Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and gave birth to a son. She said: God has taken away my reproach.

The other wife did everything possible to make her unhappy. This is because Jehovah had not given her children. Year after year when Peninnah went to the Temple of Jehovah, she kept on provoking Hannah. It bothered Hannah so much she wept and did not eat.

Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in Jehovah. My horn (strength) (power) is exalted in Jehovah. I speak against (mock) my enemies because I rejoice in your salvation. No one is as holy as Jehovah. There is none beside you. Neither is there any rock like our God. Boast no more so proudly. Remove arrogance from your mouth. Jehovah is a God of knowledge, and he measures his actions (deeds). read more.
The bows of the mighty are broken. Those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for food. The hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven. She who has had many sons has languished. Jehovah kills and makes alive. He brings down to the grave and brings up. Jehovah takes away and He gives riches. He brings low and lifts up high. He raises the poor from the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill to set them among the princes. He causes them to inherit a throne of glory (honor). The pillars of the earth are Jehovah's. He sets the world on them. He guards the feet of his holy ones. The wicked are silenced in darkness. Man will not prevail by strength. The adversaries of Jehovah will be broken to pieces. He thunders in the heavens against them. Jehovah will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king and exalt the horn (power) of His anointed. Elkanah went home to Ramah. The child served Jehovah before Eli the priest.

Seven women will grab one man and say: We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes. Just let us marry you and be called by your name. Take away our disgrace.

She said: This is the way God has dealt with me by taking away my reproach among men. (1 Samuel 1:11)


Adam had intercourse with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth. She said: God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.

I took Abraham, your ancestor, from the land across the Euphrates and led him through the whole land of Canaan. I gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac,


He blesses them, and their numbers multiply, and he does not allow a shortage of cattle.

Concerning Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him. I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.

Adam had sexual intercourse with his wife Eve. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said: With the help of Jehovah I have brought forth a man.

I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.

Almighty God will bless your marriage and give you many children. You will become the father of many nations!

Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, because she said: Certainly, Jehovah has seen my misery. Now my husband will love me! She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: Certainly, Jehovah has heard that I am unloved. He has also given me this son. She named him Simeon. She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: Now at last my husband will become attached to me because I have given him three sons. She named him Levi. read more.
Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: This time I will praise Jehovah. So she named him Judah (Praise). Then she stopped having children.

Jacob became angry with Rachel. He said: I cannot take the place of God. He is the one who keeps you from having children.

Rachel named him Dan, because she said: God has answered my prayers. He has vindicated me and given me a son.

God answered Leah's prayer. She became pregnant and gave birth to her fifth son for Jacob. Leah said: God has given me my reward, because I gave my slave to my husband. So she named him Issachar. She became pregnant again and gave birth to her sixth son for Jacob. read more.
Leah said: God has presented me with a wonderful gift. This time my husband will honor me, because I have given him six sons. So she named him Zebulun.

Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and gave birth to a son. She said: God has taken away my reproach. She named him Joseph. She said: May Jehovah give me another son.

Esau looked around and saw the women and the children. He asked: Who are these people with you? Jacob answered: These are the children whom God has been good enough to give me.

Boaz took Ruth to be his wife. He slept with her and Jehovah enabled her to conceive and she gave birth to a son.

He lifts needy people high above suffering and makes their families like flocks.



They are my sons. God has given them to me here in Egypt. Bring them to me, Jacob said. I want to give them my blessing. Joseph brought the boys to him.

I am here with the children Jehovah has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from Jehovah of Hosts, who lives on Mount Zion.


Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and gave birth to a son. She said: God has taken away my reproach. She named him Joseph. She said: May Jehovah give me another son.


God answered Leah's prayer. She became pregnant and gave birth to her fifth son for Jacob. Leah said: God has given me my reward, because I gave my slave to my husband. So she named him Issachar. She became pregnant again and gave birth to her sixth son for Jacob. read more.
Leah said: God has presented me with a wonderful gift. This time my husband will honor me, because I have given him six sons. So she named him Zebulun. Later she bore a daughter and named her Dinah. Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb.




