Genesis 30:12
Genesis 30:12 in Multiple Translations
When Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son,
And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a second son.
And Zilpah Leah’s handmaid bare Jacob a second son.
And Zilpah, Leah's servant, gave birth to a second son.
Leah's personal maid Zilpah became pregnant again and had a second son for Jacob.
Againe Zilpah Leahs mayde bare Iaakob another sonne.
And Zilpah, Leah's maid-servant, beareth a second son to Jacob,
Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a second son.
And Zilpah, Leah's maid, bore Jacob a second son.
Zelpha also bore another.
Later Leah’s slave, Zilpah, gave birth to another son for Jacob.
Later on, Zilpah had another baby boy. He was another son for Jacob.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 30:12
BAB
Word Study
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Genesis 30:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/תֵּ֗לֶד
זִלְפָּה֙
שִׁפְחַ֣ת
לֵאָ֔ה
בֵּ֥ן
שֵׁנִ֖י
לְ/יַעֲקֹֽב
וַ/תֵּ֗לֶד
yâlad
H3205
to beget
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs
זִלְפָּה֙
Zilpâh
H2153
Zilpah
N-proper
שִׁפְחַ֣ת
shiphchâh
H8198
maidservant
N-fs
לֵאָ֔ה
Lêʼâh
H3812
Leah
N-proper
בֵּ֥ן
bên
H1121
son
N-ms
שֵׁנִ֖י
shênîy
H8145
second
Adj
לְ/יַעֲקֹֽב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
Jacob
Prep | N-proper
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 30:12
וַ/תֵּ֗לֶד
yâlad
H3205
"to beget"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to give birth or beget a child, like when Eve gave birth to Cain in Genesis 4:1. It can also mean to help someone give birth, like a midwife. This word is used in many KJV translations, including Genesis and Isaiah.
Definition: 1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to bear, bring forth 1a1a) of child birth 1a1b) of distress (simile) 1a1c) of wicked (behaviour) 1a2) to beget 1b) (Niphal) to be born 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cause or help to bring forth 1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife 1c3) midwife (participle) 1d) (Pual) to be born 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to beget (a child) 1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity) 1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive) 1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)
Usage: Occurs in 403 OT verses. KJV: bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman). See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 30:19; 2 Samuel 21:22.
זִלְפָּה֙
Zilpâh
H2153
"Zilpah"
N-proper
Zilpah was a servant of Leah and a concubine of Jacob, and the mother of Gad and Asher. She was given to Leah by her father Laban, and her name means a trickling or a dripping.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.24; married to Israel (H3478); mother of: Gad (H1410) and Asher (H0836) § Zilpah = "a trickling" the Syrian given by Laban to Leah as a handmaid, a concubine of Jacob, mother of Asher and Gad
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: Zilpah. See also: Genesis 29:24; Genesis 30:12; Genesis 46:18.
שִׁפְחַ֣ת
shiphchâh
H8198
"maidservant"
N-fs
A shiphchah was a female slave or servant in a household, often belonging to a mistress. This term is used to describe a lowly position, and is sometimes used as a term of humility or respect.
Definition: 1) maid, maid-servant, slavegirl 1a) maid, maid-servant (as belonging to a mistress) 1b) of address, speaker, humility (fig)
Usage: Occurs in 58 OT verses. KJV: (bond-, hand-) maid(-en, -servant), wench, bondwoman, womanservant. See also: Genesis 12:16; Ruth 2:13; Psalms 123:2.
לֵאָ֔ה
Lêʼâh
H3812
"Leah"
N-proper
Leah was the first wife of Jacob, daughter of Laban, and mother of many tribes of Israel, including Reuben and Judah, as told in Genesis 29:16.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.16; daughter of: Laban (H3837A); sister of: Rachel (H7354); married to Israel (H3478); mother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783) § Leah = "weary" daughter of Laban, first wife of Jacob, and mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: Leah. See also: Genesis 29:16; Genesis 30:18; Ruth 4:11.
בֵּ֥ן
bên
H1121
"son"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
שֵׁנִ֖י
shênîy
H8145
"second"
Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means second or again, like when Moses went up Mount Sinai a second time in Exodus 24:15-18. It can also mean another or something distinct.
Definition: 1) second 1a) second (the ordinal number) 1b) again (a second time) 1c) another, other (something as distinct from something else)
Usage: Occurs in 152 OT verses. KJV: again, either (of them), (an-) other, second (time). See also: Genesis 1:8; 1 Kings 6:1; Isaiah 11:11.
