Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Genesis » Chapter 30 » Verse 1-43

Genesis 30:1-43 King James Version (KJV)

1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

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

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

9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

10 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.

11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.

12 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.

13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.

15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.

16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

19 And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.

20 And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

21 And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.

26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.

27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.

28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.

29 And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.

30 For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?

31 And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock.

32 I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.

33 So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.

34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.

35 And he removed that day the he goats that were ring-streaked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.

36 And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

37 And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree; and pilled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.

38 And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.

39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ring-streaked, speckled, and spotted.

40 And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ring-streaked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.

41 And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.

42 But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.

43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.


Genesis 30:1-43 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And when Rachel H7354 saw H7200 that she bare H3205 Jacob H3290 no children, Rachel H7354 envied H7065 her sister; H269 and said H559 unto Jacob, H3290 Give H3051 me children, H1121 or else H369 I die. H4191

2 And Jacob's H3290 anger H639 was kindled H2734 against Rachel: H7354 and he said, H559 Am I in God's H430 stead, who hath withheld H4513 from thee the fruit H6529 of the womb? H990

3 And she said, H559 Behold my maid H519 Bilhah, H1090 go in H935 unto her; and she shall bear H3205 upon my knees, H1290 that I may also have children H1129 by her.

4 And she gave H5414 him Bilhah H1090 her handmaid H8198 to wife: H802 and Jacob H3290 went in H935 unto her.

5 And Bilhah H1090 conceived, H2029 and bare H3205 Jacob H3290 a son. H1121

6 And Rachel H7354 said, H559 God H430 hath judged H1777 me, and hath also heard H8085 my voice, H6963 and hath given H5414 me a son: H1121 therefore called H7121 she his name H8034 Dan. H1835

7 And Bilhah H1090 Rachel's H7354 maid H8198 conceived H2029 again, and bare H3205 Jacob H3290 a second H8145 son. H1121

8 And Rachel H7354 said, H559 With great H430 wrestlings H5319 have I wrestled H6617 with my sister, H269 and I have prevailed: H3201 and she called H7121 his name H8034 Naphtali. H5321

9 When Leah H3812 saw H7200 that she had left H5975 bearing, H3205 she took H3947 Zilpah H2153 her maid, H8198 and gave H5414 her Jacob H3290 to wife. H802

10 And Zilpah H2153 Leah's H3812 maid H8198 bare H3205 Jacob H3290 a son. H1121

11 And Leah H3812 said, H559 A troop H1409 cometh: H935 and she called H7121 his name H8034 Gad. H1410

12 And Zilpah H2153 Leah's H3812 maid H8198 bare H3205 Jacob H3290 a second H8145 son. H1121

13 And Leah H3812 said, H559 Happy am I, H837 for the daughters H1323 will call me blessed: H833 and she called H7121 his name H8034 Asher. H836

14 And Reuben H7205 went in H3212 the days H3117 of wheat H2406 harvest, H7105 and found H4672 mandrakes H1736 in the field, H7704 and brought H935 them unto his mother H517 Leah. H3812 Then Rachel H7354 said H559 to Leah, H3812 Give me, H5414 I pray thee, of thy son's H1121 mandrakes. H1736

15 And she said H559 unto her, Is it a small matter H4592 that thou hast taken H3947 my husband? H376 and wouldest thou take away H3947 my son's H1121 mandrakes H1736 also? And Rachel H7354 said, H559 Therefore he shall lie H7901 with thee to night H3915 for H8478 thy son's H1121 mandrakes. H1736

16 And Jacob H3290 came H935 out of the field H7704 in the evening, H6153 and Leah H3812 went out H3318 to meet H7125 him, and said, H559 Thou must come in H935 unto me; for surely H7936 I have hired H7936 thee with my son's H1121 mandrakes. H1736 And he lay H7901 with her that night. H3915

17 And God H430 hearkened H8085 unto Leah, H3812 and she conceived, H2029 and bare H3205 Jacob H3290 the fifth H2549 son. H1121

