Genesis 30:1-3
King James Version
30 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
3 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.
Read full chapter
Genesis 30:1-3
New King James Version
Jacob’s Children
30 Now when Rachel saw that (A)she bore Jacob no children, Rachel (B)envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, (C)or else I die!”
2 And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, (D)“Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
3 So she said, “Here is (E)my maid Bilhah; go in to her, (F)and she will bear a child on my knees, (G)that I also may [a]have children by her.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 30:3 Lit. be built up by her
Genesis 30:1-3
English Standard Version
30 When Rachel saw that (A)she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!” 2 Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, (B)who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” 3 Then she said, “Here is my servant (C)Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth (D)on my behalf,[a] that even I may have children[b] through her.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 30:3 Hebrew on my knees
- Genesis 30:3 Hebrew be built up, which sounds like the Hebrew for children
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
