Genesis 29:24

Genesis 29:24, in plain English

Laban gives Zilpah, a servant girl, to Leah as her personal attendant—a gift that comes with the bride as part of the marriage arrangement.

Why it's here

Servants were part of a woman's dowry and status as a married woman. By giving Zilpah to Leah, Laban is completing the appearance of a legitimate marriage and providing Leah with household help. It's a detail that shows how thoroughly Laban has planned this deception.

Who's speaking

The narrator is describing the arrangement

Where it sits in the story

This servant will later become significant in Jacob's family story, bearing children on behalf of Leah. Every detail here—even the servants—becomes part of God's plan for building the nation of Israel.

The scholarly reading

Laban gives his maidservant Zilpah to Leah as her personal attendant, a customary gift that also demonstrates paternal provision.

Language and setting

The provision of a servant girl (shifcha) was standard bride-gift practice in ancient Near Eastern culture, as documented in similar arrangements from the Nuzi texts and Abraham's household. Zilpah's assignment to Leah signals that despite the deception, Laban treats her marriage as legitimate and properly endowed, while simultaneously establishing a household hierarchy that will later bear significance.

Voice

The narrator reports Laban's provision

Significance

This detail establishes the domestic structure within which the rivalry between wives will unfold — Zilpah becomes part of Leah's household and will later bear children in her name, complicating the genealogy of Israel.

22So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast.

23But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her.

24And Laban gave his servant girl Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her maidservant.

25When morning came, there was Leah! “What have you done to me?” Jacob said to Laban. “Wasn’t it for Rachel that I served you? Why have you deceived me?”

26Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older.

Read all of Genesis 29 — The deceiver gets deceived. Jacob works seven years for Rachel, wakes up married to Leah, and learns what it feels like to be tricked.