18 And Leah H3812 said, H559 God H430 hath given H5414 me my hire, H7939 because H834 I have given H5414 my maiden H8198 to my husband: H376 and she called H7121 his name H8034 Issachar. H3485

19 And Leah H3812 conceived H2029 again, and bare H3205 Jacob H3290 the sixth H8345 son. H1121

20 And Leah H3812 said, H559 God H430 hath endued H2064 me with a good H2896 dowry; H2065 now H6471 will my husband H376 dwell H2082 with me, because I have born H3205 him six H8337 sons: H1121 and she called H7121 his name H8034 Zebulun. H2074

21 And afterwards H310 she bare H3205 a daughter, H1323 and called H7121 her name H8034 Dinah. H1783

22 And God H430 remembered H2142 Rachel, H7354 and God H430 hearkened H8085 to her, and opened H6605 her womb. H7358

23 And she conceived, H2029 and bare H3205 a son; H1121 and said, H559 God H430 hath taken away H622 my reproach: H2781

24 And she called H7121 his name H8034 Joseph; H3130 and said, H559 The LORD H3068 shall add H3254 to me another H312 son. H1121

25 And it came to pass, when Rachel H7354 had born H3205 Joseph, H3130 that Jacob H3290 said H559 unto Laban, H3837 Send me away, H7971 that I may go H3212 unto mine own place, H4725 and to my country. H776

26 Give H5414 me my wives H802 and my children, H3206 for H2004 whom I have served H5647 thee, and let me go: H3212 for thou knowest H3045 my service H5656 which I have done H5647 thee.

27 And Laban H3837 said H559 unto him, I pray thee, if I have found H4672 favour H2580 in thine eyes, H5869 tarry: for I have learned by experience H5172 that the LORD H3068 hath blessed H1288 me for thy sake. H1558

28 And he said, H559 Appoint H5344 me thy wages, H7939 and I will give H5414 it.

29 And he said H559 unto him, Thou knowest H3045 how H834 I have served H5647 thee, and how H834 thy cattle H4735 was with me.

30 For it was little H4592 which thou hadst before I H6440 came, and it is now increased H6555 unto a multitude; H7230 and the LORD H3068 hath blessed H1288 thee since my coming: H7272 and now when H4970 shall I provide H6213 for mine own house H1004 also?

31 And he said, H559 What shall I give thee? H5414 And Jacob H3290 said, H559 Thou shalt not give H5414 me any thing: H3972 if thou wilt do H6213 this thing H1697 for me, I will again H7725 feed H7462 and keep H8104 thy flock: H6629

32 I will pass H5674 through all thy flock H6629 to day, H3117 removing H5493 from thence all the speckled H5348 and spotted H2921 cattle, H7716 and all the brown H2345 cattle H7716 among the sheep, H3775 and the spotted H2921 and speckled H5348 among the goats: H5795 and of such shall be my hire. H7939

33 So shall my righteousness H6666 answer H6030 for me in time H3117 to come, H4279 when it shall come H935 for my hire H7939 before thy face: H6440 every one H3605 that is not speckled H5348 and spotted H2921 among the goats, H5795 and brown H2345 among the sheep, H3775 that shall be counted stolen H1589 with me.

34 And Laban H3837 said, H559 Behold, I would it might be H3863 according to thy word. H1697

35 And he removed H5493 that day H3117 the he goats H8495 that were ringstraked H6124 and spotted, H2921 and all the she goats H5795 that were speckled H5348 and spotted, H2921 and every one that had some white H3836 in it, and all the brown H2345 among the sheep, H3775 and gave H5414 them into the hand H3027 of his sons. H1121

36 And he set H7760 three H7969 days' H3117 journey H1870 betwixt himself and Jacob: H3290 and Jacob H3290 fed H7462 the rest H3498 of Laban's H3837 flocks. H6629

37 And Jacob H3290 took H3947 him rods H4731 of green H3892 poplar, H3839 and of the hazel H3869 and chesnut tree; H6196 and pilled H6478 white H3836 strakes H6479 in them, and made the white H3836 appear H4286 which was in the rods. H4731

