Genesis 30:3

biblecontext

{ "verseID": "Genesis.30.3", "source": "וַתֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֛ה אֲמָתִ֥י בִלְהָ֖ה בֹּ֣א אֵלֶ֑יהָ וְתֵלֵד֙ עַל־בִּרְכַּ֔י וְאִבָּנֶ֥ה גַם־אָנֹכִ֖י מִמֶּֽנָּה", "text": "*wə-tōmer* *hinnēh* *ʾămātî* *Bilhâ* *bō* to-her *wə-tēlēd* upon-*birkay* *wə-ʾibbāneh* also-*ʾānōkî* from-her", "grammar": { "*wə-tōmer*": "waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - and she said", "*hinnēh*": "demonstrative particle - behold/here is", "*ʾămātî*": "noun, feminine singular + 1st person singular suffix - my maidservant", "*Bilhâ*": "proper noun, feminine singular - Bilhah", "*bō*": "qal imperative, masculine singular - go in/come", "*wə-tēlēd*": "waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - and she will bear", "*birkay*": "noun, feminine dual construct + 1st person singular suffix - my knees", "*wə-ʾibbāneh*": "waw consecutive + niphal imperfect, 1st person singular - and I will be built up", "*ʾānōkî*": "1st person singular independent pronoun - I" }, "variants": { "*ʾămātî*": "maidservant/female slave/handmaid", "*bō*": "come in/enter/have sexual relations with", "*birkay*": "knees/lap", "*ʾibbāneh*": "be built up/be established/obtain children" } }

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַתֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֛ה אֲמָתִ֥י בִלְהָ֖ה בֹּ֣א אֵלֶ֑יהָ וְתֵלֵד֙ עַל־בִּרְכַּ֔י וְאִבָּנֶ֥ה גַם־אָנֹכִ֖י מִמֶּֽנָּה

Transliteration

wə-tōmer hinnēh ʾămātî Bilhâ bō to-her wə-tēlēd upon-birkay wə-ʾibbāneh also-ʾānōkî from-her

Grammar Details

• *wə-tōmer*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - and she said
• *hinnēh*: demonstrative particle - behold/here is
• *ʾămātî*: noun, feminine singular + 1st person singular suffix - my maidservant
• *Bilhâ*: proper noun, feminine singular - Bilhah
• *bō*: qal imperative, masculine singular - go in/come
• *wə-tēlēd*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - and she will bear
• *birkay*: noun, feminine dual construct + 1st person singular suffix - my knees
• *wə-ʾibbāneh*: waw consecutive + niphal imperfect, 1st person singular - and I will be built up
• *ʾānōkî*: 1st person singular independent pronoun - I

Word Meanings

• *ʾămātî*: maidservant/female slave/handmaid
• *bō*: come in/enter/have sexual relations with
• *birkay*: knees/lap
• *ʾibbāneh*: be built up/be established/obtain children

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

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

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  She said, "Here is my maid Bilhah; go into her, and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her."

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And she said, Behold, my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; that she may bear upon my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  The she sayde: here is my mayde Bilha: go in vnto her that she maye beare vpo my lappe that I maye be encreased by her.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Neuertheles she sayde: Beholde, there is Bilha my mayden, lye wt her, yt she maye beare vpon my lappe, & that I maye be increased by her.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And she said, Behold my maide Bilhah, goe in to her, and she shal beare vpon my knees, and I shal haue children also by her.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Then she sayde: Here is my mayde Bilha, go in vnto her, & she shall beare vpon my knees, that I also may haue chyldren by her.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  She said, "Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, and I also may obtain children by her."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And she saith, `Lo, my handmaid Bilhah, go in unto her, and she doth bear on my knees, and I am built up, even I, from her;'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And she said, Behold, my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; that she may bear upon my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And she said, Behold, my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; that she may bear upon my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Then she said, Here is my servant Bilhah, go in to her, so that she may have a child on my knees, and I may have a family by her.

