Zilpah
Zilpah in the Bible — maid of Laban given to Leah (GEN 29:24) and wife of Jacob (GEN 30:9). Referenced in 5 scripture passages.
Name meaning: “distillation from the mouth”
Profile
- Gender
- female
- Scripture References
- 5 references
- Known Names
- 1 name
- Relationships
- 4 connections
Biography
Zilpah was a female servant of Leah who was given to her and later became a wife of Jacob. She played a significant role as a concubine in the family of Jacob, contributing to the growth of Leah's children through her. Her position is noted in the early Genesis narrative concerning the patriarchal family.
Names & Titles
The name Zilpah means 'short nosed person' according to the Hebrew origin noted in Genesis 29:24. This is the only recorded name for her and does not carry a divine or special title.
Family
Scripture records Zilpah as the servant of Leah and the wife of Jacob. She is also the mother of Gad and Asher, two of Jacob's sons who became heads of tribes in Israel. These relationships are explicitly and implicitly documented in Genesis 29:24 and Genesis 30:9-13.
Significance
Zilpah's importance lies in her role as a servant given to Leah who, through her union with Jacob, bore two sons. These sons, Gad and Asher, became progenitors of two of the twelve tribes of Israel, thus playing a foundational role in the establishment of Israel's tribal structure. Her story highlights God's providence in continuing the lineage of Jacob through various family arrangements.
Key Events
Names & Labels (1)
- Hebrew
- זִלְפָּה
- Transliteration
- ziləpah
- Meaning
- short nosed person
- Greek
- Ζελφαν
- Reference
- GEN 29:24
- Strong's
- H2153
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Zilpah in the Bible?
Zilpah was a female servant of Leah who was given to her and later became a wife of Jacob. She played a significant role as a concubine in the family of Jacob, contributing to the growth of Leah's children through her. Her position is noted in the early Genesis narrative concerning the patriarchal family.
What does the name Zilpah mean?
The name Zilpah means “distillation from the mouth” according to Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary.