Genesis 30:6 kjv

And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

Genesis 30:6 nkjv

Then Rachel said, "God has judged my case; and He has also heard my voice and given me a son." Therefore she called his name Dan.

Genesis 30:6 niv

Then Rachel said, "God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son." Because of this she named him Dan.

Genesis 30:6 esv

Then Rachel said, "God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son." Therefore she called his name Dan.

Genesis 30:6 nlt

Rachel named him Dan, for she said, "God has vindicated me! He has heard my request and given me a son."

Genesis 30 verses

Genesis 30 6 Meaning

Genesis 30:6 reveals Rachel's theological interpretation of her conception of Dan, born through her maidservant Bilhah. After a period of barrenness, Rachel declares that God has vindicated her and heard her cry, thereby granting her a son. The name "Dan," meaning "He has judged" or "Vindicated," directly reflects her belief that God acted as her judge, rendering a favorable decision concerning her ability to bear children and settling her conflict (perhaps implicitly, her long-standing dispute/envy) with her sister Leah regarding childbearing. It signifies God's justice and responsiveness to her plight.

Genesis 30 6 Context

Genesis chapter 30 continues the narrative of Jacob's growing family, primarily focusing on the fierce rivalry between his two wives, Leah and Rachel, and their maidservants (Bilhah for Rachel, Zilpah for Leah), over who could provide Jacob with the most children. In ancient Near Eastern culture, progeny was essential for inheritance, social status, and personal identity. Barrenness was considered a great personal affliction and often a sign of divine disfavor, creating immense pressure on women. Rachel, Jacob's favored but initially barren wife, felt profound shame and desperation. Previously, out of anguish (Gen 30:1), she had given Bilhah, her maidservant, to Jacob to bear children on her behalf, a customary practice in that period to ensure offspring. Bilhah's first son was Dan, and the subsequent verse refers to Rachel's exclamation regarding his birth. This verse specifically addresses Rachel's interpretation of this event as God's divine intervention and judgment in her favor, emphasizing her dependence on and trust in the sovereign God amidst her personal struggle.

Genesis 30 6 Word analysis

• Rachel: Jacob's beloved but initially barren wife. Her deep desire for children drives much of the narrative tension in Genesis 29-30. Her longing signifies a profound cultural and personal struggle for validation through offspring.
• said: Expresses her immediate interpretation and declaration following Bilhah's delivery.
• God: Hebrew Elohim (אֱלֹהִים), the general term for God. Its use here indicates God as the universal judge and source of life, affirming a general divine providence at work. This reinforces the idea that even through an indirect means (a maidservant), it is the ultimate, sovereign God who opens the womb.
• hath judged me: Hebrew danani (דָּנַנִּי). From the root din (דִּין), meaning "to judge," "to contend," "to plead a cause," or "to vindicate." Here, "judged" means God has acted as her advocate, rendering a verdict in her favor. It's not a negative judgment but a positive one, implying that God has assessed her plight (perhaps her long barrenness and emotional distress) and intervened justly on her behalf. It is her divine vindication.
• and hath also heard my voice: Hebrew wəgam shāma‘ bəqōlī (וְגַם שָׁמַע בְּקֹלִי). This phrase directly connects her prayers or cries of distress with God's action. It signifies God's attentiveness and responsiveness to her petitions, implying a personal relationship where her earnest supplication reached the divine ear.
• and hath given me a son: Hebrew wəyiṯṯen lî bēn (וַיִּתֶּן לִי בֵּן). This is the tangible, blessed outcome of God's "judgment" and hearing her voice. It marks the fulfillment of her greatest desire. Although Bilhah was the biological mother, Rachel attributes the ultimate agency for this gift to God.
• therefore: Connects the divine action directly to the naming of the child. It establishes the theological reason for the name.
• called she his name: This was the prerogative of the mother in ancient Israel to name her child, often reflecting the circumstances of birth or parental hopes/experiences.
• Dan: Hebrew Dān (דָּן). This name is a direct wordplay on din (דִּין), the root meaning "to judge" or "vindicate," connecting the child's identity to the specific divine act Rachel describes. It is a declaration of God's righteousness and her belief that her plea has been acknowledged and justly answered.

Genesis 30 6 Bonus section

The naming of Dan, implying a judgment in Rachel's favor, subtly prefigures the role of the Tribe of Dan. Later in biblical history, the tribe of Dan would sometimes act as a "judge" or a "defender" of Israel, but also sadly stray into idolatry (Judg 18). However, at its core, the name itself serves as a continuous reminder of God's vindicating justice and His attentiveness to the prayers of the desperate, especially those enduring great personal suffering or social reproach, much like Rachel's barrenness. This moment in Rachel's life foreshadows God's repeated pattern of empowering the overlooked and giving strength to the weak.

Genesis 30 6 Commentary

Genesis 30:6 offers a profound insight into Rachel's spiritual struggle and ultimate recognition of divine sovereignty. Her declaration "God hath judged me" doesn't imply a negative condemnation, but rather a positive vindication, where God has settled her case of barrenness in her favor. This highlights the ancient Near Eastern belief that the opening and closing of a womb were divinely controlled, positioning God as the ultimate arbiter of life. Rachel's second statement, "hath also heard my voice," confirms her direct petition to God and His responsiveness, even when His answer came indirectly through her maidservant, Bilhah.

The naming of her son "Dan," meaning "He has judged" or "vindicated," is a theological statement, not merely a reflection of a personal experience, but an attribution of this experience to God's character and actions. This demonstrates the matriarch's reliance on and acknowledgment of Elohim, God of all creation, who intervenes in the intimate details of individual lives. The narrative underscores that while human desperation might lead to unconventional means (like the use of surrogate mothers), the true power and blessing come from God alone, not from human stratagems or fertility rituals common in the surrounding pagan cultures. It re-establishes God's supremacy over life, family, and destiny, offering hope that prayers are heard and injustices addressed by a sovereign and just God.