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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 29:29 Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/29-29.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/01_Gen_29_29.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 29:29 - Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant." /><script type="application/javascript" 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cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad9.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/29-28.htm" title="Genesis 29:28">◄</a> Genesis 29:29 <a href="/genesis/29-30.htm" title="Genesis 29:30">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/29.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/29.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/29.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />(Laban gave Rachel a servant, Bilhah, to be her maid.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/29.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />(Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/29.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/29.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/29.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/29.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Laban also gave his female slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/29.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/29.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Laban also gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/29.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Laban also gave his servant-woman Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her servant-woman.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/29.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Laban also gave Bilhah his maid to his daughter Rachel as a maid.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/29.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Laban gave his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/29.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Laban gave his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/29.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/29.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/29.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />(Laban had given his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/29.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Laban gave his slave woman Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maid.) <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/29.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Laban also gave his woman servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maidservant. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/29.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/29.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />(Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/29.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah, his female servant, to be her servant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/29.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Laban gave to Rachel, his daughter, Bilhah, his handmaid, to be her maid.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/29.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/29.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and Laban gives his maidservant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel for a maidservant for her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/29.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and Laban giveth to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his maid-servant, for a maid-servant to her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/29.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Laban will give to Rachel his daughter, Bilhah his maid to her for a maid.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/29.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />To whom her father gave Bala for her servant. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/29.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />To her, the father had given Bilhah as her servant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/29.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Laban assigned his maidservant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/29.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />(Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maid.)<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/29.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Laban gave Bilhah his maid to Rachel his daughter to be her maid.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/29.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Laban gave to his daughter Rakhyl, Balha, his Handmaid, for a Maidservant.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/29.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/29.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Laban gave to his daughter his handmaid Balla, for a handmaid to her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/29-29.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=7129" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/29.htm">Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">28</span>And Jacob did just that. He finished the week’s celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. <span class="reftext">29</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3837.htm" title="3837: lā·ḇān (N-proper-ms) -- Laban -- father-in-law of Jacob. The same as laban; Laban, a Mesopotamian; also a place in the Desert.">Laban also</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: way·yit·tên (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">gave</a> <a href="/hebrew/8198.htm" title="8198: šip̄·ḥā·ṯōw (N-fsc:: 3ms) -- Maid, maidservant. Feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out; a female slave.">his servant girl</a> <a href="/hebrew/1090.htm" title="1090: bil·hāh (N-proper-fs) -- Bilhah -- a concubine of Jacob. From balahh; timid; Bilhah, the name of one of Jacob's concubines; also of a place in Palestine.">Bilhah</a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: bit·tōw (N-fsc:: 3ms) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">to his daughter</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7354.htm" title="7354: lə·rā·ḥêl (Prep-l:: N-proper-fs) -- A wife of Jacob. The same as rachel; Rachel, a wife of Jacob.">Rachel</a> <a href="/hebrew/lāh (Prep:: 3fs) -- ">as her</a> <a href="/hebrew/8198.htm" title="8198: lə·šip̄·ḥāh (Prep-l:: N-fs) -- Maid, maidservant. Feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out; a female slave.">maidservant.