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Genesis 30:3

Bilhah

1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.

2 Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”

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.”

4 So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife, and he slept with her,

5 and Bilhah conceived and bore him a son.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.”
KJV
And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
WEB
She said, “Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.”
ASV
And she said, Behold, my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; that she may bear upon my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.
DARBY
And she said, Behold, there is my maid, Bilhah: go in to her, in order that she may bear on my knees, and I may also be built up by her.
BLB
And she said, “Behold, my maidservant Bilhah; go in to her, and she will bear [children] on my knees, and I also shall be built up from her.”
ÅB
Da sa hun: Se, der er min slavekvinne Bilha; gå inn til henne, for at hun kan føde på mine knær[^1], så også jeg kan få barn ved henne!
OTB
Da sa hun: "Her er min tjenestepike Bilha; gå inn til henne, så hun kan føde barn på mine vegne, slik at også jeg kan få en familie gjennom henne."
B1930
Da sa hun: Se, der er min trælkvinne Bilha; gå inn til henne, forat hun kan føde på mine knær, så også jeg kan få barn ved henne! / < d.e. føde barn som jeg kan ta til mig som mine.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 50:23

    He saw Ephraim’s sons to the third generation, and indeed the sons of Machir son of Manasseh were brought up on Joseph’s knees.

    Read in context

  • Job 3:12

    Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed?

    Read in context

  • Genesis 16:2–3

    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.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 30:9

    When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife.

    Read in context

  • 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.

    Read in context