Girl Old Testament Known
Bilhah
Bilhan, who is old or confused
בִּלְהָה
Bilhah (Hebrew: בִּלְהָה) means “Bilhan, who is old or confused”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 10 verses across 2 books of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Guni in 1 Chronicles 7.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Bilhah
father of Naphtali
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 10 across 2 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 29:29 |
| Last appears | 1 Chronicles 7:13 |
| Cross-references | 139 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Zilpah co-occurrence Appears with Zilpah in Genesis 37.
- Rachel co-occurrence Appears with Rachel in Genesis 46.
- Jezer co-occurrence Appears with Jezer in 1 Chronicles 7.
- Jahzeel co-occurrence Appears with Jahzeel in 1 Chronicles 7.
- Shillem co-occurrence Appears with Shillem in 1 Chronicles 7.
- Guni co-occurrence Appears with Guni in 1 Chronicles 7.
- Israel co-occurrence Appears with Israel in Genesis 30.
- Laban co-occurrence Appears with Laban in Genesis 46.
Origin & meaning
Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant, bore Jacob two sons, Dan and Naphtali, who became ancestors of Israelite tribes.
The biblical story
Bilhah was the maidservant of Rachel, concubine of Israel (or 'Jacob') (Gen. 29:29). When Rachel found herself unable to conceive, she gave Bilhah to Jacob as a concubine to bear children on her behalf, following the custom of the time (Gen. 30:3-4). Bilhah gave birth to two sons, Dan and Naphtali (Gen. 30:5-8), who became the ancestors of two of the twelve tribes of Israel. Later, Jacob's firstborn son, Reuben, slept with Bilhah, an act that greatly displeased Jacob (Gen. 35:22). Despite this incident, Bilhah is still mentioned among the members of Jacob's family who went to Egypt during the famine (Gen. 46:25). Her sons, Dan and Naphtali, are listed among the seventy members of Jacob's household (Gen. 46:23-25). Bilhah's story highlights the complex family dynamics in Jacob's household and the importance of childbearing in ancient Israelite society. Her sons' inclusion in the twelve tribes of Israel underscores God's providence in fulfilling His promise to make a great nation from Jacob's descendants.
Key verses
Bilhah appears in 10 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.
Genesis 29:29 -
And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
Genesis 30:3 -
And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
Genesis 30:4 -
And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
Genesis 30:5 -
And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.
Genesis 30:7
Show all 10 references
Genesis (9)
- Genesis 29:29
- Genesis 30:3
- Genesis 30:4
- Genesis 30:5
- Genesis 30:7
- Genesis 35:22
- Genesis 35:25
- Genesis 37:2
- Genesis 46:25
1 Chronicles (1)
- 1 Chronicles 7:13