Genesis 30:5 — Word Study
WLCוַתַּ֣הַר בִּלְהָ֔ה וַתֵּ֥לֶד לְיַעֲקֹ֖ב בֵּֽן׃
BSAand BilhahBilhâh [a concubine, troubled one] conceivedhârâh▸ [became pregnant, to conceive] and boreyâlad▸ [gave birth, to beget] [him]Yaʻăqôb a sonbên [a male child, descendant]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַתַּ֣הַר | and she conceived | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person feminine singular |
| בִּלְהָ֔ה | Bilhah | Noun proper feminine |
| וַתֵּ֥לֶד | and she bore | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person feminine singular |
| לְיַעֲקֹ֖ב | to Jacob | Preposition, noun proper masculine |
| בֵּֽן׃ | a son | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | and Bilhah conceived and bore him a son. |
| KJV | And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. |
| ASV | And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. |
| YLT | and Bilhah conceiveth, and beareth to Jacob a son, |
| WEB | Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son. |
| BBE | And Bilhah became with child, and gave birth to a son. |
Where they part company is הָרָה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has one main verb with a subordinate action, indicating the sequence of events.
3 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectבִּלְהָה
verbהָרָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 30:5
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Birth of Jacob's Sonsgenerated
Genesis 30:5 recounts how Bilhah, Rachel's servant, became a surrogate for Jacob, fulfilling Rachel's desire for children. This situation illustrates the complex family dynamics in Jacob's household, where competition for Jacob's affection and the desire for offspring drive the narrative. The events surrounding Bilhah's pregnancy lead to the birth of Dan, a significant figure in the tribes of Israel, as noted in Genesis 30:6.
Cross References
The Key Word — הָרָה, va.Ta.hargenerated
The verb הָרָה (*harah*) is a sequential imperfect form, indicating that Bilhah conceived as part of an ongoing narrative. It primarily means to conceive or become pregnant, capturing the moment of new life beginning. This word is used frequently in the context of childbirth, emphasizing the miraculous nature of conception.
The use of this verb highlights the importance of lineage in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of Rachel's struggle with infertility. The act of conceiving is not just a physical event; it is a pivotal moment in the unfolding story of the Israelite tribes.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs הָרָה and יָלַד govern the structure of the verse. The first clause states that Bilhah conceived, and the second clause indicates that she bore a son. The prepositional phrase לְיַעֲקֹב specifies to whom the son was born, establishing the relationship and lineage.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the actions of Bilhah, highlighting her role in the narrative. The sequential imperfect tense of the verbs indicates that these actions are part of a continuing story.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates הָרָה as συνέλαβεν (*sunelaben*), which means 'to conceive' or 'to take hold of.' This choice shows a direct correlation between the Hebrew and Greek terms, maintaining the focus on the act of conception.
The translation reflects the same significance of Bilhah's role in the lineage of Jacob, emphasizing the continuity of the narrative across the languages.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 30:5 describes how Bilhah, Rachel's servant, conceived and gave birth to a son for Jacob. This event is part of the larger story of Jacob's family, where Rachel, unable to have children herself, uses Bilhah to bear children in her place.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Bilhah conceiving indicates a significant moment in the narrative, as it fulfills Rachel's desire for children and continues the lineage of Jacob.
Bilhah was given to Jacob by Rachel as a concubine to bear children on Rachel's behalf, reflecting the customs of the time regarding family and inheritance.
The son born to Jacob through Bilhah is named Dan, who becomes one of the tribes of Israel, highlighting the importance of lineage in the biblical narrative.
This verse is part of the complex family dynamics in Jacob's life, showing how his relationships with his wives and their servants shaped the future of the Israelite tribes.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn about family dynamics from the story of Bilhah and Jacob?
- How does the act of conception in this verse reflect the cultural practices of the time?
- In what ways does this narrative highlight the importance of lineage in the Bible?
- How can we see God's hand in the unfolding story of Jacob's family?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The commentary from Jerome reflects on the significance of Bilhah's actions and the naming of Dan, illustrating the theological implications of the narrative.
