Atomic Bible

Rachel's maidservant and mother of Dan and Naphtali

Bilhah

Named in 10 verses across 2 books, first in Genesis 29:29.

בִּלְהָהBilhah

The name means “Bilhan, who is old or confused.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

Married to
Israel
Children
Dan, Naphtali

About Bilhah Written by AI

Bilhah was the maidservant of Rachel, concubine of Israel (or 'Jacob') (Gen. 29:29). When Rachel found herself unable to conceive, she gave Bilhah to Jacob as a concubine to bear children on her behalf, following the custom of the time (Gen. 30:3-4). Bilhah gave birth to two sons, Dan and Naphtali (Gen. 30:5-8), who became the ancestors of two of the twelve tribes of Israel. Later, Jacob's firstborn son, Reuben, slept with Bilhah, an act that greatly displeased Jacob (Gen. 35:22). Despite this incident, Bilhah is still mentioned among the members of Jacob's family who went to Egypt during the famine (Gen. 46:25). Her sons, Dan and Naphtali, are listed among the seventy members of Jacob's household (Gen. 46:23-25). Bilhah's story highlights the complex family dynamics in Jacob's household and the importance of childbearing in ancient Israelite society. Her sons' inclusion in the twelve tribes of Israel underscores God's providence in fulfilling His promise to make a great nation from Jacob's descendants.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

This entry is on the name Bilhah, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.

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.

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names her

  1. Genesis 29:29

    Laban also gave his servant girl Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her maidservant.

  2. Genesis 30:3

    Then she said, “Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Sleep with her, that she may bear children for me, so that through her I too can build a family.”

  3. Genesis 30:4

    So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife, and he slept with her,

  4. Genesis 30:5

    and Bilhah conceived and bore him a son.

  5. Genesis 30:7

    And Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.

  6. Genesis 35:22

    While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:

  7. Genesis 35:25

    The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.

  8. Genesis 37:2

    This is the account of Jacob. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was tending the flock with his brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

  9. Genesis 46:25

    These are the sons of Jacob born to Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel—seven in all.

  10. 1 Chronicles 7:13

    The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum—the descendants of Bilhah.

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.