Genesis 30:1-13 ▼

1 When Rachel saw that she conceived no children for Jacob, she envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I will die.”

2 Then Jacob became furious with Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has denied you children?”

3 She said, “Here, take my maid Bilhah and go in to her; and [when the baby comes] she shall deliver it [while sitting] on my knees, so that by her I may also have children [to count as my own].”

4 So she gave him Bilhah her maid as a [secondary] wife, and Jacob went in to her.

5 Bilhah conceived and gave birth to a son for Jacob.

6 Then Rachel said, “God has judged and vindicated me, and has heard my plea and has given me a son [through my maid].” So she named him Dan (He judged).

7 Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, conceived again and gave birth to a second son for Jacob.

8 So Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings [in prayer to God] I have struggled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she named him Naphtali (my wrestlings).

9 When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing [children], she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as a [secondary] wife.

10 Zilpah, Leah’s maid, gave birth to a son for Jacob.

11 Then Leah said, “How fortunate!” So she named him Gad (good fortune).

12 Zilpah, Leah’s maid, gave birth to a second son for Jacob.

13 Then Leah said, “I am happy! For women will call me happy.” So she named him Asher (happy).