38 And he set H3322 the rods H4731 which he had pilled H6478 before H5227 the flocks H6629 in the gutters H7298 in the watering H4325 troughs H8268 when the flocks H6629 came H935 to drink, H8354 that they should conceive H3179 when they came H935 to drink. H8354

39 And the flocks H6629 conceived H3179 before the rods, H4731 and brought forth H3205 cattle H6629 ringstraked, H6124 speckled, H5348 and spotted. H2921

40 And Jacob H3290 did separate H6504 the lambs, H3775 and set H5414 the faces H6440 of the flocks H6629 toward H413 the ringstraked, H6124 and all the brown H2345 in the flock H6629 of Laban; H3837 and he put H7896 his own flocks H5739 by themselves, and put H7896 them not unto Laban's H3837 cattle. H6629

41 And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger H7194 cattle H6629 did conceive, H3179 that Jacob H3290 laid H7760 the rods H4731 before the eyes H5869 of the cattle H6629 in the gutters, H7298 that they might conceive H3179 among the rods. H4731

42 But when the cattle H6629 were feeble, H5848 he put them not in: H7760 so the feebler H5848 were Laban's, H3837 and the stronger H7194 Jacob's. H3290

43 And the man H376 increased H6555 exceedingly, H3966 H3966 and had much H7227 cattle, H6629 and maidservants, H8198 and menservants, H5650 and camels, H1581 and asses. H2543


Genesis 30:1-43 American Standard (ASV)

1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and she said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

3 And she said, Behold, my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; that she may bear upon my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.

4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

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

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

9 When Leah saw that she had left off bearing, she took Zilpah her handmaid, and gave her to Jacob to wife.

10 And Zilpah Leah's handmaid bare Jacob a son.

11 And Leah said, Fortunate! and she called his name Gad.

12 And Zilpah Leah's handmaid bare Jacob a second son.

13 And Leah said, Happy am I! for the daughters will call me happy: and she called his name Asher.

14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.

15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken away my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to-night for thy son's mandrakes.

16 And Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for I have surely hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob a fifth son.

18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I gave my handmaid to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

19 And Leah conceived again, and bare a sixth son to Jacob.

20 And Leah said, God hath endowed me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

21 And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

23 And she conceived, and bare a son: and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

24 and she called his name Joseph, saying, Jehovah add to me another son.

25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.

26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service wherewith I have served thee.

27 And Laban said unto him, If now I have found favor in thine eyes, `tarry': `for' I have divined that Jehovah hath blessed me for thy sake.

28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.

29 And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle have fared with me.

30 For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it hath increased unto a multitude; and Jehovah hath blessed thee whithersoever I turned: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?

31 And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me aught: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed thy flock and keep it.

32 I will pass through all thy flock to-day, removing from thence every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and `of such' shall be my hire.

33 So shall my righteousness answer for me hereafter, when thou shalt come concerning my hire that is before thee: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the sheep, that `if found' with me, shall be counted stolen.

34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.

35 And he removed that day the he-goats that were ringstreaked and spotted, and all the she-goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons;

36 and he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

37 And Jacob took him rods of fresh poplar, and of the almond and of the plane-tree. And peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.

38 And he set the rods which he had peeled over against the flocks in the gutters in the watering-troughs where the flocks came to drink; and they conceived when they came to drink.

39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth ringstreaked, speckled, and spotted.

40 And Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstreaked and all the black in the flock of Laban: and he put his own droves apart, and put them not unto Laban's flock.

41 And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger of the flock did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the flock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods;

42 but when the flock were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.

43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, and maid-servants and men-servants, and camels and asses.


Genesis 30:1-43 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Rachel seeth that she hath not borne to Jacob, and Rachel is envious of her sister, and saith unto Jacob, `Give me sons, and if there is none -- I die.'

2 And Jacob's anger burneth against Rachel, and he saith, `Am I in stead of God who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?'

