Genesis 30:10 (KJV)

What does Genesis 30:10 mean?

Genesis 30:10 states that Zilpah, who was Leah’s servant, gave birth to a son for Jacob. This verse records the birth of another child in Jacob’s family, specifically through Leah’s maid rather than Leah herself.

In the story, Leah gives her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife because Leah herself had stopped bearing children for a time. This was a common practice in that culture when a wife could not have more children. The verse marks an important moment in the ongoing family dynamics between Jacob, his wives, and their servants, all of whom are involved in building the family that becomes the tribes of Israel.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 30:10

• זִלְפָּה (Zilpah, transliteration: Zilpah): This is the name of Leah’s servant. Mentioning her by name highlights her role and identity in the family, showing she is more than just a background figure.
• שִׁפְחָה (shifchah, transliteration: maid): This word means “female servant” or “maidservant.” The use of this term clarifies Zilpah’s social status and her relationship to Leah and Jacob.
• יָלַד (yalad, transliteration: bare): This verb means “to give birth.” It is used here to show that Zilpah was the one who physically bore the child, even though the child would be considered Leah’s in the family structure.
• יַעֲקֹב (Ya’akov, transliteration: Jacob): The verse makes clear that Jacob is the father, tying this child directly into the line of Israel’s patriarchs.
• בֵּן (ben, transliteration: son): The word for “son” emphasizes the importance of male offspring in the family line and inheritance.

Why Genesis 30:10 matters

• Genesis 30:10 helps clarify the complex family relationships in Jacob’s household, showing how servants could become mothers of children who were counted as part of the main family.
• This verse highlights the cultural practices of the time, where a wife could give her servant to her husband to bear children on her behalf.
• The verse sets the stage for the birth of Gad, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, showing how each tribe’s origins are tied to specific individuals and circumstances.