Genesis - 29:24



24 Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Genesis 29:24.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zalpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom when morning was come he saw it was Lia:
And Laban gave to her Zilpah, his maidservant, to be maidservant to Leah his daughter.
and Laban giveth to her Zilpah, his maid-servant, to Leah his daughter, a maid-servant.
And Laban gave Zilpah, his servant-girl, to Leah, to be her waiting-woman.
giving his daughter a handmaid named Zilpah. After Jacob had gone in to her, according to custom, when morning had arrived, he saw Leah.
Et dedit Laban ei Zilpah ancillam suam, Leah filiae suae ancillam.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

And Laban gave - Zilpah his maid - Slaves given in this way to a daughter on her marriage, were the peculiar property of the daughter; and over them the husband had neither right nor power.

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid, for an handmaid. It was usual to have many given them at this time, as Rebekah seems to have had, Genesis 24:59; but Leah had but one, and this was all the portion Jacob had with her. The Targum of Jonathan is,"and Laban gave her Zilpah his daughter, whom his concubine bore unto him:''hence the Jews say (q), that the daughters of a man by his concubines are called maids.
(q) Pirke Eliezer, c. 36.

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