3 And she saith, `Lo, my handmaid Bilhah, go in unto her, and she doth bear on my knees, and I am built up, even I, from her;'

4 and she giveth to him Bilhah her maid-servant for a wife, and Jacob goeth in unto her;

5 and Bilhah conceiveth, and beareth to Jacob a son,

6 and Rachel saith, `God hath decided for me, and also hath hearkened to my voice, and giveth to me a son;' therefore hath she called his name Dan.

7 And Bilhah, Rachel's maid-servant, conceiveth again, and beareth a second son to Jacob,

8 and Rachel saith, `With wrestlings of God I have wrestled with my sister, yea, I have prevailed;' and she calleth his name Napthali.

9 And Leah seeth that she hath ceased from bearing, and she taketh Zilpah her maid-servant, and giveth her to Jacob for a wife;

10 and Zilpah, Leah's maid-servant, beareth to Jacob a son,

11 and Leah saith, `A troop is coming;' and she calleth his name Gad.

12 And Zilpah, Leah's maid-servant, beareth a second son to Jacob,

13 and Leah saith, `Because of my happiness, for daughters have pronounced me happy;' and she calleth his name Asher.

14 And Reuben goeth in the days of wheat-harvest, and findeth love-apples in the field, and bringeth them in unto Leah, his mother, and Rachel saith unto Leah, `Give to me, I pray thee, of the love-apples of thy son.'

15 And she saith to her, `Is thy taking my husband a little thing, that thou hast taken also the love-apples of my son?' and Rachel saith, `Therefore doth he lie with thee to-night, for thy son's love-apples.'

16 And Jacob cometh in from the field at evening; and Leah goeth to meet him, and saith, `Unto me dost thou come in, for hiring I have hired thee with my son's love-apples;' and he lieth with her during that night.

17 And God hearkeneth unto Leah, and she conceiveth, and beareth to Jacob a son, a fifth,

18 and Leah saith, `God hath given my hire, because I have given my maid-servant to my husband;' and she calleth his name Issachar.

19 And conceive again doth Leah, and she beareth a sixth son to Jacob,

20 and Leah saith, `God hath endowed me -- a good dowry; this time doth my husband dwell with me, for I have borne to him six sons;' and she calleth his name Zebulun;

21 and afterwards hath she born a daughter, and calleth her name Dinah.

22 And God remembereth Rachel, and God hearkeneth unto her, and openeth her womb,

23 and she conceiveth and beareth a son, and saith, `God hath gathered up my reproach;'

24 and she calleth his name Joseph, saying, `Jehovah is adding to me another son.'

25 And it cometh to pass, when Rachel hath borne Joseph, that Jacob saith unto Laban, `Send me away, and I go unto my place, and to my land;

26 give up my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and I go; for thou -- thou hast known my service which I have served thee.'

27 And Laban saith unto him, `If, I pray thee, I have found grace in thine eyes -- I have observed diligently that Jehovah doth bless me for thy sake.'

28 He saith also, `Define thy hire to me, and I give.'

29 And he saith unto him, `Thou -- thou hast known that which I have served thee `in', and that which thy substance was with me;

30 for `it is' little which thou hast had at my appearance, and it breaketh forth into a multitude, and Jehovah blesseth thee at my coming; and now, when do I make, I also, for mine own house?'

31 And he saith, `What do I give to thee?' And Jacob saith, `Thou dost not give me anything; if thou do for me this thing, I turn back; I have delight; thy flock I watch;

32 I pass through all thy flock to-day to turn aside from thence every sheep speckled and spotted, and every brown sheep among the lambs, and speckled and spotted among the goats -- and it hath been my hire;

33 and my righteousness hath answered for me in the day to come, when it cometh in for my hire before thy face; -- every one which is not speckled and spotted among `my' goats, and brown among `my' lambs -- it is stolen with me.'

34 And Laban saith, `Lo, O that it were according to thy word;'

35 and he turneth aside during that day the ring-straked and the spotted he-goats, and all the speckled and the spotted she-goats, every one that `hath' white in it, and every brown one among the lambs, and he giveth into the hand of his sons,

36 and setteth a journey of three days between himself and Jacob; and Jacob is feeding the rest of the flock of Laban.

