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 .

It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the first-born: Laban explains what he means in the next clause. Good News Translation “It is not the custom here” expresses this thought well. We may also say, for example, “We do not give the younger daughter in marriage before the older daughter”; or this may be stated positively: “It is our practice to give the firstborn in marriage before we give the younger daughter.” In some languages it may be more natural to express this verse as a rhetorical question: “Is it the custom among us to give the younger daughter in marriage before the marriage of the firstborn?” And in some cases this question must be answered with “No” or “It is not.” It is common for what is done in relation to custom to be spoken of as “right” or “not right”; so another way of expressing Laban’s explanation is “No, our custom here is not like that. We don’t let our younger daughters get married first and our older daughters afterward. That isn’t right.”

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 .

Complete the week of this one: the week refers to the week of the marriage feast that is under way. Laban is asking Jacob to go through with the seven days of the marriage ceremony with Leah. Speiser refers to this as “the bridal week.” We may translate “Go ahead and finish the marriage feast week with Leah.” This may also be expressed as a condition: “If you will finish the week of celebration….” See Good News Translation for another model.

We will give you the other also: we is the form preferred by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project and probably refers to Laban and the members of his family or household. In translation, if we is kept, it should express a form that excludes Jacob. Note that Good News Translation shifts to “I.” The other means the other daughter, namely, Rachel.

In return for serving me another seven years: this may be rendered “if you will work for me for seven more years.”

A translation of this verse that expresses some of its elements in a different way says “Next week this feast will be over, and after that I will give you Rachel. But you will have to work for me seven more years.”

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 .

Jacob did so: Jacob agrees to finish the marriage feast with Leah and does as his uncle requires.

Completed her week: Jacob remained with Leah for the week of the marriage feast and accepted Leah as his wife.

Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to wife: unlike the case of the first wife, Laban now gives Rachel to Jacob apparently in advance of his seven years service. The narrator says nothing regarding a second marriage feast. We may assume perhaps that this was really a double wedding. Note that Lev 18.18 forbids a man to marry sisters.

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 .