</a> </span><span class="reftext">30</span>Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/30-9.htm">Genesis 30:9</a></span><br />When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/16-1.htm">Genesis 16:1-3</a></span><br />Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. / 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. / 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/24-59.htm">Genesis 24:59-61</a></span><br />So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, along with her nurse and Abraham’s servant and his men. / And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands upon thousands. May your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.” / Then Rebekah and her servant girls got ready, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/30-3.htm">Genesis 30:3-4</a></span><br />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.” / So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife, and he slept with her,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/35-22.htm">Genesis 35:22-26</a></span><br />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: / The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. / The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/46-18.htm">Genesis 46:18</a></span><br />These are the sons of Jacob born to Zilpah—whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah—sixteen in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/21-10.htm">Genesis 21:10-12</a></span><br />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!” / Now this matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael. / But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/25-6.htm">Genesis 25:6</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/21-7.htm">Exodus 21:7-11</a></span><br />And if a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as the menservants do. / If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who had designated her for himself, he must allow her to be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, since he has broken faith with her. / And if he chooses her for his son, he must deal with her as with a daughter. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ruth/4-11.htm">Ruth 4:11</a></span><br />“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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/1-2.htm">1 Samuel 1:2</a></span><br />He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/2-46.htm">1 Chronicles 2:46-48</a></span><br />Caleb’s concubine Ephah was the mother of Haran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez. / The sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph. / Caleb’s concubine Maacah was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/7-13.htm">1 Chronicles 7:13</a></span><br />The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum—the descendants of Bilhah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/1-2.htm">Matthew 1:2</a></span><br />Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/3-34.htm">Luke 3:34</a></span><br />the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.</p><p class="hdg">Bilhah.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/29-24.htm">Genesis 29:24</a></b></br> And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid <i>for</i> an handmaid.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/30-3.htm">Genesis 30:3-8</a></b></br> 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… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/35-22.htm">Genesis 35:22,25</a></b></br> And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard <i>it</i>. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_chronicles/7-13.htm">Bilhah</a> <a href="/genesis/29-28.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/genesis/29-24.htm">Girl</a> <a href="/genesis/29-24.htm">Handmaid</a> <a href="/genesis/29-28.htm">Laban</a> <a href="/genesis/29-24.htm">Maid</a> <a href="/genesis/29-24.htm">Maidservant</a> <a href="/genesis/29-24.htm">Maid-Servant</a> <a href="/genesis/29-28.htm">Rachel</a> <a href="/genesis/29-27.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/genesis/29-24.htm">Servant-Girl</a> <a href="/genesis/29-24.htm">Waiting-Woman</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/30-3.htm">Bilhah</a> <a href="/genesis/30-21.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/genesis/34-3.htm">Girl</a> <a href="/genesis/30-4.htm">Handmaid</a> <a href="/genesis/30-25.htm">Laban</a> <a href="/genesis/30-3.htm">Maid</a> <a href="/genesis/30-3.htm">Maidservant</a> <a href="/genesis/30-4.htm">Maid-Servant</a> <a href="/genesis/29-30.htm">Rachel</a> <a href="/genesis/30-3.htm">Servant</a> <a href="/genesis/30-18.htm">Servant-Girl</a> <a href="/genesis/29-24.htm">Waiting-Woman</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 29</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/29-1.htm">Jacob comes to the well of Haran.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/29-9.htm">He becomes acquainted with Rachel.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/29-13.htm">Laban entertains him.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/29-18.htm">Jacob covenants for Rachel.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/29-23.htm">He is deceived by Laban with Leah.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">28. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/29-28.htm">He marries also Rachel, and serves for her seven years more.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">32. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/29-32.htm">Leah bears Reuben;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/29-33.htm">Simeon;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">34. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/29-34.htm">Levi;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">35. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/29-35.htm">and Judah.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/29.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/29.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah</b><br>In the ancient Near Eastern culture, it was customary for a father to provide his daughter with a maidservant upon marriage. This practice is seen in other biblical accounts, such as when Pharaoh gave Hagar to Sarah (<a href="/genesis/16.htm">Genesis 16:1</a>). Bilhah's role as a servant girl is significant, as she later becomes a concubine to Jacob and the mother of two of the tribes of Israel, Dan and Naphtali (<a href="/genesis/30-3.htm">Genesis 30:3-8</a>). This reflects the social and familial structures of the time, where servants could play crucial roles in the family lineage.<p><b>to his daughter Rachel</b><br>Rachel, the younger daughter of Laban, is a central figure in the Genesis narrative. Her marriage to Jacob is marked by love and preference, as Jacob worked fourteen years to marry her (<a href="/genesis/29-18.htm">Genesis 29:18-30</a>). Rachel's relationship with her sister Leah and her struggle with infertility are key themes in her story. The giving of Bilhah to Rachel underscores the importance of family alliances and the continuation of lineage, as Rachel later uses Bilhah to bear children on her behalf.