• World English Bible (2000)

  She said, "Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, and I also may obtain children by her."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  She replied,“Here is my servant Bilhah! Sleep with her so that she can bear children for me and I can have a family through her.”

Referenced Verses

• Gen 50:23 : 23 { "verseID": "Genesis.50.23", "source": "וַיַּ֤רְא יוֹסֵף֙ לְאֶפְרַ֔יִם בְּנֵ֖י שִׁלֵּשִׁ֑ים גַּ֗ם בְּנֵ֤י מָכִיר֙ בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה יֻלְּד֖וּ עַל־בִּרְכֵּ֥י יוֹסֵֽף׃", "text": "*Wa-yarə* *Yôsēp̱* to-*ʾEp̱rayim* *bənê* *šillēšîm* also *bənê* *Māḵîr* *ben*-*Mənaššeh* *yullədû* upon-*birkê* *Yôsēp̱*", "grammar": { "*Wa-yarə*": "waw-consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he saw", "*Yôsēp̱*": "proper noun - Joseph", "*ʾEp̱rayim*": "proper noun - Ephraim", "*bənê*": "masculine plural construct - sons of", "*šillēšîm*": "masculine plural noun - third generation", "*bənê*": "masculine plural construct - sons of", "*Māḵîr*": "proper noun - Machir", "*ben*": "masculine singular construct - son of", "*Mənaššeh*": "proper noun - Manasseh", "*yullədû*": "pual perfect, 3rd common plural - they were born", "*birkê*": "dual construct - knees of", "*Yôsēp̱*": "proper noun - Joseph" }, "variants": { "*bənê šillēšîm*": "children of the third generation/great-grandchildren", "*yullədû ʿal-birkê*": "were born on the knees of/were adopted by" } }
• Job 3:12 : 12 { "verseID": "Job.3.12", "source": "מַ֭דּוּעַ קִדְּמ֣וּנִי בִרְכָּ֑יִם וּמַה־שָּׁ֝דַ֗יִם כִּ֣י אִינָֽק׃", "text": "*maddûaʿ qiddəmûnî birkāyim ûmâ-šādayim kî ʾînāq*", "grammar": { "*maddûaʿ*": "interrogative adverb - why", "*qiddəmûnî*": "verb, Piel perfect, 3rd common plural with 1st common singular suffix - they met me/received me", "*birkāyim*": "noun, feminine dual - knees", "*ûmâ*": "conjunction + interrogative pronoun - and what", "*šādayim*": "noun, masculine dual - breasts", "*kî*": "conjunction - that", "*ʾînāq*": "verb, Qal imperfect, 1st common singular - I would suck" }, "variants": { "*maddûaʿ*": "why/for what reason", "*qiddəmûnî*": "they met me/they received me/they welcomed me", "*birkāyim*": "knees/laps", "*šādayim*": "breasts/teats", "*ʾînāq*": "I would suck/I would nurse" } }
• Ruth 4:11 : 11 { "verseID": "Ruth.4.11", "source": "וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ כָּל־הָעָ֧ם אֲשֶׁר־בַּשַּׁ֛עַר וְהַזְּקֵנִ֖ים עֵדִ֑ים יִתֵּן֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֶֽת־הָאִשָּׁ֜ה הַבָּאָ֣ה אֶל־בֵּיתֶ֗ךָ כְּרָחֵ֤ל ׀ וּכְלֵאָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּנ֤וּ שְׁתֵּיהֶם֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַעֲשֵׂה־חַ֣יִל בְּאֶפְרָ֔תָה וּקְרָא־שֵׁ֖ם בְּבֵ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃", "text": "*wa-yōʾmərû* all-the-*ʿām* who-in-the-*šaʿar* and-the-*zəqēnîm* *ʿēdîm* *yittēn* *YHWH* *ʾet*-the-*ʾiššâ* the-*bāʾâ* to-*bêtekā* like-*Rāḥēl* and-like-*Lēʾâ* who *bānû* both-of-them *ʾet*-*bêt* *Yiśrāʾēl* *wa-ʿăśēh*-*ḥayil* in-*ʾEprātâ* *ûqərā*-*šēm* in-*Bêt* *Lāḥem*", "grammar": { "*wa-yōʾmərû*": "conjunction + Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine plural - and they said", "*ʿām*": "noun, masculine singular with definite article - the people", "*šaʿar*": "noun, masculine