37 And Jacob taketh to himself a rod of fresh poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut, and doth peel in them white peelings, making bare the white that `is' on the rods,

38 and setteth up the rods which he hath peeled in the gutters in the watering troughs (when the flock cometh in to drink), over-against the flock, that they may conceive in their coming in to drink;

39 and the flocks conceive at the rods, and the flock beareth ring-straked, speckled, and spotted ones.

40 And the lambs hath Jacob parted, and he putteth the face of the flock towards the ring-straked, also all the brown in the flock of Laban, and he setteth his own droves by themselves, and hath not set them near Laban's flock.

41 And it hath come to pass whenever the strong ones of the flock conceive, that Jacob set the rods before the eyes of the flock in the gutters, to cause them to conceive by the rods,

42 and when the flock is feeble, he doth not set `them'; and the feeble ones have been Laban's, and the strong ones Jacob's.

43 And the man increaseth very exceedingly, and hath many flocks, and maid-servants, and men-servants, and camels, and asses.


Genesis 30:1-43 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, Am I in God's stead, who has withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

3 And she said, Behold, there is my maid, Bilhah: go in to her, in order that she may bear on my knees, and I may also be built up by her.

4 And she gave him Bilhah her maidservant as wife, and Jacob went in to her.

5 And Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son.

6 And Rachel said, God has done me justice, and has also heard my voice, and given me a son; therefore she called his name Dan.

7 And Bilhah Rachel's maidservant again conceived, and bore Jacob a second son.

8 And Rachel said, Wrestlings of God have I wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed; and she called his name Naphtali.

9 And when Leah saw that she had ceased to bear, she took Zilpah her maidservant and gave her to Jacob as wife.

10 And Zilpah Leah's maidservant bore Jacob a son.

11 And Leah said, Fortunately! and she called his name Gad.

12 And Zilpah Leah's maidservant bore Jacob a second son.

13 And Leah said, Happy am I; for the daughters will call me blessed! and she called his name Asher.

14 And Reuben went out in the days of wheat-harvest, and found mandrakes in the fields; and he brought them to his mother Leah. And Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.

15 And she said to her, Is it [too] little that thou hast taken my husband, that thou wilt take my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to-night for thy son's mandrakes.

16 And when Jacob came from the fields in the evening, Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in to me, for indeed I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

17 And God hearkened to Leah, and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son.

18 And Leah said, God has given me my hire, because I have given my maidservant to my husband; and she called his name Issachar.

19 And Leah again conceived, and bore Jacob a sixth son;

20 and Leah said, God has endowed me with a good dowry; this time will my husband dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons. And she called his name Zebulun.

21 And afterwards she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

22 And God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her, and opened her womb.

23 And she conceived, and bore a son, and said, God has taken away my reproach.

24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, Jehovah will add to me another son.

25 And it came to pass when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, Send me away, that I may go to my place and to my country.

26 Give [me] my wives for whom I have served thee, and my children; that I may go away, for thou knowest my service which I have served thee.

27 And Laban said to him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes -- I have discovered that Jehovah has blessed me for thy sake.

28 And he said, Appoint to me thy wages, and I will give it.

29 And he said to him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and what thy cattle has become with me.

30 For it was little that thou hadst before me, and it is increased to a multitude, and Jehovah has blessed thee from the time I came; and now, when shall I also provide for my house?

31 And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me anything. If thou doest this for me, I will again feed [and] keep thy flock:

32 I will pass through all thy flock to-day, to remove thence all the speckled and spotted sheep, and all the brown lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and [that] shall be my hire.

33 And my righteousness shall answer for me hereafter, when thou comest about my hire, before thy face: all that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the lambs, let that be stolen with me.

34 And Laban said, Well, let it be according to thy word.

35 And he removed that day the he-goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she-goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white in it, and all the brown among the lambs, and gave [them] into the hand of his sons.