And Bala conceived and bore a son to Jacob: and Rachel said: The Lord judged me, and heard my voice, and gave me a son: therefore she called his name Dan.Early Church Fathers on Genesis 30 →
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 30:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. This was so far countenanced by the Lord, that he blessed her with conception, and Jacob with a son by her.
Read John Gill on Genesis 30 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 30 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 30:5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.Ver. 5. And bare Jacob a son.] Whom Rachel might adopt, and dandle "on her knees," as Genesis 30:3.
Read John Trapp on Genesis 30 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
and Bilhah conceived and bore him a son.
Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son.
and Bilhah conceived and bore him a son.
Bilhah became pregnant and gave Jacob a son.
Tyndale line
And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
And Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son.
So Bilhah conceiued and bare Iaakob a sonne.
Strictly literal
And Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son.
and Bilhah conceiveth, and beareth to Jacob a son,
and Bilhah conceives, and bears a son to Jacob,
And Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son.
Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.
From the Latin
When her husband had gone in unto her, conceived and bore a son.
Simplified
Bilhah became pregnant and had a son for Jacob.
And Bilhah became with child, and gave birth to a son.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, and the Samaritan Pentateuch all agree on the wording of this verse. The Septuagint's word-for-word correspondence matches the Hebrew text, confirming the accuracy of the translation across these ancient witnesses.
וַתַּ֣הַר בִּלְהָ֔ה וַתֵּ֥לֶד לְיַעֲקֹ֖ב בֵּֽן׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ותהר בלהה ותלד ליעקב בן
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 30:5
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word הָרָה (*harah*) primarily means to conceive or become pregnant, as noted in various lexicons. It can refer to both literal and figurative conception, and includes nuances such as bearing a child or devising something. The entries also indicate different grammatical forms, including Qal, Pual, and Poel, which reflect various aspects of the root meaning.
הָרָה vb. conceive, become pregnant
Qal
lit. conceive, become pregnant
metaph.
Pu. a man hath been conceived
Po. conceive, contrive, devise
base
H2029 הָרָה conceive, become pregnant
2029 harah haw-raw'
a primitive root; to be (or become) pregnant, conceive
(literally or figuratively):--been, be with child, conceive,
progenitor.
הָרָה (ha.rah) — to conceive.
1) to conceive, become pregnant, bear, be with child, be conceived, progenitor
1a)(Qal) to conceive, become pregnant
1b) (Pual) to be conceived
1c) (Poel) to conceive, contrive, devise
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singularHc/Vqw3fs
בִּלְהָה (bilhah) refers to both a woman and a place. As a person, she is Rachel's handmaid and Jacob's concubine, mothering Dan and Naphtali. The name may mean 'troubled.' Additionally, it denotes a city in Simeon, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:29.
בִּלְהָה n.pr.f. (etym. dub.) handmaid of Rachel, concubine of Jacob
base
בִּלְהָה n.pr.loc. a city of Simeon 1 Ch 4:29
ref
H1090a בִּלְהָה mandmaid of Rachel, concubine of Jacob H1090b בִּלְהָה a city of Simeon
1090 Bilhah bil-haw'
from 1089; timid; Bilhah, the name of one of Jacob's
concubines; also of a place in Palestine:--Bilhah.
see HEBREW for 01089
בִּלְהָה (bil.hah) — Bilhah.
A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.29; married to Israel (H3478);
mother of: Dan (H1835H) and Naphtali (H5321)
§ Bilhah = "troubled"
Rachel's handmaid whom she gave to Jacob as a concubine, mother to two of Jacob's children, Dan and Naphtali
בִּלְהָה (bil.hah) — Bilhah.
§ Bilhah = "troubled"
n prloc
a city in Simeon
N-proper — Noun proper feminineHNpf
Bilhah
Faltering; bashful, Rachel’s handmaid, whom she gave to Jacob (Gen. 29:29). She was the mother of Dan and Naphtali (Gen. 30:3-8). Reuben was cursed by his father for committing adultry with her (35:22; 49:4). He was deprived of the birth-right, which was given to the sons of Joseph.