singular with definite article with preposition - in the gate", "*zəqēnîm*": "noun, masculine plural with definite article - the elders", "*ʿēdîm*": "noun, masculine plural - witnesses", "*yittēn*": "Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular jussive - may he give", "*YHWH*": "proper noun - Yahweh/the LORD", "*ʾiššâ*": "noun, feminine singular with definite article with direct object marker - the woman", "*bāʾâ*": "Qal participle, feminine singular with definite article - the one coming", "*bêtekā*": "noun, masculine singular + 2nd masculine singular suffix with preposition - to your house", "*Rāḥēl*": "proper noun with preposition of comparison - like Rachel", "*Lēʾâ*": "proper noun with preposition of comparison - like Leah", "*bānû*": "Qal perfect, 3rd common plural - they built", "*bêt*": "noun, masculine singular construct with direct object marker - house of", "*Yiśrāʾēl*": "proper noun - Israel", "*wa-ʿăśēh*": "conjunction + Qal imperative, masculine singular - and do/make", "*ḥayil*": "noun, masculine singular - strength/wealth/power", "*ʾEprātâ*": "proper noun with preposition - in Ephrathah", "*ûqərā*": "conjunction + Qal imperative, masculine singular - and call/proclaim", "*šēm*": "noun, masculine singular - name", "*Bêt* *Lāḥem*": "proper noun with preposition - in Bethlehem" }, "variants": { "*ʿăśēh*-*ḥayil*": "do worthily/achieve wealth/gain power/be prosperous", "*bāʾâ*": "coming/entering/going", "*qərā*-*šēm*": "call a name/become famous/gain renown" } }
• Gen 16:2-3 : 2 { "verseID": "Genesis.16.2", "source": "וַתֹּ֨אמֶר שָׂרַ֜י אֶל־אַבְרָ֗ם הִנֵּה־נָ֞א עֲצָרַ֤נִי יְהוָה֙ מִלֶּ֔דֶת בֹּא־נָא֙ אֶל־שִׁפְחָתִ֔י אוּלַ֥י אִבָּנֶ֖ה מִמֵּ֑נָּה וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע אַבְרָ֖ם לְק֥וֹל שָׂרָֽי׃", "text": "And-*tomer* *Saray* to-*'Abram* *hinneh-na* *'atsarani* *YHWH* from-*ledet* *bo'-na* to-*shifchati* *'ulay* *'ibbaneh* from-her, and-*yishma'* *'Abram* to-*qol* *Saray*.", "grammar": { "*tomer*": "verb, Qal imperfect 3rd feminine singular with waw consecutive - and she said", "*Saray*": "proper noun, feminine singular - Sarai", "*'el*": "preposition - to", "*'Abram*": "proper noun, masculine singular - Abram", "*hinneh-na*": "demonstrative particle + particle of entreaty - behold, please", "*'atsarani*": "verb, Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix - he has restrained me", "*YHWH*": "proper noun, divine name - LORD", "*milledet*": "preposition + Qal infinitive construct - from bearing", "*bo'-na*": "verb, Qal imperative masculine singular + particle of entreaty - go, please", "*'el-shifchati*": "preposition + noun, feminine singular with 1st person singular suffix - to my maidservant", "*'ulay*": "adverb - perhaps", "*'ibbaneh*": "verb, Niphal imperfect 1st person singular - I will be built up", "*mimennah*": "preposition with 3rd feminine singular suffix - from her", "*yishma'*": "verb, Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular with waw consecutive - and he listened/heard", "*leqol*": "preposition + noun, masculine singular construct - to the voice of" }, "variants": { "*'atsarani*": "restrained me/prevented me/kept me from", "*'ibbaneh*": "be built up/obtain children/be established", "*yishma'*": "listened/heard/obeyed" } } 3 { "verseID": "Genesis.16.3", "source": "וַתִּקַּ֞ח שָׂרַ֣י אֵֽשֶׁת־אַבְרָ֗ם אֶת־הָגָ֤ר הַמִּצְרִית֙ שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ מִקֵּץ֙ עֶ֣שֶׂר שָׁנִ֔ים לְשֶׁ֥בֶת אַבְרָ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַתִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛הּ לְאַבְרָ֥ם אִישָׁ֖הּ ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃", "text": "And-*tiqqach* *Saray* *'eshet*-*'Abram* *'et*-*Hagar* *hammitsrit* *shifchatah* from-end-of ten *shanim* to-*shebet* *'Abram* in-*'erets* *Kena'an*, and-*titten* *'otah* to-*'Abram* *'ishah* to-him to-*'ishah*.", "grammar": { "*tiqqach*": "verb, Qal imperfect 3rd feminine singular with waw consecutive - and she took", "*Saray*": "proper noun, feminine singular - Sarai", "*'eshet*": "noun, feminine singular construct - wife of", "*'Abram*": "proper noun, masculine singular - Abram", "*'et*": "direct object marker", "*Hagar*": "proper noun, feminine singular - Hagar", "*hammitsrit*": "definite article + adjective, feminine singular - the Egyptian", "*shifchatah*": "noun, feminine singular with 3rd feminine singular suffix - her maidservant", "*miqqets*": "preposition + noun, masculine singular construct - from the end of", "*'eser*": "number, feminine - ten", "*shanim*": "noun, feminine plural - years", "*leshebet*": "preposition + Qal infinitive construct - for dwelling of", "*be'erets*": "preposition + noun, feminine singular construct - in the land of", "*Kena'an*": "proper noun - Canaan", "*titten*": "verb, Qal imperfect 3rd feminine singular with waw consecutive - and she gave", "*'otah*": "direct object marker with 3rd feminine singular suffix - her", "*'ishah*": "noun, masculine singular with 3rd feminine singular suffix - her husband", "*lo*": "preposition with 3rd masculine singular suffix - to him", "*le'ishah*": "preposition + noun, feminine singular - for a wife" }, "variants": { "*tiqqach*": "took/received/accepted", "*miqqets*": "at the end of/after the completion of" } }
• Gen 30:9 : 9 { "verseID": "Genesis.30.9", "source": "וַתֵּ֣רֶא לֵאָ֔ה כִּ֥י עָמְדָ֖ה מִלֶּ֑דֶת וַתִּקַּח֙ אֶת־זִלְפָּ֣ה שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ וַתִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛הּ לְיַעֲקֹ֖ב לְאִשָּֽׁה", "text": "*wə-tēreh* *Lēʾâ* that *ʿāmədâ* from-*ledet* *wə-tiqqaḥ* *ʾet*-*Zilpâ* *šipḥātâ* *wə-titten* her to-*Yaʿăqōb* for-*ʾiššâ*", "grammar": { "*wə-tēreh*": "waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - and she saw", "*Lēʾâ*": "proper noun, feminine singular - Leah", "*ʿāmədâ*": "qal perfect, 3rd feminine singular - she stopped", "*ledet*": "qal infinitive construct - bearing/giving birth", "*wə-tiqqaḥ*": "waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - and she took", "*ʾet*": "direct object marker", "*Zilpâ*": "proper noun, feminine singular - Zilpah", "*šipḥātâ*": "noun, feminine singular + 3rd feminine singular suffix - her maidservant", "*wə-titten*": "waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd feminine singular - and she gave", "*Yaʿăqōb*": "proper noun, masculine singular - Jacob", "*ʾiššâ*": "noun, feminine singular - wife/woman" }, "variants": { "*ʿāmədâ*": "stood/stopped/ceased", "*ledet*": "bearing/giving birth", "*šipḥātâ*": "maidservant/female slave/handmaid", "*ʾiššâ*": "wife/woman" } }