Lexical Summary
Zilpah: Zilpah
Original Word:זִלְפָה
Part of Speech:Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration:Zilpah
Pronunciation:ZIL-pah
Phonetic Spelling:(zil-paw)
KJV: Zilpah
NASB:Zilpah
1. fragrant dropping
2. Zilpah, Leah's maid
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Zilpah
: from an unused root apparently meaning to trickle, as myrrh; fragrant dropping; Zilpah, Leah's maid -- Zilpah.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitionone of Jacob's wives
NASB TranslationZilpah (7).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(√ of following; Thes compare Aramaic Pa`el
drop, drip; compare
; also Late Hebrew
sprinkling,
dropping, pouring,
a
full bowl, etc.)
, one of Jacob's wives, mother of Gad and AsherGenesis 29:24;Genesis 30:9,10,12 (all J),Genesis 35:26;Genesis 37:2;Genesis 46:18 (all P).
Topical Lexicon
Narrative Context and Family PlacementZilpah enters the biblical record when Laban assigns her to his daughter Leah upon Leah’s marriage to Jacob (Genesis 29:24). In the complex household dynamics that follow, Leah later gives Zilpah to Jacob as a wife (concubine) when Leah herself has ceased bearing children (Genesis 30:9). As such, Zilpah functions both as servant and as secondary wife within the patriarchal family, illustrating prevailing Near-Eastern customs while also advancing God’s redemptive program through the chosen family line.
Instrumentality in Covenant Expansion
Although Zilpah’s social standing is lower than Leah’s or Rachel’s, her inclusion as a wife demonstrates that God’s covenant purposes are not limited by human hierarchies. Through her, Jacob’s household increases, fulfilling the divine promise of numerous offspring (Genesis 28:14). The arrival of her sons, Gad and Asher, directly contributes to the founding of two tribes of Israel, ensuring their representation among the twelve tribes recorded on the breastpiece of the high priest (Exodus 28:15-21) and at the sealing of the one hundred forty-four thousand (Revelation 7:5-8, though Asher and Gad are listed and Zilpah herself is unmentioned).
The Sons of Zilpah: Gad and Asher
• Gad (Genesis 30:10-11) – Leah declares, “How fortunate!”, marking Gad’s birth as a sign of divine favor despite the unconventional arrangement.
• Asher (Genesis 30:12-13) – Leah exclaims, “How happy I am! For the women will call me happy.”. Asher’s later territorial allotment in Canaan proves fertile and bountiful (Deuteronomy 33:24-25), reflecting the blessing implicit in his name.
The tribal reputations of Gad (noted for valor;1 Chronicles 12:8) and Asher (known for prosperity;Genesis 49:20) testify that God can bring strength and abundance from unexpected quarters, honoring the faithfulness of those otherwise marginalized.
Occurrences in Genesis
1.Genesis 29:24 – Laban presents Zilpah to Leah.
2.Genesis 30:9 – Leah gives Zilpah to Jacob.
3.Genesis 30:10 – Zilpah bears Gad.
4.Genesis 30:12 – Zilpah bears Asher.
5.Genesis 35:26 – Her sons are listed among Jacob’s offspring.
6.Genesis 37:2 – The “sons of Zilpah” appear in Joseph’s early narrative.
7.Genesis 46:18 – The genealogy of those who entered Egypt includes her descendants.
These passages consistently recognize Zilpah’s maternity, safeguarding her memory within Israel’s foundational story.
Spiritual and Ministry Lessons
• God values every member of His covenant family; social status does not hinder usefulness in His plan.
• The births of Gad and Asher underscore the Lord’s sovereign ability to produce joy (“happy”) and strength (“fortunate”) out of human weakness and competition.
• Zilpah’s quiet service contrasts with Leah’s and Rachel’s rivalry, reminding believers that significance before God often blossoms in the background rather than the spotlight.
Intertextual Echoes and Later Tradition
Later Scriptures rarely name Zilpah, yet her legacy endures through tribal blessings (Genesis 49:19-20;Deuteronomy 33:20-25) and territorial narratives (Joshua 19). Jewish tradition sometimes deems her one of the four matriarchs’ handmaids, while early Christian writers draw typological links between the twelve sons and the apostolic foundation of the Church, thereby including Zilpah indirectly in typological reflections on salvation history.
Christological and Ecclesiological Significance
Though Zilpah herself is not a direct ancestor of Messiah—Jesus descends through Judah—the presence of her sons among the tribes anticipates the inclusive reach of Christ’s redemption. Gad and Asher stand beside Judah at the eschatological sealing inRevelation 7, portraying a complete Israel under the Lamb’s protection. Zilpah’s account thus encourages the Church to recognize God’s gracious weaving of all believers, regardless of background, into His single covenant family.
Forms and Transliterations
זִלְפָּ֔ה זִלְפָּ֖ה זִלְפָּ֛ה זִלְפָּ֣ה זִלְפָּה֙ זלפה zil·pāh zilPah zilpāh
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