לְ/יַעֲקֹֽב
Yaʻăqôb
H3290
"Jacob"
Prep | N-proper
This word is the name of a person, Jacob, a key figure in the Bible. He was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the father of many tribes of Israel. The KJV simply translates it as Jacob.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478) § Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter" son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 12 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel
Usage: Occurs in 319 OT verses. KJV: Jacob. See also: Genesis 25:26; Genesis 34:1; Psalms 14:7.
Study Notes — Genesis 30:12
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Gad and Asher
10And Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son.
11Then Leah said, “How fortunate!” So she named him Gad.
12When Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son,
13Leah said, “How happy I am! For the women call me happy.” So she named him Asher. 14Now during the wheat harvest, Reuben went out and found some mandrakes in the field. When he brought them to his mother, Rachel begged Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”Genesis 30:12 Summary
[This verse tells us that Leah's servant Zilpah had another baby boy for Jacob, which shows that God is still blessing Jacob with more children, just like He promised in Genesis 28:14. This is an important part of the story because it highlights God's faithfulness to His promises, as seen in Genesis 12:2. We can learn from this verse that God is always working in our lives, even when we don't see it, and that He desires to bless us with spiritual descendants, as mentioned in Psalm 127:3-5. As we reflect on this verse, we can ask ourselves how we can trust God to work in our own lives, just like Jacob did, and how we can be a part of building God's spiritual family.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Leah's servant Zilpah bear Jacob a second son?
According to Genesis 30:9, Leah gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife, and Zilpah bore him a son, as seen in Genesis 30:10, and now a second son as mentioned in Genesis 30:12, this was a common practice in ancient times to build a family.
What is the significance of the birth of Zilpah's second son?
The birth of Zilpah's second son is significant because it shows how God is blessing Jacob with more children, as He had promised in Genesis 28:14, and also highlights the theme of family and descendants in the book of Genesis.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the story in Genesis 30?
This verse is part of the larger story of Jacob's family and his relationship with his wives, Leah and Rachel, as seen in Genesis 30:1-24, and it shows how God is working in their lives, even in the midst of their struggles and conflicts, as mentioned in Genesis 30:1-8.
What can we learn from Leah's actions in this verse?
We can learn from Leah's actions that she is still seeking to build her family and find favor with Jacob, as seen in Genesis 30:9-13, and this shows her desire to be loved and valued, which is a common human desire, as mentioned in Genesis 2:18.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that God is blessing you with 'children' or spiritual descendants in your life, and how can you be a good steward of these blessings?
- How do you think Leah felt when her servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son, and what can we learn from her example about trusting God in difficult circumstances?
- What are some ways that you can build your spiritual family, just like Jacob's family was being built in this verse, and what role can you play in helping others come to know God?
- How does this verse remind you of God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:2, to make him the father of a great nation, and what implications does this have for your own life and faith?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 30:12
And Zilpah, Leah's maid, bare Jacob a second son. As well as Bilhah, and no more.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 30:12
And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 30:12
(9-13) Leah . . . took Zilpah . . . —By ceasing to bear, Leah had lost her one hold upon her husband’s affection, and to regain it she follows Rachel’s example. The struggle of these two women for the husband gives us a strange picture of manners and morals, but must not be judged by our standard. Leah herself regards the bestowal of her handmaid upon Jacob as a deserving act of self-sacrifice (Genesis 30:18). The names, moreover, which she gives to Zilpah’s children show that the happier frame of mind to which she had attained when she called her fourth son “Judah,” praise, remained unbroken. On the birth of the first, she says, “With good luck!” and calls his name “Gad,” that is, luck. The Jews read, in their synagogue, Luck cometh, whence the rendering of the Authorised Version, “A troop cometh;” but there is no justification for the change. With regard to the meaning of the word “Gad,” all the Versions render it prosperity, good fortune. Nor is the Samaritan, as has been alleged, an exception; for though the worthless Latin translation of it has “a troop cometh,” the Samaritan itself has with good luck. In Isaiah 65:11 we find Gad used as the name of an idol. Zilpah’s other son is called Asher, that is, happy, in Latin Felix, and Leah says, “With my happiness,” using just the same turn of speech as before.
The first child came bringing her good luck; the second brought her happiness.