And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:

GENESIS 35:25KJV
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Genesis 35:25 (KJV)

What does Genesis 35:25 mean?

Genesis 35:25 lists the sons of Bilhah, who was Rachel’s servant: Dan and Naphtali. This verse is part of a larger section that names the sons of Jacob by their mothers, helping to clarify the family structure of the twelve tribes of Israel.

In the context of Genesis, these verses are recounting Jacob’s children as he returns to Bethel. Bilhah, described as Rachel’s handmaid, was given to Jacob by Rachel to bear children on her behalf, since Rachel struggled with infertility. Dan and Naphtali, therefore, are counted among Jacob’s sons and become founders of two of the tribes of Israel.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 35:25

  • בִּלְהָה (Bilhah): This is the name of Rachel’s servant. The use of her name here highlights her role in the family and the significance of her children in the tribal structure.
  • רָחֵל (Rachel): The verse refers to Bilhah as “Rachel’s handmaid,” connecting these sons directly to Rachel’s household, even though she was not their biological mother.
  • שִׁפְחָה (shiphchah): This word means “handmaid” or “female servant.” It shows the social status of Bilhah and explains why her sons are listed separately from Rachel’s own sons.

Why Genesis 35:25 matters

  • This verse clarifies the origins of the tribes of Dan and Naphtali, showing they came from Bilhah, not Rachel herself, which is important for understanding later tribal relationships.
  • The listing of sons by their mothers in this chapter emphasizes the complex family dynamics and the importance of lineage in Israel’s history.
  • By naming Bilhah as Rachel’s handmaid, the verse highlights the practice of surrogate motherhood in the patriarchal stories, which shapes the makeup of Jacob’s family.

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.

“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 31:34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.

“Naphtali” Hebrew H5321 · used in 47 verses

  • Genesis 30:8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
  • Deuteronomy 33:23 And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.
  • 1 Kings 15:20 So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.

“handmaid” 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 32:5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
  • 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.