(timid, bashful), handmaid of Rachel, (Genesis 29:29) and concubine of Jacob, to whom she bore Dan and Naphtali. (Genesis 30:3-8; 35:25; 46:25; 1 Chronicles 7:13) (B.C 53.)
The handmaid of Rachel, given by her to her husband Jacob when herself childless, that she might become a mother through her handmaid. Bilhah was the mother of Dan and Naphtali, Ge 30:1- 8.
Bilhan, who is old or confused
The Hebrew word יָלַד (*yalad*) means to bear, bring forth, or beget, and it encompasses various forms of childbirth and lineage declaration. It can refer to both the act of giving birth and the role of a midwife. The entries also note its use in contexts of distress and wicked behavior, as well as in reference to birthdays.
יָלַד 497 vb. bear, bring forth, beget
Qal
bear, bring forth
less often beget
of both parents
Niph. be born
Pi. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
Pu. be born
Hiph.
beget (a father a child)
bear
Hoph. day of one's being born = birthday
Hithp. declared their pedigree
base
H3205 יָלַד bear, bring forth, beget .. bear, bring forth
. less often beget
. of both parents
. be born
. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife
. be born
. . beget (a father a child)
. bear
. day of one's being born = birthday
. declared their pedigree
3205 yalad yaw-lad'
a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget;
medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show
lineage:--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).
יָלַד (ya.lad) — to beget.
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)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singularHc/Vqw3fs
bor: According to the Book of the Covenant (Ex 20:20-23:33) a slave whom his master had purchased was to be released after six years. Should he choose to remain in his master's service a religious ceremony was necessary to ratify his decision. "Then his master shall bring him unto God" (better than "unto the judges" of the King James Version), "and shall bring him to the door, or unto the doorpost; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl" (Ex 21:6). It is highly improbable that "unto God" means "to a sanctuary"; for there was no special reason for performing this ceremony near the door of a sanctuary. On the other hand the entrance to a private house was a sacred spot. According to primitive thinking near the door dwelt the household gods whose function it was to…
יַעֲקֹב (i.e. *Ya`aqob*) refers to Jacob, a key figure in the Old Testament. The word is derived from a root meaning 'heel-catcher' or 'supplanter.' Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, brother of Esau, and father of the twelve tribes of Israel. He is also known as Israel, highlighting his significance in biblical history.
יַעֲקֹב 344, יַעֲקוֹב 6 n.pr.m. et gent. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, father of tribes of Isr.
as n.pr.m.
as n.pr.gent.
base
H3290 יַעֲקֹב, יַעֲקוֹב Jacob
3290 Ya`aqob yah-ak-obe'
from 6117; heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the
Israelitish patriarch:--Jacob.
see HEBREW for 06117
יַעֲקֹב (ya.a.qov) — Jacob.
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
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun proper masculineHR/Npm
Jacob
One who follows on another’s heels; supplanter, (Gen. 25:26; 27:36; Hos. 12:2-4), the second born of the twin sons of Isaac by Rebekah. He was born probably at Lahai-roi, when his father was fifty-nine and Abraham one hundred and fifty-nine years old. Like his father, he was of a quiet and gentle disposition, and when he grew up followed the life of a shepherd, while his brother Esau became an enterprising hunter. His dealing with Esau, however, showed much mean selfishness and cunning (Gen. 25:29-34).
