Genesis 46:18
ESV
These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob — sixteen persons.
NIV
These were the children born to Jacob by Zilpah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah—sixteen in all.
NASB
These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah; and she bore to Jacob these sixteen persons.
CSB
These were the sons of Zilpah—whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah—that she bore to Jacob: sixteen persons.
NLT
These were the sons of Zilpah, the servant given to Leah by her father, Laban. The number of Jacob’s descendants through Zilpah was sixteen.
KJV
These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls.
NKJV
These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob: sixteen persons.
What does Genesis 46:18 mean?
The moment Jacob's family leaves behind the Promised Land to enter Egypt warrants a listing of all his descendants up to this point (Genesis 46:1–4). This verse summarizes and counts those descendants through Jacob's servant-wife Zilpah, given to him by his wife Leah to extend her own offspring (Genesis 30:9).Zilpah's descendants at this point in Israel's history number 16 persons, including at least one daughter. This is about half the thirty-three offspring listed as having come directly from Zilpah's mistress, Leah (Genesis 46:15).
