation with her sister. As if she had overcome her, At law, she calls the flrst son of her handmaid, Dan, Judgment, saying, God hath Judged me - That is, given sentence in my favour. In battle, she calls the next Naphtali, Wrestlings, saying, I have wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed - See what roots of bitterness envy and strife are, and what mischief they make among relations!


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