When Isaac was about 160 years of age, Jacob and his mother conspired to deceive the aged patriarch (Gen. 27), with the view of procuring the transfer of the birthright to himself. The birthright secured to him who…
(supplanter), the second son of Isaac and Rebekah. He was born with Esau, probably at the well of Lahai-roi, about B.C. 1837. His history is related in the latter half of the book of Genesis. He bought the birthright from his brother Esau, and afterward acquired the blessing intended for Esau, by practicing a well-known deceit on Isaac. (Jacob did not obtain the blessing because of his deceit, but in spite of it. That which was promised he would have received in some good way; but Jacob and his mother, distrusting God’s promise, sought the promised blessing in a wrong way, and received with it trouble and sorrow. --ED.) Jacob, in his 78th year, was sent from the family home to avoid his brother, and to seek a wife among his kindred in Padan-aram. As he passed through Bethel, God appeared to him. After the lapse of twenty-one years he returned from Padan-aram with two wives, two…
Son of Isaac and Rebekah, and twin-brother to Esau. As at his birth he held his brother’s heel, he was called Jacob, that is, the heelholder, one who comes behind and catches the heel of his adversary, a supplanter, Ge 25:26. This was a king of predictive intimation of his future conduct in life. Jacob was meek and peaceable, living a shepherd life at home. Esau was more turbulent and fierce, and passionately fond of hunting. Isaac was partial to Esau, Rebekah to Jacob. Jacob having taken advantage of his brother’s absence and his father’s infirmity to obtain the blessing of the birthright, or primogeniture, was compelled to fly into Mesopotamia to avoid the consequences of his brother’s wrath, Ge 27:1-28:22. On his journey the Lord appeared to him in a dream, (see LADDER,)…
that supplants, undermines; the heel
בֵּן (ben) means 'son' or 'male child' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including descendants, young animals, and even figurative uses like sparks or arrows. It can refer to members of a tribe or class and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, such as in 1 Chronicles 24:26. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to build' and implies a connection to family or lineage.
בֵּן 4870 n.m. son
son, male child, born of a woman
children (male and female)
youth, young men
the young of animals
of plant shoots
fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
member of a guild, order or class
of animals son of (the) herd
ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
n. relat. of age
base
בְּנוֹ 1 Ch 24:26, 27 as n.pr.m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son, cf. VB & Be Öt.
done
H1121a בֵּן son . son, male child, born of a woman
. children (male and female)
. youth, young men
. the young of animals
. of plant shoots
. fig. of lifeless things, sparks, stars, arrows
. . member of a guild, order or class
. of animals son of (the) herd
. ב׳ as n. relat. followed by word of quality, characteristic, etc.
. n. relat. of age
H1121b בְּנוֹ as n. pr. m. in AV, RV, but render: the sons of Jaaziah his son, & the sons of Merari by Jaaziah his son
1121 ben bane
from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the
widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship,
including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,
etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-)
(Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to,
(+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born,
bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X
came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of
first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, +
kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+)
people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, +
spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous
one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
see HEBREW for 01129
see HEBREW for 01
see HEBREW for 0251
בֵּן (ben) — son: child.
: child/son
בְּנוֹ (be.no) — Beno.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.24.26;
son of: Jaaziah (H3269);
brother of: Shoham (H7719), Zaccur (H2139I) and Ibri (H5681)
§ Beno = "his son"
the sons of Jaaziah and the sons of Merari by Jaahziah (his son)
בֵּן (ben) — son: descendant/people.
: descendant, people, tribe, nation
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : child/son
בֵּן (ben) — son: young animal.
: calf/lamb/young(ANIMAL)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : descendant
בֵּן (ben) — son: type of.
: rebel/son(Belial)
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
§ : people/men/nation/tribe
בֵּן (ben) — son.
: [inheriting]son/heir
A sub-meaning of ben (בֵּן ": child" H1121)
בֵּן (ben) — son: warrior.
: warrior/son(strong)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
The term "son" is used in Scripture language to imply almost any kind of descent or succession, as ben shanah , "son of a year," i.e. a year old; ben kesheth , "son of a bow," i.e. an arrow. The word bar is often found in the New Testament in composition, as Bar-timaeus.
Sometimes denotes a grandson, or any remote descendant, Ge 29:5 2Sa 19:24. At other times a son by adoption is meant, Ge 48:5; or by law, Ru 4:17; or by education, 1Sa 3:6 20:35; or by conversion, as Titus was Paul’s "son father the common faith," Tit 1:4. And again it denotes a mental or moral resemblance, etc., Jud 19:22 Ps 89:6 Isa 57:3 Ac 13:10. In a…
→ FIGURATIVE
Of a person' s relation to God Ex 4:22
See ADOPTION
See GOD, FATHERHOOD OF
See JESUS, SON OF GOD
See JESUS, SON OF MAN