Genesis 46:25

Arabic KEH Ketab El Hayat (كتاب الحياة)

هَؤُلاَءِ بَنُو يَعْقُوبَ الَّذِينَ أَنْجَبَتْهُمْ لَهُ بِلْهَةُ جَارِيَةُ رَاحِيلَ الَّتِي أَعْطَاهَا إِيَّاهَا أَبُوهَا لاَبَانُ، وَعَدَدُهُمْ جَمِيعاً سَبْعَةُ أَشْخَاصٍ.

What Does This Mean?

This verse in Genesis lists the children of Bilhah, who was Rachel's maid. Rachel gave Bilhah to Jacob as a wife to have more children for him. The verse specifies that there were seven people in total from this family line.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have a friend who brings over their pets to play with yours. In this story, Rachel brought over Bilhah to Jacob, and together they had children. Just like when you count all the toys and pets together, there were seven people in Bilhah's family.

Historical Background

This passage is part of the Book of Genesis, traditionally attributed to Moses around 1446-1406 BC. The audience was the Israelites, and the cultural setting was the Patriarchal period, where family lineage was crucial for understanding heritage and promises.

Living It Out Today

In modern times, this verse reminds us of the importance of family lineage and the roles that extended family members can play. For example, when a guardian or a step-parent takes on a parenting role, they can provide love and support that is just as significant as a biological parent.

Topics

• family
• genealogy
• fertility
• marriage
• Israelites
• patriarchs

Related Verses

• Genesis 29:29
• Genesis 30:5
• Genesis 35:25
• 1 Chronicles 7:12
• Ruth 4:18-22

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Bilhah?

Bilhah was Rachel's maid who was given to Jacob to bear children for Rachel.

Why were family lineages important in ancient times?

Family lineages were important for tracing ancestry and inheritance rights, especially in understanding the fulfillment of God's promises.

What does it mean that 'she bare these unto Jacob'?

It means that Bilhah gave birth to these children, who were considered Jacob's offspring, as she was given to him by Rachel.

Why is the number seven significant?

The number seven often holds symbolic meaning in the Bible, often representing completeness or perfection, though in this context it's simply a count of the people in the family line.