Rachel had not borne Jacob any children. As a result, she became jealous of her sister and said to Jacob: Give me children, or I will die. Jacob became angry with Rachel. He said: I cannot take the place of God. He is the one who keeps you from having children. She said: Here is my maid Bilhah. Sleep with her, so that she can have a child for me. This way I can become a mother through her. read more.
Then Rachel let Jacob marry Bilhah. Jacob slept with Bilhah. They had a son. Rachel named him Dan, because she said: God has answered my prayers. He has vindicated me and given me a son. Bilhah and Jacob had a second son. Rachel said: I have struggled hard with my sister, and I have won! So she named the boy Naphtali. When Leah realized she could not have any more children, she let Jacob marry her servant Zilpah. They had a son. Leah said: How fortunate. She called him Gad. Leah's slave Zilpah gave birth to her second son for Jacob. Leah said: I am happy, for women will call me blessed. So she named him Asher. During the wheat harvest Reuben went out into the fields. He found some mandrake plants. He brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah: Please, give me some of your son's mandrake plants. Leah replied: Is it not enough that you took my husband? Are you also going to take my son's mandrake plants? Rachel responded: Very well, Jacob can go to bed with you tonight in return for your son's mandrake plants. Jacob came in from the fields that evening. Leah went out to meet him. You are to sleep with me, she said. You are my reward for my son's mandrake plants. So he went to bed with her that night. God answered Leah's prayer. She became pregnant and gave birth to her fifth son for Jacob. Leah said: God has given me my reward, because I gave my slave to my husband. So she named him Issachar. She became pregnant again and gave birth to her sixth son for Jacob. Leah said: God has presented me with a wonderful gift. This time my husband will honor me, because I have given him six sons. So she named him Zebulun. Later she bore a daughter and named her Dinah. Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and gave birth to a son. She said: God has taken away my reproach. She named him Joseph. She said: May Jehovah give me another son.


Jacob slept with Rachel too. He loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years. Jehovah saw that Leah was loved less, so he made it possible for her to have children. But Rachel had none. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, because she said: Certainly, Jehovah has seen my misery. Now my husband will love me! read more.
She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: Certainly, Jehovah has heard that I am unloved. He has also given me this son. She named him Simeon. She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: Now at last my husband will become attached to me because I have given him three sons. She named him Levi.

Rachel had not borne Jacob any children. As a result, she became jealous of her sister and said to Jacob: Give me children, or I will die. Jacob became angry with Rachel. He said: I cannot take the place of God. He is the one who keeps you from having children. She said: Here is my maid Bilhah. Sleep with her, so that she can have a child for me. This way I can become a mother through her. read more.
Then Rachel let Jacob marry Bilhah. Jacob slept with Bilhah. They had a son. Rachel named him Dan, because she said: God has answered my prayers. He has vindicated me and given me a son. Bilhah and Jacob had a second son. Rachel said: I have struggled hard with my sister, and I have won! So she named the boy Naphtali. When Leah realized she could not have any more children, she let Jacob marry her servant Zilpah. They had a son. Leah said: How fortunate. She called him Gad. Leah's slave Zilpah gave birth to her second son for Jacob. Leah said: I am happy, for women will call me blessed. So she named him Asher. During the wheat harvest Reuben went out into the fields. He found some mandrake plants. He brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah: Please, give me some of your son's mandrake plants. Leah replied: Is it not enough that you took my husband? Are you also going to take my son's mandrake plants? Rachel responded: Very well, Jacob can go to bed with you tonight in return for your son's mandrake plants. Jacob came in from the fields that evening. Leah went out to meet him. You are to sleep with me, she said. You are my reward for my son's mandrake plants. So he went to bed with her that night. God answered Leah's prayer. She became pregnant and gave birth to her fifth son for Jacob. Leah said: God has given me my reward, because I gave my slave to my husband. So she named him Issachar. She became pregnant again and gave birth to her sixth son for Jacob. Leah said: God has presented me with a wonderful gift. This time my husband will honor me, because I have given him six sons. So she named him Zebulun. Later she bore a daughter and named her Dinah. Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and gave birth to a son. She said: God has taken away my reproach. She named him Joseph. She said: May Jehovah give me another son. When Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban: Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country.


