Genesis 29:29 kjv

And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

Genesis 29:29 nkjv

And Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid.

Genesis 29:29 niv

Laban gave his servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.

Genesis 29:29 esv

(Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)

Genesis 29:29 nlt

(Laban gave Rachel a servant, Bilhah, to be her maid.)

Genesis 29 verses

Genesis 29 29 Meaning

Genesis 29:29 describes Laban's action of providing Bilhah, his servant, to Rachel as her personal maidservant. This event occurs immediately after Jacob's seven years of labor for Rachel were completed, and he was tricked into marrying Leah. Following the wedding feast for Leah, Laban promises Rachel to Jacob for another seven years and formalizes the arrangement by giving Bilhah to Rachel. This practice was customary in ancient Near Eastern societies, where maidservants were often given with a daughter as part of the marital agreement or household retinue. The verse establishes Bilhah's status and direct subservience to Rachel, setting the stage for significant developments in Jacob's family dynamics, particularly in the lineage of the future tribes of Israel.

Genesis 29 29 Context

Genesis 29 details Jacob's arrival at Laban's household in Haran and his desire to marry Rachel. Jacob pledges seven years of labor for Rachel. However, upon completion, Laban deceives Jacob by giving him Leah, his older daughter, instead. When Jacob protests, Laban explains the local custom of marrying the elder daughter first. He then offers Rachel to Jacob for another seven years of service, contingent on Jacob fulfilling the week of wedding celebrations for Leah. It is at the end of this "Leah-week" that Laban presents Rachel to Jacob along with Bilhah. This act of giving a maidservant to a daughter upon marriage was a common custom in the ancient Near East, ensuring the bride had personal attendants and could potentially provide offspring if she remained barren, a crucial aspect of familial continuation in that culture. The verse, therefore, is pivotal in establishing the household structure that will become the bedrock for the emerging Israelite tribes.

Genesis 29 29 Word analysis

• And Laban gave: Hebrew: Vayitēn Lābān (וַיִּתֵּן לָבָן). Natan (נָתַן) is a very common verb meaning "to give," "to place," "to put," or "to grant." Here, it signifies a formal bestowal, indicating Laban's control and authority over Bilhah. This action also reflects Laban's customary obligation or perhaps a perceived act of generosity to solidify the marital agreement, consistent with his earlier giving of Zilpah to Leah (Gen 29:24).
• to Rachel: Hebrew: l'Rāḥēl (לְרָחֵל). Rachel is the direct recipient of Bilhah, marking Bilhah as her personal possession and attendant within the household. This clearly delineates Bilhah's subservient role specific to Rachel.
• his servant Bilhah: Hebrew: 'amatō Bilhāh (אֲמָתוֹ בִּלְהָה).
  • 'Amāh (אֲמָה) is a common Hebrew word for "maidservant" or "handmaid." It often refers to a female slave, acquired through various means (birth into the household, purchase, debt). An 'amāh typically belonged to the master/mistress and performed domestic duties, and in certain cultural contexts, could be given as a surrogate wife if the mistress was barren, or simply be a member of the household staff. Her status was generally lower than a free woman but might have some protections under law (e.g., Exod 21:7).
  • Bilhah (בִּלְהָה): The name possibly means "troubled," "aged," or "bashful." As an owned individual, her own will and desires are secondary, making her an object within this familial transaction. Her status as "his servant" underscores Laban's ownership and right to dispense with her.
• to be her maidservant: Hebrew: l'shifḥāh lāh (לְשִׁפְחָה לָהּ). This phrase strongly emphasizes Bilhah's specific function and subservient status relative to Rachel.
  • Shipḥāh (שִׁפְחָה) is another Hebrew term for "maidservant" or "bondwoman," often used synonymously with 'amāh. The repetition of the concept (using both 'amāh and shipḥāh, though the second is a construction of purpose "to be a maidservant for her") serves to firmly establish Bilhah's primary role as Rachel's attendant and servant, signifying her belonging exclusively to Rachel. It makes explicit that Bilhah's purpose in this transfer is specifically to serve Rachel, which becomes significant later in the narrative when Rachel utilizes Bilhah as a surrogate.

Words-group analysis:

• Laban gave... his servant Bilhah to be her maidservant: This phrasing underscores the formal nature of the transfer and the clear definition of Bilhah's role. It indicates that Bilhah's position is one of dedicated service to Rachel, not merely general household labor. This specific role highlights the provision of an attendant or assistant to the new wife, a common custom to help establish her in her new home and duties, and crucially, as a potential surrogate if childbearing proved difficult. The act subtly displays Laban's patriarchal authority and continues the theme of transactions around his daughters, even if clothed as customary gifts.

Genesis 29 29 Bonus section

The provision of a maidservant was not only for practical help but could also serve as part of a bride's personal "property" or retinue. While it was not a dowry in the modern sense (which typically goes to the groom or couple from the bride's family), it enhanced the bride's standing and capabilities within her new household. The subsequent narrative clearly shows Bilhah and Zilpah not merely as domestic workers but as key figures in building the lineages of Dan, Naphtali (from Bilhah), Gad, and Asher (from Zilpah). This demonstrates how societal practices, even those involving persons as property, were providentially integrated into God's plan for the nation of Israel. It also underlines the ancient Near Eastern cultural value placed on progeny and the various legal and social mechanisms employed to ensure it.

Genesis 29 29 Commentary

Genesis 29:29 marks a practical aspect of Laban's complex marital arrangement with Jacob, providing Rachel with Bilhah as her maidservant, mirroring the earlier provision of Zilpah to Leah (Gen 29:24). This was not merely a benevolent gift but a customary and legally recognized part of ancient Near Eastern marriage practices. Such maidservants served diverse roles: domestic assistants, companions, and crucially, potential surrogate mothers if the primary wife was barren, a common practice to secure the continuation of the family line, which was paramount.

This verse subtly prepares the reader for the significant role Bilhah will play later in the narrative (Gen 30:3-5). The dynamics of the relationship between Rachel, Leah, and their respective maidservants (Bilhah and Zilpah) become central to the escalating tensions and rivalries within Jacob's burgeoning family. Laban's "gift" thus lays the groundwork for future sibling strife, desperate measures for progeny, and ultimately, the intricate formation of the twelve tribes of Israel, with half of them originating from these two maidservants. It highlights the divine sovereignty at work even amidst human customs, struggles, and the sometimes manipulative intentions of figures like Laban.