Genesis 29:24

KJV

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid [for] an handmaid.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Laban {H3837} gave {H5414} unto his daughter {H1323} Leah {H3812} Zilpah {H2153} his maid {H8198} for an handmaid {H8198}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Lavan also gave his slave-girl Zilpah to his daughter Le'ah as her slave-girl.

Berean Standard Bible

And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.

American Standard Version

And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Laban's customary provision of his maidservant, Zilpah, to his daughter Leah as a handmaid upon her marriage to Jacob. This seemingly minor detail, common in ancient Near Eastern marriage practices, underscores the societal norms of the time regarding a bride's household provisions and status, while also setting the stage for significant future developments in the lineage of the twelve tribes of Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed immediately after Laban's profound deception of Jacob, where he substitutes Leah for Rachel on the wedding night, despite Jacob having served seven years for Rachel ([Genesis 29:20-23](/genesis/29-20-23 "Laban's Deception and Leah's Marriage")). The provision of Zilpah to Leah mirrors the later provision of Bilhah to Rachel in [Genesis 29:29](/genesis/29-29 "Rachel Receives Bilhah"), highlighting a parallel in the customary practices surrounding the marriages of both sisters. This detail, though seemingly small, is crucial for understanding the complex family dynamics that unfold, particularly as the narrative progresses to the births of Jacob's children, including those born through these handmaids ([Genesis 30](/genesis/30 "The Births of Jacob's Children")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the giving of a handmaid (or female slave) to a bride was a common practice, often serving as part of her dowry or as a means to provide assistance in her new household. These handmaids were considered part of the bride's personal property and household staff, intended to alleviate domestic burdens and enhance the mistress's status. Crucially, in cases of a wife's barrenness, these handmaids could also serve as surrogate mothers, bearing children on behalf of their mistress, as seen with Sarah and Hagar ([Genesis 16](/genesis/16 "Sarah and Hagar")) and later with Rachel and Bilhah, and Leah and Zilpah ([Genesis 30](/genesis/30 "Jacob's Children through Handmaids")). This practice was deeply embedded in the legal and social fabric of patriarchal societies, reflecting a strong emphasis on lineage and the continuation of the family name.
* **Key Themes:** [Genesis 29:24](/genesis/29-24 "Genesis 29:24 - A Key Detail in the Patriarchal Narrative") contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Genesis. It highlights the theme of **Divine Sovereignty Amidst Human Imperfection**, as God's plan for the formation of Israel unfolds through complex, often flawed, human relationships and cultural practices. The verse also reinforces the theme of **Covenant Fulfillment**, as the lineage of Jacob, which will eventually form the twelve tribes of Israel, is meticulously recorded, even through the contributions of handmaids. Furthermore, it exemplifies the **Significance of Seemingly Minor Details** in the biblical narrative, demonstrating how every element, no matter how small, plays a role in the unfolding of God's redemptive purposes and the establishment of His chosen people, a theme prominent throughout the patriarchal narratives, such as in the detailed genealogies of [Genesis 5](/genesis/5 "The Generations of Adam") and [Genesis 10](/genesis/10 "The Table of Nations").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **gave (Hebrew, _nâthan'_):** This primitive root (H5414) is highly versatile, meaning "to give" with a vast latitude of application. In this context, it signifies Laban's act of bestowing, providing, or assigning Zilpah to Leah. While seemingly a simple transaction, the verb "gave" here carries the weight of a customary provision, an expected part of the marriage arrangement, rather than a spontaneous gift. It reflects a legal and social transfer of ownership or responsibility within the patriarchal household structure.
* **daughter (Hebrew, _bath'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to build" (H1323), this term emphasizes Leah's identity as Laban's offspring and her new status as a bride. The provision of Zilpah is specifically "unto his daughter Leah," underscoring the familial context and the father's responsibility to equip his child for her new life. The term "daughter" here highlights the continuation of family lines and the transfer of women between households through marriage.
* **handmaid (Hebrew, _shiphchâh'_):** This feminine noun (H8198) refers to a female slave or servant, specifically one who is part of the household. Unlike a concubine, a handmaid's primary role was typically one of assistance and service to the mistress. The repetition of "his maid for an handmaid" emphasizes Zilpah's status as a servant being transferred for that specific purpose, reinforcing the cultural norm where such provisions were made to support the bride in her new domestic sphere and potentially to contribute to the family's lineage, as would indeed happen later in the narrative.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid":** This clause directly states the agent (Laban), the recipient (Leah, his daughter), and the object of the transfer (Zilpah, Laban's maid). It highlights Laban's action as the head of the household, exercising his patriarchal authority to provide for his daughter as she enters a new family. The specific naming of Zilpah underscores her individual identity, even within her status as a servant, hinting at her future significance.
* **"[for] an handmaid":** This concluding phrase clarifies the purpose and role of Zilpah's transfer. She is not merely given as a companion but specifically as a "handmaid," a designated servant to assist Leah. This detail confirms the customary practice of providing a servant to a bride, ensuring her support and signifying her status within Jacob's household. It also implicitly sets the stage for the handmaid's potential role in bearing children if the mistress was barren, a common practice in the ancient Near East.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Customary Practice** as a narrative device. By detailing Laban's provision of Zilpah, the text grounds the story in the recognizable social and legal norms of the ancient Near East, adding verisimilitude to the patriarchal narratives. This seemingly mundane detail, however, also functions as **Foreshadowing**. While presented as a standard custom, the inclusion of Zilpah in Leah's household subtly anticipates her future, pivotal role in the unfolding narrative of Jacob's family. Her presence ensures that the lineage of Israel will be expanded through her, contributing two more tribes (Gad and Asher) to the twelve, thus demonstrating how God works through human customs and complex family structures to fulfill His divine purposes.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[Genesis 29:24](/genesis/29-24 "Theological Implications of Genesis 29:24") serves as a subtle yet significant thread in the grand tapestry of God's redemptive plan. It illustrates how divine providence operates within the framework of human culture and even flawed human actions. Laban's act, while part of a customary practice, is meticulously recorded because it contributes directly to the formation of the covenant people, Israel. This verse reminds us that God's sovereign hand guides the seemingly ordinary details of life to accomplish His extraordinary purposes, ensuring the continuation of the promised lineage through which salvation would ultimately come.

