And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

GENESIS 30:7KJV
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Genesis 30:7 (KJV)

What does Genesis 30:7 mean?

Genesis 30:7 records the birth of another son to Jacob through Bilhah, Rachel’s maid. The birth takes place within an arrangement Rachel had made because she had not borne children herself. Bilhah is the child’s birth mother, while Rachel has a central role in the family account.

After Rachel’s response to Bilhah’s first son in verse 6, the narrator reports another pregnancy and birth. The phrase “a second son” counts Bilhah’s sons with Jacob, not all of Jacob’s sons.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 30:7

  • “maid” — שִׁפְחָה (shiphchah): This word refers to a female servant. Here it identifies Bilhah’s place in Rachel’s household, a relationship that helps explain Rachel’s role in the account.

Why Genesis 30:7 matters

  • Rachel’s role rests on her arrangement with Jacob, not on her giving birth to the child. In Genesis 30:3–4, Rachel gives Bilhah to Jacob and says that she hopes to have children through her.
  • The child’s name comes after the birth report. In Genesis 30:8, Rachel names him Naphtali and connects his name with her struggle with her sister Leah.

Where else these words appear

“Bilhah” Hebrew H1090 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 29:29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
  • Genesis 30:5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
  • Genesis 37:2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

“conceived” Hebrew H2029 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
  • Genesis 30:19 And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.
  • 1 Chronicles 7:23 And when he went in to his wife, she conceived, and bare a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house.

“Rachel's” Hebrew H7354 · used in 44 verses

  • Genesis 29:6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
  • Genesis 30:1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
  • Genesis 33:1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.

“maid” Hebrew H8198 · used in 58 verses

  • Genesis 12:16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
  • Genesis 32:22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
  • 2 Samuel 14:15 Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.