Rachel was dying! With her last breath she named her son Ben-oni (Son of My Sorrow), but his father named him Benjamin (Son of My Right Hand).

The sons born to Hezron were: Jerahmeel, Ram and Caleb.

Rachel had not borne Jacob any children. As a result, she became jealous of her sister and said to Jacob: Give me children, or I will die. Jacob became angry with Rachel. He said: I cannot take the place of God. He is the one who keeps you from having children. She said: Here is my maid Bilhah. Sleep with her, so that she can have a child for me. This way I can become a mother through her. read more.
Then Rachel let Jacob marry Bilhah. Jacob slept with Bilhah. They had a son. Rachel named him Dan, because she said: God has answered my prayers. He has vindicated me and given me a son. Bilhah and Jacob had a second son. Rachel said: I have struggled hard with my sister, and I have won! So she named the boy Naphtali. When Leah realized she could not have any more children, she let Jacob marry her servant Zilpah. They had a son. Leah said: How fortunate. She called him Gad. Leah's slave Zilpah gave birth to her second son for Jacob. Leah said: I am happy, for women will call me blessed. So she named him Asher. During the wheat harvest Reuben went out into the fields. He found some mandrake plants. He brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah: Please, give me some of your son's mandrake plants. Leah replied: Is it not enough that you took my husband? Are you also going to take my son's mandrake plants? Rachel responded: Very well, Jacob can go to bed with you tonight in return for your son's mandrake plants. Jacob came in from the fields that evening. Leah went out to meet him. You are to sleep with me, she said. You are my reward for my son's mandrake plants. So he went to bed with her that night. God answered Leah's prayer. She became pregnant and gave birth to her fifth son for Jacob. Leah said: God has given me my reward, because I gave my slave to my husband. So she named him Issachar. She became pregnant again and gave birth to her sixth son for Jacob. Leah said: God has presented me with a wonderful gift. This time my husband will honor me, because I have given him six sons. So she named him Zebulun. Later she bore a daughter and named her Dinah. Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and gave birth to a son. She said: God has taken away my reproach. She named him Joseph. She said: May Jehovah give me another son.

These are the names of Israel's descendants (Jacob and his descendants) who arrived in Egypt. Reuben was Jacob's firstborn. The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. read more.
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. (Er and Onan died in Canaan.) The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron. The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. These were the sons Leah gave to Jacob in Paddan-aram, in addition to his daughter Dinah. The total number of these sons and daughters was thirty-three. The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel. These were the descendants of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah. She gave birth to these children for Jacob. The total was sixteen. The sons of Jacob's wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest from the city of On. The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. These were the sons of Rachel who were born to Jacob. The total was fourteen. The son of Dan was Hushim. The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. These were the descendants of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel. She gave birth to these sons for Jacob. The total was seven. The total number of Jacob's direct descendants who went with him to Egypt was sixty-six. This did not include the wives of Jacob's sons. Joseph had two sons who were born in Egypt. There were a total of seventy people in Jacob's household who went to Egypt.

Jehovah saw that Leah was loved less, so he made it possible for her to have children. But Rachel had none. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, because she said: Certainly, Jehovah has seen my misery. Now my husband will love me! She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: Certainly, Jehovah has heard that I am unloved. He has also given me this son. She named him Simeon. read more.
She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: Now at last my husband will become attached to me because I have given him three sons. She named him Levi. Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: This time I will praise Jehovah. So she named him Judah (Praise). Then she stopped having children.

While Israel lived in that region, Reuben went to bed with his father's concubine Bilhah. Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons. The sons of Leah were Jacob's firstborn Reuben, then Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. read more.
The sons of Rachel's slave Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Leah's slave Zilpah were Gad and Asher. These were Jacob's sons, who were born in Paddan-aram.

These are the names of the sons of Israel who came with their families and with Jacob to Egypt: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; read more.
Dan and Naphtali and Gad and Asher. Joseph was already in Egypt. The total number of Jacob's descendants was seventy.




