Genesis 30:4 - Forerunner Commentary

Genesis 30:4

2 And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, ^a“Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

3 So she said, “Here is ^amy maid Bilhah; go in to her, ^band she will bear a child on my knees, ^cthat I also may have children by her.”

4 Then she gave him Bilhah her maid ^aas wife, and Jacob went in to her.

5 And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.

6 Then Rachel said, “God has ^ajudged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name¹ Dan.

7 And Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.

8 Then Rachel said, “With¹ great wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and indeed I have prevailed.” So she called his name² Naphtali.

9 When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and ^agave her to Jacob as wife.

10 And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son.

Verse Comparison: Genesis 30:4

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

Amplified® Bible
And she gave him Bilhah her maid as a [secondary] wife, and Jacob had intercourse with her.

Contemporary English Version
Then Rachel let Jacob marry Bilhah,

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

Good News Bible
So she gave Bilhah to her husband, and he had intercourse with her.

King James Version
And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

New American Standard Bible
So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.

New International Version
So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife. Jacob slept with her,

New King James Version
Then she gave him Bilhah her maid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.

Revised Standard Version
So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife; and Jacob went in to her.

Young's Literal Translation
and she giveth to him Bilhah her maid-servant for a wife, and Jacob goeth in unto her;

New English Translation
So Rachel¹ gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob had marital relations with² her.