Genesis 35 · Verse 22

Genesis 35:22

And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Genesis 35:22, King James Version

Genesis 35:22 in other translations

BSBWhile Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:
WEBWhile Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.
ASVAnd it came to pass, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
YLTand it cometh to pass in Israel's dwelling in that land, that Reuben goeth, and lieth with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heareth.
DARBYAnd it came to pass when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine; and Israel heard of it. And the sons of Jacob were twelve.
BBENow while they were living in that country, Reuben had connection with Bilhah, his father's servant-woman: and Israel had news of it.
WebsterAnd it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

What does Genesis 35:22 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine - Jonathan, in his Targum, says that Reuben only overthrew the bed of Bilhah, which was set up opposite to the bed of his mother Leah, and that this was reputed to him as if he had lain with her. The colouring given to the passage by the Targumist is, that Reuben was incensed, because he found Bilhah preferred after the death of Rachel to his own mother Leah; and therefore in his anger he overthrew her couch. The same sentiment is repeated by Jonathan, and glanced at by the Jerusalem Targum, Gen 49:4. Could this view of the subject be proved to be correct, both piety and candour would rejoice. And Israel heard it - Not one word is added farther in the Hebrew text; but a break is left in the verse, opposite to which there is a Masoretic note, which simply states that there is a hiatus in the verse. This hiatus the Septuagint has thus supplied: και πονηρον εφανη εναντιον αυτον, and it appeared evil in his sight. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve - Called afterwards the twelve patriarchs, because they became heads or chiefs of numerous families or tribes, Act 7:8; and the people that descended from them are called the twelve tribes, Act 26:7; Jam 1:1. Twelve princes came from Ishmael, Gen 25:16, who were heads of families and tribes. And in reference to the twelve patriarchs, our Lord chose twelve apostles. Strictly speaking, there were thirteen tribes among the Hebrews, as Ephraim and Manasses were counted for tribes, Gen 48:5, Gen 48:6; but the Scripture in naming them, says Mr. Ainsworth, usually sets down but twelve, omitting the name now of one, then of another, as may in sundry places be observed, Deuteronomy 33; Ezekiel 48; Revelation 12, etc.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 35:21-29

What a sore affliction Reuben's sin was, is shown, "and Israel heard it." No more is said, but that is enough. Reuben thought that his father would never hear of it; but those that promise themselves secrecy in sin, are generally disappointed. The age and death of Isaac are recorded, though he died not till after Joseph was sold into Egypt. Isaac lived about forty years after he had made his will, chap. 27:2. We…

Read the full comment on Genesis 35:21-29 →

Genesis 35:22 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִ֗יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
בִּשְׁכֹּ֤ןbish.Konwhen dweltH7931
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
בָּאָ֣רֶץba.'A.retzin the landH776
הַהִ֔ואha.Hiv'<the> thatH1931
וַיֵּ֣לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhand he wentH1980
רְאוּבֵ֔ןre.'u.VenReubenH7205
וַיִּשְׁכַּ֕ב֙vai.yish.Kavand he lay withH7901
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
בִּלְהָ֖ה֙bil.HahBilhahH1090
פִּילֶ֣גֶשׁpi.Le.gesh[the] concubine ofH6370
אָבִ֑֔יו'a.Vivfather of hisH1
וַיִּשְׁמַ֖עvai.yish.Ma'and he heardH8085
יִשְׂרָאֵֽ֑ל\ \פYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
וַיִּֽהְי֥וּvai.yih.Yuand they wereH1961
בְנֵֽי\־ve.nei-[the] sons ofH1121
יַעֲקֹ֖בya.'a.KoJacobH3290
שְׁנֵ֥יםshe.Neimtwo [plus]H8147
עָשָֽׂר\׃'a.SartenH6240

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 35:22

  • 1 Chronicles 5:1

    Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

  • Leviticus 18:8

    The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:1

    It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

  • 2 Samuel 16:21-22

    And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

  • 2 Samuel 20:3

    And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.

  • Genesis 49:1-28

    And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. …

  • Numbers 1:5-15

    And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur. Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab. Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar. …

  • 1 Chronicles 27:16-22

    Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah: Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok: Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael: Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel: …

  • Joshua 13:1-21

    Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri, From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites: From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: …

  • Revelation 21:14

    And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

  • Genesis 35:18

    And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben–oni: but his father called him Benjamin.

  • Ezekiel 48:1-35

    Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazar–enan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan. And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Asher. And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Naphtali. And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Manasseh. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
lay with.
49:4; Le 18:8; 2Sa 16:21,22; 20:3; 1Ch 5:1; 1Co 5:1
Now the sons.In the Hebrew text, a break is here left in the verse, opposite to which there is a Masoretic note, which states that "there is a hiatus in the verse." This hiatus the LXX., thus supplies: [kai poneros ephane enantion autou ,] "and it appeared evil in his sight."
18; 29:31-35; 30:5-24; 46:8-27; 49:1-28; Ex 1:1-5; 6:14-16; Nu 1:5-15
Nu 1:20-46; 2:3-33; 7:12-89; 26:5-51,57-62; 34:14-28; De 33:1-29
Jos 13:1-21:45; 1Ch 2:1,2; 12:23-40; 27:16-22; Eze 48:1-35; Ac 7:8
Re 7:4-8; 21:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 35:21

    And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

  • Genesis 35:22

    And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

  • Genesis 35:23

    The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:

Read all of Genesis 35

Genesis 35:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y acaeció, morando Israel en aquella tierra, que fué Rubén y durmió con Bilha la concubina de su padre; lo cual llegó á entender Israel. Ahora bien, los hijos de Israel fueron doce:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il arriva, pendant qu’Israël demeurait dans ce pays-là, que Ruben alla et coucha avec Bilha, concubine de son père; et Israël l’apprit. Et les fils de Jacob étaient douze.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es geschah, als Israel in jenem Lande wohnte, da ging Ruben hin und lag bei Bilha, dem Kebsweibe seines Vaters. Und Israel hörte es. Und der Söhne Jakobs waren zwölf.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cumque habitaret in illa regione, abiit Ruben, et dormivit cum Bala concubina patris sui: quod illum minime latuit. Erant autem filii Jacob duodecim.