Genesis 46:18 - These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob, even sixteen souls.
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What does "Genesis 46:18" mean?
Genesis 46:18 is part of the section in Genesis that lists the descendants of Jacob (also known as Israel) who went down to Egypt. Let's break down the verse:
"These are the sons of Zilpah..." Zilpah was Leah's maidservant. It was common in that time for a woman to give her maidservant to her husband to bear children if she herself was having difficulty conceiving, according to the customs of the time. These children were considered the offspring of the wife.
"...whom Laban gave to Leah, his daughter..." Laban was Leah's father and Rachel's father. He gave Zilpah to Leah as a handmaid.
"...and these she bore to Jacob..." Zilpah bore Gad and Asher to Jacob.
"...even sixteen souls." This refers to the total number of descendants that came through Zilpah. This includes Gad, his sons and grandsons, and Asher, his sons and grandsons. The term "souls" is used to represent the individuals in that line.
In Summary:
The verse identifies Gad and Asher as sons of Jacob who were born through Zilpah, Leah's maidservant. It states that the total number of descendants tracing back to Jacob through Zilpah amounted to sixteen people who went to Egypt. This line of descendants formed part of the larger group of Jacob's family who migrated to Egypt due to the famine.
Genesis 46:18 - These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob, even sixteen souls.
What does "Genesis 46:18" mean?
Genesis 46:18 is part of the section in Genesis that lists the descendants of Jacob (also known as Israel) who went down to Egypt. Let's break down the verse:
"These are the sons of Zilpah..." Zilpah was Leah's maidservant. It was common in that time for a woman to give her maidservant to her husband to bear children if she herself was having difficulty conceiving, according to the customs of the time. These children were considered the offspring of the wife.
"...whom Laban gave to Leah, his daughter..." Laban was Leah's father and Rachel's father. He gave Zilpah to Leah as a handmaid.
"...and these she bore to Jacob..." Zilpah bore Gad and Asher to Jacob.
"...even sixteen souls." This refers to the total number of descendants that came through Zilpah. This includes Gad, his sons and grandsons, and Asher, his sons and grandsons. The term "souls" is used to represent the individuals in that line.
In Summary:
The verse identifies Gad and Asher as sons of Jacob who were born through Zilpah, Leah's maidservant. It states that the total number of descendants tracing back to Jacob through Zilpah amounted to sixteen people who went to Egypt. This line of descendants formed part of the larger group of Jacob's family who migrated to Egypt due to the famine.