King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:
Complete Jewish Bible:
The sons of Bilhah Rachel's slave-girl were Dan and Naftali.
Berean Standard Bible:
The sons of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali.
American Standard Version:
and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid: Dan and Naphtali;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the sons{H1121} of Bilhah{H1090}, Rachel's{H7354} handmaid{H8198}; Dan{H1835}, and Naphtali{H5321}:
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 46:23
- And the sons of Dan; Hushim.
Genesis 46:25
- These [are] the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls [were] seven.
Genesis 30:4
- And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
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.
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.
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Commentary for Genesis 35:25
Genesis 35:25 is part of a larger passage in the Bible that recounts the family history of Jacob, who is later named Israel. This verse specifically mentions the sons of Bilhah, who was Rachel's handmaid. Bilhah bore two sons, Dan and Naphtali, to Jacob as surrogate mothers when Rachel was unable to conceive. This practice of using handmaids as surrogates was common in the ancient Near Eastern cultural context to ensure progeny.
The broader historical context of this verse is set within the patriarchal narratives of the Book of Genesis. These narratives deal with themes such as family dynamics, the promise of descendants, and the establishment of the chosen line through which God would work out His redemptive purposes. The mention of Dan and Naphtali is part of the fulfillment of God's promise to Jacob (Israel) that he would be the father of many nations.
The sons of Jacob, including Dan and Naphtali, would go on to become the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel, each tribe playing a significant role in the subsequent history of Israel. The tribe of Dan, for instance, is notable for its idolatrous practices in the later periods, while the tribe of Naphtali is often associated with the northern kingdom of Israel and is mentioned in prophetic literature concerning the Messianic age.
In summary, Genesis 35:25 is a genealogical verse that underscores the themes of divine promise, family lineage, and the establishment of the twelve tribes of Israel, which are central to the narrative of Genesis and the historical development of ancient Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; 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 father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H1090
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בִּלְהָה
Transliteration: Bilhâh
Pronunciation: bil-haw'
Description: from בָּלַהּ; timid; Bilhah, the name of one of Jacob's concubines; also of a place in Palestine; Bilhah. - Strong's Number: H7354
There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָחֵל
Transliteration: Râchêl
Pronunciation: raw-khale'
Description: the same as רָחֵל; Rachel, a wife of Jacob; Rachel. - Strong's Number: H8198
There are 58 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שִׁפְחָה
Transliteration: shiphchâh
Pronunciation: shif-khaw'
Description: feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out (as a family; see מִשְׁפָּחָה); a female slave (as a member of the household); (bond-, hand-) maid(-en, -servant), wench, bondwoman, womanservant. - Strong's Number: H1835
There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּן
Transliteration: Dân
Pronunciation: dawn
Description: from דִּין; judge; Dan, one of the sons of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; likewise a place in Palestine colonized by them; Daniel - Strong's Number: H5321
There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נַפְתָּלִי
Transliteration: Naphtâlîy
Pronunciation: naf-taw-lee'
Description: from פָּתַל; my wrestling; Naphtali, a son of Jacob, with the tribe descended from him, and its territory; Naphtali.