<p><b>as her maidservant</b><br>The term "maidservant" indicates a position of servitude but also of trust and responsibility within the household. Maidservants could be elevated to the status of concubines, as seen with Bilhah and Zilpah, Leah's maidservant. This reflects the patriarchal society where women's roles were often defined by their relationships to men and their ability to bear children. The use of maidservants to bear children for their mistresses is a recurring theme in Genesis, highlighting the cultural practices surrounding inheritance and family legacy.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/l/laban.htm">Laban</a></b><br>Laban is the brother of Rebekah and the father of Leah and Rachel. He is known for his cunning and manipulative behavior, particularly in his dealings with Jacob.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/r/rachel.htm">Rachel</a></b><br>Rachel is the younger daughter of Laban and the beloved wife of Jacob. She is known for her beauty and her struggle with infertility, which plays a significant role in the account of Jacob's family.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/b/bilhah.htm">Bilhah</a></b><br>Bilhah is the maidservant given to Rachel by her father, Laban. She later becomes a concubine to Jacob and bears him two sons, Dan and Naphtali.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jacob.htm">Jacob</a></b><br>Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the grandson of Abraham. He is a central patriarchal figure in the Bible, known for his twelve sons who become the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/h/haran.htm">Haran</a></b><br>This is the place where Laban and his family reside. It is also where Jacob flees to escape his brother Esau's wrath and where he meets and marries Leah and Rachel.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/c/cultural_context_and_god's_sovereignty.htm">Cultural Context and God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Understanding the cultural practices of the time, such as giving maidservants, helps us see how God works within human customs to fulfill His divine purposes. Despite human manipulation, God's plans prevail.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/family_dynamics_and_god's_plan.htm">Family Dynamics and God's Plan</a></b><br>The complex family dynamics in Jacob's household remind us that God can work through imperfect situations and people to accomplish His will. This encourages us to trust God in our own family challenges.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/role_of_women_in_god's_story.htm">Role of Women in God's Story</a></b><br>The inclusion of women like Bilhah in the biblical account highlights their significant roles in God's redemptive history. It challenges us to recognize and value the contributions of women in our faith communities today.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_in_service.htm">Faithfulness in Service</a></b><br>Bilhah's role as a maidservant and later as a mother to Jacob's children illustrates the importance of faithfulness in service, regardless of one's position. This calls us to serve faithfully in whatever role God has placed us.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_29.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 29</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_bilhah_in_the_bible.htm">Who was Bilhah in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_do_the_7_lampstands_symbolize.htm">Who was Bilhah in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_rachel_in_the_bible.htm">Who was Rachel in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/could_jacob_be_tricked_into_marrying_leah.htm">Genesis 29:23-25: Is it believable that Jacob could be deceived into marrying Leah instead of Rachel without noticing?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/29.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 29.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah</span> - "Bashful," "Modest" (Gesenius) - <span class="cmt_word">his handmaid to be her maid</span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/29-29.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Laban also</span><br /><span class="heb">לָבָן֙</span> <span class="translit">(lā·ḇān)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3837.htm">Strong's 3837: </a> </span><span class="str2">Laban -- father-in-law of Jacob</span><br /><br /><span class="word">gave</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּתֵּ֤ן</span> <span class="translit">(way·yit·tên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his servant girl</span><br /><span class="heb">שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(šip̄·ḥā·ṯōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8198.htm">Strong's 8198: </a> </span><span class="str2">Maid, maidservant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Bilhah</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּלְהָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(bil·hāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1090.htm">Strong's 1090: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bilhah -- a concubine of Jacob</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to his daughter</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּתּ֔וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(bit·tōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> </span><span class="str2">A daughter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Rachel</span><br /><span class="heb">לְרָחֵ֣ל</span> <span class="translit">(lə·rā·ḥêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7354.htm">Strong's 7354: </a> </span><span class="str2">Rachel -- a wife of Jacob</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as her</span><br /><span class="heb">לָ֖הּ</span> <span class="translit">(lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">maidservant.</span><br /><span class="heb">לְשִׁפְחָֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(lə·šip̄·ḥāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8198.htm">Strong's 8198: </a> </span><span class="str2">Maid, maidservant</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/29-29.htm">Genesis 29:29 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/29-29.htm">Genesis 29:29 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/29-29.htm">Genesis 29:29 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/29-29.htm">Genesis 29:29 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/29-29.htm">Genesis 29:29 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/29-29.htm">Genesis 29:29 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/29-29.htm">Genesis 29:29 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/29-29.htm">Genesis 29:29 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/29-29.htm">Genesis 29:29 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/29-29.htm">Genesis 29:29 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/29-29.htm">OT Law: Genesis 29:29 Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/29-28.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 29:28"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 29:28" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/29-30.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 29:30"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 29:30" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>