1090. Bilhah

Lexicon

Bilhah: Bilhah

Original Word: בִּלְהָה
Part of Speech: proper name, feminine; proper name, of a location
Transliteration: Bilhah
Pronunciation: BIL-hah
Phonetic Spelling: (bil-haw')
Definition: Bilhah
Meaning: Bilhah

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Bilhah

From balahh; timid; Bilhah, the name of one of Jacob's concubines; also of a place in Palestine -- Bilhah.

see HEBREW balahh

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. בִּלְהָה proper name, feminine (etymology dubious) handmaid of Rachel, concubine of Jacob Genesis 29:29; Genesis 30:3,4,5,7; Genesis 35:22,25 (sons Dan & Naphtali) Genesis 37:2 (probably gloss, Ol) Genesis 46:25; 1 Chronicles 7:13.

II. בִּלהָה

proper name, of a location a city of Simeon 1 Chronicles 4:29, probably = בַּעֲלָה Joshua 15:29, בָּלָה Joshua 19:3 compare Di; site dubious

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning "to falter" or "to be timid."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct corresponding Strong's Greek entries for Bilhah, as she is a figure specific to the Hebrew Bible and does not appear in the Greek New Testament.

Usage: Bilhah is used as a proper noun, specifically as a personal name in the Hebrew Bible.

Context: Bilhah is a significant figure in the Hebrew Bible, known primarily as one of the concubines of Jacob. She was given to Jacob by Rachel, her mistress, as a surrogate to bear children on Rachel's behalf. Bilhah bore two sons, Dan and Naphtali, who became the progenitors of two of the tribes of Israel. Her story is primarily found in the Book of Genesis.

• Genesis 30:3-8: Rachel, unable to conceive, gives Bilhah to Jacob as a wife. Bilhah bears Jacob a son, Dan, and later another son, Naphtali. Rachel names these sons, expressing her feelings of vindication and struggle with her sister Leah.

• Genesis 35:22: Bilhah is mentioned in a brief and troubling incident where Reuben, Jacob's firstborn son, is said to have slept with her, an act that had significant implications for Reuben's standing in the family.

• Genesis 46:25: Bilhah is listed among those who went to Egypt with Jacob, highlighting her continued presence in the family narrative.

Bilhah's role in the biblical narrative underscores themes of family dynamics, rivalry, and the complexities of surrogate motherhood in ancient times. Her sons, Dan and Naphtali, are counted among the twelve tribes of Israel, cementing her legacy within the Israelite tradition.

Forms and Transliterations

בִּלְהָ֔ה בִּלְהָ֖ה בִּלְהָ֖ה֙ בִּלְהָ֥ה בִלְהָ֔ה בִלְהָ֖ה בִלְהָ֛ה בִלְהָֽה׃ בִלְהָה֙ בלהה בלהה׃ וּבְבִלְהָ֥ה ובבלהה bil·hāh ḇil·hāh bilHah bilhāh ḇilhāh ū·ḇə·ḇil·hāh ūḇəḇilhāh uvevilHah vilHah

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 29:29
HEB: בִּתּ֔וֹ אֶת־ בִּלְהָ֖ה שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ לָ֖הּ
NAS: his maid Bilhah to his daughter
KJV: his daughter Bilhah his handmaid
INT: Rachel to his daughter Bilhah his maid her maid

Genesis 30:3
HEB: הִנֵּ֛ה אֲמָתִ֥י בִלְהָ֖ה בֹּ֣א אֵלֶ֑יהָ
NAS: is my maid Bilhah, go
KJV: Behold my maid Bilhah, go in
INT: Here is my maid Bilhah go to

Genesis 30:4
HEB: ל֛וֹ אֶת־ בִּלְהָ֥ה שִׁפְחָתָ֖הּ לְאִשָּׁ֑ה
NAS: him her maid Bilhah as a wife,
KJV: And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid
INT: gave Bilhah her maid A wife

Genesis 30:5
HEB: וַתַּ֣הַר בִּלְהָ֔ה וַתֵּ֥לֶד לְיַעֲקֹ֖ב
NAS: Bilhah conceived and bore
KJV: And Bilhah conceived, and bare
INT: conceived Bilhah and bore Jacob

Genesis 30:7
HEB: ע֔וֹד וַתֵּ֕לֶד בִּלְהָ֖ה שִׁפְחַ֣ת רָחֵ֑ל
NAS: Rachel's maid Bilhah conceived again
KJV: And Bilhah Rachel's maid
INT: again and bore Bilhah maid Rachel's

Genesis 35:22
HEB: וַיִּשְׁכַּ֕ב֙ אֶת־ בִּלְהָ֖ה֙ פִּילֶ֣גֶשׁ אָבִ֑֔יו
NAS: and lay with Bilhah his father's
KJV: and lay with Bilhah his father's
INT: Reuben and lay Bilhah concubine his father's

Genesis 35:25
HEB: וּבְנֵ֤י בִלְהָה֙ שִׁפְחַ֣ת רָחֵ֔ל
NAS: and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maid:
KJV: And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's
INT: and the sons of Bilhah maid Rachel's

Genesis 37:2
HEB: אֶת־ בְּנֵ֥י בִלְהָ֛ה וְאֶת־ בְּנֵ֥י
NAS: along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons
KJV: [was] with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons
INT: with the sons of Bilhah for and the sons

Genesis 46:25
HEB: אֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י בִלְהָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־ נָתַ֥ן
NAS: are the sons of Bilhah, whom
KJV: These [are] the sons of Bilhah, which Laban
INT: These are the sons of Bilhah whom gave

1 Chronicles 4:29
HEB: וּבְבִלְהָ֥ה וּבְעֶ֖צֶם וּבְתוֹלָֽד׃
NAS: at Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,
KJV: And at Bilhah, and at Ezem,
INT: Bilhah Ezem Tolad

1 Chronicles 7:13
HEB: וְשַׁלּ֖וּם בְּנֵ֥י בִלְהָֽה׃ פ
NAS: and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
KJV: and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
INT: and Shallum the sons of Bilhah

11 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1090
11 Occurrences

bil·hāh — 5 Occ.
ū·ḇə·ḇil·hāh — 1 Occ.
ḇil·hāh — 5 Occ.