These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob—sixteen persons.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Notice how the text doesn't just list the sons of Zilpah; it explicitly states Laban gave her to Leah, highlighting the transactional nature of these women and their role in producing heirs within the patriarchal system. This detail underscores how even the growth of God's chosen family was entangled with the social norms and familial arrangements of the time.
These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob—sixteen persons.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jacob's family is making the momentous journey from Canaan to Egypt, a move prompted by famine but divinely ordained to become the birthplace of a great nation. As they settle in the land of Goshen, the text shifts from the grand sweep of their migration to a detailed accounting of Jacob's descendants, listing the sons of each of his wives and concubines. This meticulous enumeration, culminating in the verse about Zilpah's descendants, emphasizes the foundation of the entire Israelite people being brought into Egypt.
Ever feel like just a number or a statistic? This passage lists names, but these were vibrant lives woven into God's unfolding story.
This verse, part of a larger census of Jacob's family moving to Egypt, names Zilpah's descendants. While it specifies "sixteen persons," it’s crucial to understand that this number represents not just Zilpah's direct sons (Gad and Asher), but also their children and potentially grandchildren, as noted by commentators. This isn't just a dry accounting; it signifies the growth and expansion of a family unit, each individual contributing to the larger lineage that God was shaping.
Laban gave Zilpah to Leah. What does this seemingly transactional act reveal about God's sovereign hand in family matters?
The text explicitly states that Laban gave Zilpah to Leah. This was a common practice where a maidservant was provided to a bride to assist her, especially if the bride herself had fertility issues or to increase the household's status. However, from a divine perspective, this wasn't merely a human arrangement. God used this established, and perhaps even unloving, social custom to bring about His purposes. Zilpah, through Leah, bore sons (Gad and Asher) who became foundational figures in the twelve tribes of Israel. This highlights how God can work through human relationships and social structures, even those that may seem imperfect, to fulfill His grander plans.
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Seventy souls moving into Egypt. Sounds small, right? This verse is a snapshot of a tiny seed that would become an immense nation.
Genesis 46 details the entire family of Jacob moving to Egypt, totaling seventy souls (including Jacob himself). Our specific verse, Genesis 46:18, contributes sixteen of those souls through Zilpah's lineage. This enumeration is not just an academic exercise; it underscores the incredible, seemingly impossible growth that God orchestrated. From this small group, God promised to make a 'great nation.' The journey to Egypt, though a descent into a foreign land, was a crucial step in God's plan to protect and multiply His chosen people, setting the stage for their future deliverance and establishment as a nation.
Understand the original words
Ya'aqov · Hebrew Proper Noun
The patriarch who was renamed Israel by God; he is the grandson of Abraham and the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, central to the promise of the covenant.
This verse is part of a larger narrative detailing the migration of Jacob's family into Egypt. It specifically enumerates the descendants of Zilpah, highlighting the lineage that forms the basis of the Israelite tribes of Gad and Asher, who are among those settling in Egypt.
~1800 BC
Laban Deceives Jacob
Laban, Leah's father, tricks Jacob into marrying Leah instead of Rachel, his younger daughter. As part of this deceit, Laban gives his servant Zilpah to Leah.
~1790 BC
Birth of Gad and Asher
Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, bears Gad and Asher to Jacob. These are the foundational figures for the tribes of Gad and Asher.
~1750 BC
Jacob's Wealth and Return
After years of service, Jacob departs from Laban, taking his wives, children, and all his possessions, including his household servants like Zilpah.
~1729 BC
Joseph Sold into Slavery
Jacob's son Joseph is betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, eventually ending up in Egypt.
~1716 BC
Joseph Rises to Power in Egypt
Through divine providence, Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams and becomes second-in-command of Egypt, preparing the land for a great famine.
~1715 BC— this verse
Jacob's Family Migrates to Egypt
Jacob, prompted by famine and the knowledge of Joseph's position, leads his entire household, including the descendants of Zilpah, to settle in the land of Goshen, Egypt.
This passage details the birth of Zilpah's sons, Gad and Asher, to Jacob, establishing their lineage that is being counted here.
Numbers 26:5-26This later census of the tribes of Israel, specifically detailing the descendants of Gad and Asher, shows the continuation and multiplication of the lineage that began with Zilpah's sons.
Exodus 1:1-5This passage describes the growth of the Israelites in Egypt, stemming from the family that descended into Egypt, highlighting the increase from the initial numbers enumerated here.
Matthew 1:1-3This genealogy of Jesus directly traces His lineage back through Judah, but it underscores the importance of accurate family lines and includes Zilpah as an ancestress of the Messiah through Leah.
calvinGenesis 46:1-34: "And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac."
- Et dixit Deus ad Israel in visi onibus noctis, dixit inquam, Jahacob Jahacob. Ille respondit, Ecce, adsum.
3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
- Et dixit, Ego sum Deus, Deus patris tui: ne timeas descendere in Aegyptum: quia in gentem magnam ponam to ibi…
pooleGenesis 46:18: "These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls."
No text from Poole on this verse.
Notice how the text doesn't just list the sons of Zilpah; it explicitly states Laban gave her to Leah, highlighting the transactional nature of these women and their role in producing heirs within the patriarchal system. This detail underscores how even the growth of God's chosen family was entangled with the social norms and familial arrangements of the time.
Jacob's family is making the momentous journey from Canaan to Egypt, a move prompted by famine but divinely ordained to become the birthplace of a great nation. As they settle in the land of Goshen, the text shifts from the grand sweep of their migration to a detailed accounting of Jacob's descendants, listing the sons of each of his wives and concubines. This meticulous enumeration, culminating in the verse about Zilpah's descendants, emphasizes the foundation of the entire Israelite people being brought into Egypt.
Jacob's family is making the momentous journey from Canaan to Egypt, a move prompted by famine but divinely ordained to become the birthplace of a great nation. As they settle in the land of Goshen, the text shifts from the grand sweep of their migration to a detailed accounting of Jacob's descendants, listing the sons of each of his wives and concubines. This meticulous enumeration, culminating in the verse about Zilpah's descendants, emphasizes the foundation of the entire Israelite people being brought into Egypt.
"These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob—sixteen persons." — Notice how the text doesn't just list the sons of Zilpah; it explicitly states Laban gave her to Leah, highlighting the transactional nature of these women and their role in producing heirs within…
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Last reviewed October 2026