Genesis 30:7,8 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

‘And Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, conceived again and bore Jacob a second son, and Rachel said, “With powerful wrestlings (literally ‘wrestlings of God') have I wrestled (niphtal) with my sister and have prevailed.” And she called his name Naphtali.'

The rivalry between the two sisters comes out vividly. Rachel feels that she is having a great battle with her sister, and that she has now succeeded. The wrestlings must be seen as through prayer. She has fought for her position before God. Jacob will later be seen as wrestling with God although the Hebrew word is different (Genesis 32:24).

Genesis 30:7-8

7 And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

8 And Rachel said, With greatb wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.