Jacob slept with Rachel too. He loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years. Jehovah saw that Leah was loved less, so he made it possible for her to have children. But Rachel had none. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, because she said: Certainly, Jehovah has seen my misery. Now my husband will love me! read more.
She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: Certainly, Jehovah has heard that I am unloved. He has also given me this son. She named him Simeon. She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: Now at last my husband will become attached to me because I have given him three sons. She named him Levi.

Rachel had not borne Jacob any children. As a result, she became jealous of her sister and said to Jacob: Give me children, or I will die. Jacob became angry with Rachel. He said: I cannot take the place of God. He is the one who keeps you from having children. She said: Here is my maid Bilhah. Sleep with her, so that she can have a child for me. This way I can become a mother through her. read more.
Then Rachel let Jacob marry Bilhah. Jacob slept with Bilhah. They had a son. Rachel named him Dan, because she said: God has answered my prayers. He has vindicated me and given me a son. Bilhah and Jacob had a second son. Rachel said: I have struggled hard with my sister, and I have won! So she named the boy Naphtali. When Leah realized she could not have any more children, she let Jacob marry her servant Zilpah. They had a son. Leah said: How fortunate. She called him Gad. Leah's slave Zilpah gave birth to her second son for Jacob. Leah said: I am happy, for women will call me blessed. So she named him Asher. During the wheat harvest Reuben went out into the fields. He found some mandrake plants. He brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah: Please, give me some of your son's mandrake plants. Leah replied: Is it not enough that you took my husband? Are you also going to take my son's mandrake plants? Rachel responded: Very well, Jacob can go to bed with you tonight in return for your son's mandrake plants. Jacob came in from the fields that evening. Leah went out to meet him. You are to sleep with me, she said. You are my reward for my son's mandrake plants. So he went to bed with her that night. God answered Leah's prayer. She became pregnant and gave birth to her fifth son for Jacob. Leah said: God has given me my reward, because I gave my slave to my husband. So she named him Issachar. She became pregnant again and gave birth to her sixth son for Jacob. Leah said: God has presented me with a wonderful gift. This time my husband will honor me, because I have given him six sons. So she named him Zebulun. Later she bore a daughter and named her Dinah. Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and gave birth to a son. She said: God has taken away my reproach.


Rachel had not borne Jacob any children. As a result, she became jealous of her sister and said to Jacob: Give me children, or I will die. Jacob became angry with Rachel. He said: I cannot take the place of God. He is the one who keeps you from having children. She said: Here is my maid Bilhah. Sleep with her, so that she can have a child for me. This way I can become a mother through her. read more.
Then Rachel let Jacob marry Bilhah. Jacob slept with Bilhah. They had a son. Rachel named him Dan, because she said: God has answered my prayers. He has vindicated me and given me a son. Bilhah and Jacob had a second son. Rachel said: I have struggled hard with my sister, and I have won! So she named the boy Naphtali.

Leah replied: Is it not enough that you took my husband? Are you also going to take my son's mandrake plants? Rachel responded: Very well, Jacob can go to bed with you tonight in return for your son's mandrake plants.

Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and gave birth to a son. She said: God has taken away my reproach. She named him Joseph. She said: May Jehovah give me another son. read more.
When Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban: Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country. Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you. Let me depart. For you know how much service I have done for you. But Laban said: If now it pleases you, stay with me. I have observed that Jehovah has blessed me on your account. He continued: Name your wages, and I will pay. Jacob responded: You know how much work I have done for you and what has happened to your livestock under my care. The little that you had before I came has grown to a large amount. Jehovah has blessed you wherever I have been. When may I do something for my own family? Laban asked: What should I give you? Jacob answered: Do not give me anything. Instead, do something for me. Then I will go back to taking care of and watching your flocks again. Let me go through all of your flocks today and take every speckled and spotted sheep, every black lamb, and every spotted and speckled goat. They will be my wages. My honesty will speak for itself whenever you come to check on my wages. Any goat I have that is not speckled or spotted or any lamb that is not black will be considered stolen. Laban answered: I agree; we will do as you have said.


Then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb. So she conceived and gave birth to a son. She said: God has taken away my reproach. She named him Joseph. She said: May Jehovah give me another son. read more.
When Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban: Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country.