* [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "God's Promise to Abraham")
* [Romans 9:6-13](/romans/9-6-13 "God's Sovereign Choice in Salvation")
* [Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Unity in Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Genesis 29:24](/genesis/29-24 "Reflection on Genesis 29:24 - God's Purpose in Details") invites us to consider the profound significance of seemingly minor details within God's overarching plan. While the specific custom of providing a handmaid is culturally distant from us today, the principle that God works through the ordinary, the customary, and even the complicated aspects of human life remains profoundly relevant. This verse encourages us to look for God's hand not only in grand miracles but also in the mundane arrangements and social structures of our lives and history. It teaches us that every person and every detail, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, can be part of God's larger narrative of redemption. Our lives, with all their complexities and cultural contexts, are not outside of God's sovereign care and purpose.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse challenge my perception of "insignificant" details in the biblical narrative or in my own life?**
* **In what ways can I recognize God's sovereign hand at work in the seemingly ordinary or even challenging circumstances of my daily life?**
* **What does the inclusion of handmaids in the lineage of Israel teach me about God's inclusive and diverse means of fulfilling His promises?**

### FAQ
**Why was Zilpah given to Leah specifically as a "handmaid"?**

Answer: In ancient Near Eastern societies, it was a common and expected practice for a bride to receive a handmaid, often as part of her dowry or as a provision for her new household. The term "handmaid" (Hebrew: _shiphchâh_) denotes a female servant whose primary role was to assist the mistress with daily duties, personal care, and domestic responsibilities. This provision signified the bride's status and ensured she had support in her new home. Crucially, as seen later in [Genesis 30](/genesis/30 "Jacob's Children with Leah and Zilpah"), handmaids could also serve as surrogate mothers for barren wives, thereby ensuring the continuation of the family line and the inheritance, which was of paramount importance in that culture.

**How did Zilpah's role contribute to the lineage of the twelve tribes of Israel?**

Answer: While Laban's act of giving Zilpah to Leah might appear to be a minor cultural detail, it proved to be profoundly significant for the unfolding biblical narrative. Zilpah later bore two sons for Jacob: Gad and Asher ([Genesis 30:9-13](/genesis/30-9-13 "Zilpah Bears Gad and Asher")). These two sons became integral members of the twelve tribes of Israel, directly contributing to the formation of God's chosen people. This demonstrates how God, in His sovereignty, works through human customs, complex family dynamics, and even the seemingly ordinary provisions of life to fulfill His covenant promises regarding the establishment and growth of the nation of Israel.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Genesis 29:24](/genesis/29-24 "Christ-Centered Insights from Genesis 29:24") contributes to the meticulous recording of the lineage of Jacob, from whom the twelve tribes of Israel would descend, ultimately culminating in the birth of Jesus Christ. The inclusion of Zilpah, a handmaid, in this foundational family narrative underscores God's providential oversight in establishing the very line through which salvation would come. The seemingly ordinary act of providing a handmaid becomes part of the extraordinary tapestry of God's redemptive plan, demonstrating that God's purposes are not confined to the prominent or the perfect, but encompass all aspects of human history and relationships. Just as God worked through the complex and often flawed family of Jacob to bring forth His chosen people, so too does He work through humanity's imperfections to bring about the ultimate fulfillment of His promises in Christ. The Messiah's lineage, traced through figures like Jacob and his children (including those born of handmaids), highlights God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, ultimately pointing to Jesus as the true "seed" of Abraham ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "The Seed of Abraham is Christ")) and the head of a new, spiritual family, the church, where all are one in Him ([Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "No Division in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 16:1

¶ Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name [was] Hagar.

Genesis 30:9

When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

Genesis 30:12

And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.

Genesis 46:18

These [are] the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, [even] sixteen souls.

Genesis 24:59

And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.