Good! Let it be as you have said: these words clearly indicate that Laban agreed to Jacob’s proposal. This may be because he believes it will not cost him many animals. In any case, most languages should use here a form of words that say unambiguously that “Laban agreed” (Revised English Bible).

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Here is my maid Bilhah: Rachel does not reply but offers her slave girl to Jacob. By doing this she follows the same solution that Sarah took in 16.2.

Go in to her means have sex with her. See translation suggestions on 29.21, 23.

That she may bear upon my knees is the literal Hebrew figurative expression and refers to the practice of obtaining children through the service of another woman, or of recognizing the child that is born as legally one’s own. In 50.23 Joseph’s grandchildren were “born upon his knees,” a way of saying that he acknowledged them as legitimate. In this case Rachel proposes to make Bilhah’s offspring her own, and thus she is to become the adoptive mother. In some languages this is expressed simply as “she will have children for me.”

And even I may have children through her: the very awkward English of Revised Standard Version renders the Hebrew, which is literally “and I will be built up through her.” The thought expressed here is “so that I will become a mother when she gives birth.”

Unless the language of translation has an equivalent figurative expression, it is best to translate the idea. In this case we may follow Good News Translation or say, for example, “Take my servant girl Bilhah and sleep with her. When she gives birth, I will adopt [accept as my own] her child. In this way she will enable me to have children.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Leah conceived again … sixth son: see verse 17.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife: So marks the conclusion of Rachel’s proposal, which Jacob apparently accepts without question. As a wife means to do as a wife would do, and particularly to sleep with Jacob. Since Jacob already has two wives, some translations say “as another wife” in this context.

Jacob went in to her: see 29.21.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

God has endowed me with a good dowry: in other words “God has given me a fine gift” (Good News Translation). The Hebrew verb zabad rendered endowed (given) and the related noun dowry (gift) is the first of two explanations for the name Zebulun.

Now my husband will honor me: honor (Hebrew zabal) is the second explanation of Zebulun’s name. In the Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation footnotes “honor me” and “accept me” express the same thought.

So she called his name Zebulun: “So she named him Zebulun” (Good News Translation).

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

And Bilhah conceived: for conceived see 4.17; 29.32.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

God has judged me: judged does not mean judged and found guilty but rather decided in her favor, or as Good News Translation says, “judged in my favor.” In translation we may say, for example, “God has decided for me,” “God has ruled and found me right,” “God has looked at my case and says that I am in the right.”

Has also heard my voice: Leah said the same when Simeon was born in 29.33. Rachel refers to the voice of her suffering, her cries, and her prayers. See Good News Translation. Revised English Bible translate “He has indeed heard me.”

She called his name Dan: Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation footnotes show that the Hebrew name Dan sounds like the verb “He judged.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Rachel’s maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son: for conceived see 4.17.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .