Genesis 30:1-13 ▼

1 When Rachel saw that she had not borne children to Jacob, she became envious of her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children or I shall die!”

2 Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Can I take the place of God, who has denied you the fruit of the womb?”

3 She replied, “Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Have intercourse with her, and let her give birth on my knees, so that I too may have children through her.”

4 So she gave him her maidservant Bilhah as wife, and Jacob had intercourse with her.

5 When Bilhah conceived and bore a son for Jacob,

6 Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; indeed he has heeded my plea and given me a son.” Therefore she named him Dan.

7 Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah conceived again and bore a second son for Jacob,

8 and Rachel said, “I have wrestled strenuously with my sister, and I have prevailed.” So she named him Naphtali.

9 When Leah saw that she had ceased to bear children, she took her maidservant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as wife.

10 So Leah’s maidservant Zilpah bore a son for Jacob.

11 Leah then said, “What good luck!” So she named him Gad.

12 Then Leah’s maidservant Zilpah bore a second son to Jacob;

13 and Leah said, “What good fortune, because women will call me fortunate!” So she named him Asher.