36 And he put three days' journey between himself and Jacob. And Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flock.

37 And Jacob took fresh rods of white poplar, almond-tree, and maple; and peeled off white stripes in them, uncovering the white which was on the rods.

38 And he set the rods which he had peeled before the flock, in the troughs at the watering-places where the flock came to drink, and they were ardent when they came to drink.

39 And the flock was ardent before the rods; and the flock brought forth ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

40 And Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flock toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he made himself separate flocks, and did not put them with Laban's flock.

41 And it came to pass whensoever the strong cattle were ardent, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the flock in the gutters, that they might become ardent among the rods;

42 but when the sheep were feeble, he put [them] not in; so the feeble were Laban's, and the strong Jacob's.

43 And the man increased very, very much, and had much cattle, and bondwomen, and bondmen, and camels, and asses.


Genesis 30:1-43 World English Bible (WEB)

1 When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I will die."

2 Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in God's place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?"

3 She said, "Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, and I also may obtain children by her."

4 She gave him Bilhah her handmaid as wife, and Jacob went in to her.

5 Bilhah conceived, and bore Jacob a son.

6 Rachel said, "God has judged me, and has also heard my voice, and has given me a son." Therefore called she his name Dan.

7 Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, conceived again, and bore Jacob a second son.

8 Rachel said, "With mighty wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed." She named him Naphtali.

9 When Leah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her handmaid, and gave her to Jacob as a wife.

10 Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, bore Jacob a son.

11 Leah said, "How fortunate!" She named him Gad.

12 Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, bore Jacob a second son.

13 Leah said, "Happy am I, for the daughters will call me happy." She named him Asher.

14 Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother, Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."

15 She said to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes, also?" Rachel said, "Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son's mandrakes."

16 Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, "You must come in to me; for I have surely hired you with my son's mandrakes." He lay with her that night.

17 God listened to Leah, and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son.

18 Leah said, "God has given me my hire, because I gave my handmaid to my husband." She named him Issachar.

19 Leah conceived again, and bore a sixth son to Jacob.

20 Leah said, "God has endowed me with a good dowry. Now my husband will live with me, because I have borne him six sons." She named him Zebulun.

21 Afterwards, she bore a daughter, and named her Dinah.

22 God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her, and opened her womb.

23 She conceived, bore a son, and said, "God has taken away my reproach."

24 She named him Joseph,{Joseph means "may he add."} saying, "May Yahweh add another son to me."

25 It happened, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, "Send me away, that I may go to my own place, and to my country.

26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go: for you know my service with which I have served you."

27 Laban said to him, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, stay here, for I have divined that Yahweh has blessed me for your sake."

28 He said, "Appoint me your wages, and I will give it."

29 He said to him, "You know how I have served you, and how your cattle have fared with me.

30 For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude. Yahweh has blessed you wherever I turned. Now when will I provide for my own house also?"

31 He said, "What shall I give you?" Jacob said, "You shall not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed your flock and keep it.

32 I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats. This will be my hire.

33 So my righteousness will answer for me hereafter, when you come concerning my hire that is before you. Everyone that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the sheep, that might be with me, will be counted stolen."

34 Laban said, "Behold, I desire it to be according to your word."

35 That day, he removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.

36 He set three days' journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

37 Jacob took to himself rods of fresh poplar, almond, plane tree, peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.

38 He set the rods which he had peeled opposite the flocks in the gutters in the watering-troughs where the flocks came to drink. They conceived when they came to drink.

39 The flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted.

40 Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the streaked and all the black in the flock of Laban: and he put his own droves apart, and didn't put them into Laban's flock.

41 It happened, whenever the stronger of the flock conceived, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the flock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods;

42 but when the flock were feeble, he didn't put them in. So the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.

43 The man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, maid-servants and men-servants, and camels and donkeys.


Genesis 30:1-43 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Now Rachel, because she had no children, was full of envy of her sister; and she said to Jacob, If you do not give me children I will not go on living.

2 But Jacob was angry with Rachel, and said, Am I in the place of God, who has kept your body from having fruit?

3 Then she said, Here is my servant Bilhah, go in to her, so that she may have a child on my knees, and I may have a family by her.

4 So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her.

5 And Bilhah became with child, and gave birth to a son.

6 Then Rachel said, God has been my judge, and has given ear to my voice, and has given me a son; so he was named Dan.

7 And again Bilhah, Rachel's servant, was with child, and gave birth to a second son.

8 And Rachel said, I have had a great fight with my sister, and I have overcome her: and she gave the child the name Naphtali.

9 When it was clear to Leah that she would have no more children for a time, she gave Zilpah, her servant, to Jacob as a wife.

10 And Zilpah, Leah's servant, gave birth to a son.

11 And Leah said, It has gone well for me: and she gave him the name Gad.

12 And Zilpah, Leah's servant, gave birth to a second son.

13 And Leah said, Happy am I! and all women will give witness to my joy: and she gave him the name Asher.

14 Now at the time of the grain-cutting, Reuben saw some love-fruits in the field, and took them to his mother Leah. And Rachel said to her, Let me have some of your son's love-fruits.

15 But Leah said to her, Is it a small thing that you have taken my husband from me? and now would you take my son's love-fruits? Then Rachel said, You may have him tonight in exchange for your son's love-fruits.

16 In the evening, when Jacob came in from the field, Leah went out to him and said, Tonight you are to come to me, for I have given my son's love-fruits as a price for you. And he went in to her that night.

17 And God gave ear to her and she became with child, and gave Jacob a fifth son.

18 Then Leah said, God has made payment to me for giving my servant-girl to my husband: so she gave her son the name Issachar.

19 And again Leah became with child, and she gave Jacob a sixth son.

20 And she said, God has given me a good bride-price; now at last will I have my husband living with me, for I have given him six sons: and she gave him the name Zebulun.

21 After that she had a daughter, to whom she gave the name Dinah.

22 Then God gave thought to Rachel, and hearing her prayer he made her fertile.

23 And she was with child, and gave birth to a son: and she said, God has taken away my shame.

24 And she gave him the name Joseph, saying, May the Lord give me another son.

25 Now after the birth of Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, Let me go away to my place and my country.

26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have been your servant, and let me go: for you have knowledge of all the work I have done for you.

27 And Laban said, If you will let me say so, do not go away; for I have seen by the signs that the Lord has been good to me because of you.

28 Say then what your payment is to be and I will give it.

29 Then Jacob said, You have seen what I have done for you, and how your cattle have done well under my care.

30 For before I came you had little, and it has been greatly increased; and the Lord has given you a blessing in everything I have done; but when am I to do something for my family?

31 And Laban said, What am I to give you? And Jacob said, Do not give me anything; but I will again take up the care of your flock if you will only do this for me:

32 Let me go through all your flock today, taking out from among them all the sheep which are marked or coloured or black, and all the marked or coloured goats: these will be my payment.

33 And so you will be able to put my honour to the test in time to come; if you see among my flocks any goats which are not marked or coloured, or any sheep which is not black, you may take me for a thief.

34 And Laban said, Let it be as you say.

35 So that day he took all the he-goats which were banded or coloured, and all the she-goats which were marked or coloured or had white marks, and all the black sheep, and gave them into the care of his sons;

36 And sent them three days' journey away: and Jacob took care of the rest of Laban's flock.

37 Then Jacob took young branches of trees, cutting off the skin so that the white wood was seen in bands.

38 And he put the banded sticks in the drinking-places where the flock came to get water; and they became with young when they came to the water.

39 And because of this, the flock gave birth to young which were marked with bands of colour.

40 These lambs Jacob kept separate; and he put his flock in a place by themselves and not with Laban's flock.

41 And whenever the stronger ones of the flock became with young, Jacob put the sticks in front of them in the drinking-places, so that they might become with young when they saw the sticks.

42 But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put the sticks before them; so that the feebler flocks were Laban's and the stronger were Jacob's.

43 So Jacob's wealth was greatly increased; he had great flocks and women-servants and men-servants and camels and asses.

