Genesis 30:9 - When Leah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her servant, and gave her to Jacob as a wife.
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What does "Genesis 30:9" mean?
This verse from Genesis 30:9 describes a continuation of the competitive childbearing between Jacob's wives, Leah and Rachel. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"When Leah saw that she had finished bearing...": Leah had already borne Jacob several sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah). This phrase indicates that she believed she had reached menopause or for some other reason, couldn't conceive any more children.
"...she took Zilpah, her servant...": Zilpah was Leah's personal maidservant. Servants were considered the property of their masters in that society.
"...and gave her to Jacob as a wife.": Leah gave Zilpah to Jacob to become his concubine or secondary wife. The intention was to have children through Zilpah who would legally be considered Leah's children, thus increasing Leah's standing within the family. This was a culturally accepted practice at the time, referred to as surrogate motherhood.
In essence, Leah, feeling her childbearing days were over, used her servant as a surrogate to continue expanding her family and maintain her status in Jacob's household. This highlights the social importance placed on bearing children, especially sons, in that era and culture.
Genesis 30:9 - When Leah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her servant, and gave her to Jacob as a wife.
What does "Genesis 30:9" mean?
This verse from Genesis 30:9 describes a continuation of the competitive childbearing between Jacob's wives, Leah and Rachel. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"When Leah saw that she had finished bearing...": Leah had already borne Jacob several sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah). This phrase indicates that she believed she had reached menopause or for some other reason, couldn't conceive any more children.
"...she took Zilpah, her servant...": Zilpah was Leah's personal maidservant. Servants were considered the property of their masters in that society.
"...and gave her to Jacob as a wife.": Leah gave Zilpah to Jacob to become his concubine or secondary wife. The intention was to have children through Zilpah who would legally be considered Leah's children, thus increasing Leah's standing within the family. This was a culturally accepted practice at the time, referred to as surrogate motherhood.
In essence, Leah, feeling her childbearing days were over, used her servant as a surrogate to continue expanding her family and maintain her status in Jacob's household. This highlights the social importance placed on bearing children, especially sons, in that era and culture.