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 .

With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister: the Hebrew says “with wrestling of ʾelohim,” which creates a problem of interpretation. There are three views of the significance of this expression:
(1) Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation take ʾelohim, which normally means “God,” to be a descriptive term meaning “great” or “mighty.” In 23.6 Abraham is described as a prince or leader of ʾelohim, and Revised Standard Version translates “mighty prince,” and Good News Translation “mighty leader.”
(2) Some understand that Rachel’s wrestlings or struggles are “for ʾelohim,” that is, to win God’s favor.
(3) Speiser understands that the expression refers to a mysterious struggle and translates “a fateful contest.” Revised English Bible translate “I have played a fine trick on my sister.”

The Handbook recommends that translators follow Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, which are supported by Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch.

I … have prevailed: prevailed means “won,” “succeeded,” or “become victorious.”

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 .

When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children: the narrator picks up the thought from 29.35.

She took her maid Zilpah …: see Gen 30.4.

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 .