Commentary on Genesis 30 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 30

Ge 30:1-24. Domestic Jealousies.

1. Rachel envied her sister—The maternal relation confers a high degree of honor in the East, and the want of that status is felt as a stigma and deplored as a grievous calamity.

Give me children, or else I die—either be reckoned as good as dead, or pine away from vexation. The intense anxiety of Hebrew women for children arose from the hope of giving birth to the promised seed. Rachel's conduct was sinful and contrasts unfavorably with that of Rebekah (compare Ge 25:22) and of Hannah (1Sa 1:11).

3-9. Bilhah … Zilpah—Following the example of Sarah with regard to Hagar, an example which is not seldom imitated still, she adopted the children of her maid. Leah took the same course. A bitter and intense rivalry existed between them, all the more from their close relationship as sisters; and although they occupied separate apartments, with their families, as is the uniform custom where a plurality of wives obtains, and the husband and father spends a day with each in regular succession, that did not allay their mutual jealousies. The evil lies in the system, which being a violation of God's original ordinance, cannot yield happiness.

20. And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry—The birth of a son is hailed with demonstrations of joy, and the possession of several sons confers upon the mother an honor and respectability proportioned to their number. The husband attaches a similar importance to the possession, and it forms a bond of union which renders it impossible for him ever to forsake or to be cold to a wife who has borne him sons. This explains the happy anticipations Leah founded on the possession of her six sons.

21. afterwards, she bare a daughter—The inferior value set on a daughter is displayed in the bare announcement of the birth.

Ge 30:25-43. Jacob's Covenant with Laban.

25. when Rachel had born Joseph—Shortly after the birth of this son, Jacob's term of servitude expired, and feeling anxious to establish an independence for his family, he probably, from knowing that Esau was out of the way, announced his intention of returning to Canaan (Heb 13:14). In this resolution the faith of Jacob was remarkable, for as yet he had nothing to rely on but the promise of God (compare Ge 28:15).

27. Laban said … I have learned—His selfish uncle was averse to a separation, not from warmth of affection either for Jacob or his daughters, but from the damage his own interests would sustain. He had found, from long observation, that the blessing of heaven rested on Jacob, and that his stock had wonderfully increased under Jacob's management. This was a remarkable testimony that good men are blessings to the places where they reside. Men of the world are often blessed with temporal benefits on account of their pious relatives, though they have not always, like Laban, the wisdom to discern, or the grace to acknowledge it.

28. appoint me thy wages, and I will give it—The Eastern shepherds receive for their hire not money, but a certain amount of the increase or produce of the flock; but Laban would at the time have done anything to secure the continued services of his nephew, and make a show of liberality, which Jacob well knew was constrained.

31. Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing—A new agreement was made, the substance of which was, that he was to receive remuneration in the usual way, but on certain conditions which Jacob specified.

32. I will pass through all thy flock to-day—Eastern sheep being generally white, the goats black, and spotted or speckled ones comparatively few and rare, Jacob proposed to remove all existing ones of that description from the flock, and to be content with what might appear at the next lambing time. The proposal seemed so much in favor of Laban, that he at once agreed to it. But Jacob has been accused of taking advantage of his uncle, and though it is difficult to exculpate him from practising some degree of dissimulation, he was only availing himself of the results of his great skill and experience in the breeding of cattle. But it is evident from the next chapter (Ge 31:5-13) that there was something miraculous and that the means he had employed had been suggested by a divine intimation.

37. Jacob took rods, &c.—There are many varieties of the hazel, some of which are more erect than the common hazel, and it was probably one of these varieties Jacob employed. The styles are of a bright red color, when peeled; and along with them he took wands of other shrubs, which, when stripped of the bark, had white streaks. These, kept constantly before the eyes of the female at the time of gestation, his observation had taught him would have an influence, through the imagination, on the future offspring.

38. watering troughs—usually a long stone block hollowed out, from which several sheep could drink at once, but sometimes so small as to admit of only one drinking at a time.