Bilhah
Peopleâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Bilhah was a handmaid given by Rachel to her husband, Jacob, to serve as a surrogate mother. She is credited in the Book of Genesis as the mother of Dan and Naphtali.
What is the meaning of Bilhah in the Bible?
Bilhah was a handmaid given by Rachel to her husband, Jacob, to serve as a surrogate mother. She is credited in the Book of Genesis as the mother of Dan and Naphtali.
SIGNIFICANCE
Her narrative clarifies the complex family dynamics and legal mechanisms of lineage inheritance in the Genesis account, showing how concubinage functioned to expand the patriarch's household and secure his legacy.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Bilhah in this passage?
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Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.