Bible Commentaries
Genesis 30

Introduction

Overview

Genesis 30:1, Rachel, in grief for her barrenness, gives Bilhah her maid unto Jacob; Genesis 30:5, Bilhah bears Dan and Naphtali; Genesis 30:9, Leah gives Zilpah her maid, who bears Gad and Asher; Genesis 30:14, Reuben finds mandrakes, with which Leah buys her husband’s company of Rachel; Genesis 30:17, Leah bears Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah; Genesis 30:22, Rachel bears Joseph; Genesis 30:25, Jacob desires to depart; Genesis 30:27, Laban detains him on a new agreement; Genesis 30:37, Jacob’s policy, whereby he becomes rich.

Verse 1

when Rachel: Genesis 29:31

Rachel envied: Envy and jealousy are most tormenting passions to the breast which harbours them, vexatious to all around, and introductory to much impatience and ungodliness. "Who is able to stand before envy?" Genesis 37:11, 1 Samuel 1:4-8, Psalms 106:16, Proverbs 14:30, Ecclesiastes 4:4, 1 Corinthians 3:3, Galatians 5:21, Titus 3:3, James 3:14, James 4:5

or else I die: Genesis 35:16-19, Genesis 37:11, Numbers 11:15, Numbers 11:29, 1 Kings 19:4, Job 3:1-3, Job 3:11, Job 3:20-22, Job 5:2, Job 13:19, Jeremiah 20:14-18, John 4:3, John 4:8, 2 Corinthians 7:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 11:30 - barren Genesis 15:2 - childless Genesis 29:17 - Rachel Genesis 32:22 - his two wives Genesis 35:18 - her soul Exodus 1:1 - General Exodus 17:2 - Give us Ruth 4:11 - Rachel 2 Kings 4:14 - she hath no child 2 Kings 4:28 - Did I desire Psalms 106:33 - he spake Psalms 127:3 - children Luke 1:7 - they had Acts 7:8 - and Jacob 1 Corinthians 13:4 - envieth

Verse 2

anger: Genesis 31:36, Exodus 32:19, Matthew 5:22, Mark 3:5, Ephesians 4:26

Am I: Genesis 16:2, Genesis 25:21, Genesis 50:19, 1 Samuel 1:5, 1 Samuel 2:5, 1 Samuel 2:6, 2 Kings 5:7

withheld: Deuteronomy 7:13, Deuteronomy 7:14, Psalms 113:9, Psalms 127:3, Luke 1:42

Reciprocal: Genesis 11:30 - barren Genesis 15:2 - childless Genesis 20:18 - General Genesis 29:17 - Rachel Genesis 29:31 - he opened Genesis 30:22 - opened Genesis 33:5 - children Genesis 48:9 - my sons Exodus 17:2 - Give us Ruth 4:13 - the Lord Job 1:21 - the Lord gave Job 33:6 - in James 3:14 - if

Verse 3

Behold: Genesis 30:9, Genesis 16:2, Genesis 16:3

she shall: Genesis 50:23, Job 3:12

have children by her: Heb. be built up by her, Genesis 16:2, *marg. Ruth 4:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:29 - Bilhah Genesis 46:25 - Bilhah 1 Chronicles 7:13 - the sons of Bilhah Ezekiel 48:1 - Dan

Verse 4

to wife: Genesis 16:3, Genesis 21:10, Genesis 22:24, Genesis 25:1, Genesis 25:6, Genesis 33:2, Genesis 35:22, 2 Samuel 12:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:9 - gave her Genesis 35:25 - General Genesis 37:2 - wives

Verse 5

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:29 - General Genesis 35:22 - Now the sons Numbers 1:5 - Elizur Numbers 1:38 - General 1 Chronicles 2:1 - Reuben Matthew 1:2 - Jacob begat

Verse 6

am 2256, bc 1748

God: Genesis 29:32-35, Psalms 35:24, Psalms 43:1, Lamentations 3:59

Dan: that is, Judging, Genesis 35:25, Genesis 46:23, Genesis 49:16, Genesis 49:17, Deuteronomy 33:22, Jeremiah 13:2, Jeremiah 13:24, Jeremiah 15:14-20

Reciprocal: Genesis 16:2 - obtain children Genesis 29:33 - Because Genesis 30:17 - General Genesis 41:52 - called he Genesis 42:13 - Thy servants Numbers 1:38 - General Deuteronomy 27:13 - Reuben Judges 18:29 - who was 1 Samuel 1:20 - when the time was come about 1 Chronicles 2:2 - Dan Isaiah 7:14 - shall call

Verse 7

am 2257, bc 1747, Genesis 30:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 46:24 - Naphtali Numbers 1:42 - Naphtali Ezekiel 48:3 - Naphtali

Verse 8

great wrestlings: Heb. wrestlings of God, Genesis 23:6, Genesis 32:24, Exodus 9:28, 1 Samuel 14:15, *marg.

and she: Genesis 35:25, Genesis 46:24, Genesis 49:21, Deuteronomy 33:23

Naphtali: that is, My wrestling, Genesis 32:24, Genesis 32:25, Matthew 4:13, Nephthalim

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:33 - Because Numbers 1:42 - Naphtali 1 Chronicles 2:2 - Naphtali Isaiah 7:14 - shall call Ezekiel 48:3 - Naphtali Jonah 3:3 - So Colossians 2:1 - what

Verse 9

am 2256, bc 1748

left: Genesis 30:17, Genesis 29:35

gave her: Genesis 30:4, Genesis 16:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 16:2 - the Lord Genesis 25:6 - concubines Genesis 29:24 - Zilpah Genesis 30:3 - Behold Genesis 35:26 - And the sons Genesis 37:2 - wives Genesis 46:18 - Zilpah

Verse 10

Reciprocal: Numbers 1:24 - General Numbers 32:1 - the children Ezekiel 48:27 - Gad

Verse 11

she: Genesis 35:26, Genesis 46:16, Genesis 49:19, Deuteronomy 33:20, Deuteronomy 33:21

Gad: that is, A troop, or company, Isaiah 65:11

Reciprocal: Numbers 1:24 - General Numbers 32:1 - the children 1 Chronicles 2:2 - Gad 1 Chronicles 5:11 - Gad Ezekiel 48:27 - Gad

Verse 12

Reciprocal: Numbers 1:40 - General Ezekiel 48:2 - Asher

Verse 13

am 2257, bc 1747

Happy am I: Heb. In my happiness, will call. Proverbs 31:28, Song of Solomon 6:9, Luke 1:48

and she: Genesis 35:26, Genesis 46:17, Genesis 49:20, Deuteronomy 33:24, Deuteronomy 33:25

Asher: that is, Happy

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:1 - the daughter Numbers 1:40 - General 2 Samuel 2:9 - Ashurites 1 Chronicles 2:2 - Asher Ezekiel 48:2 - Asher Luke 2:36 - Aser

Verse 14

am 2256, bc 1748

mandrakes: The mandrake may be the Hebrew dudaim. It is so rendered by all the ancient versions, and is a species of melon, of an agreeable odour. Hasselquist, speaking of Nazareth in Galilee, says, "What I found most remarkable at this village was the great number of mandrakes which grew in a vale below it. I had not the pleasure of seeing this plant in blossom, the fruit now (May 5th, O. S.) hanging ripe on the stem, which lay withered on the ground. From the season in which this mandrake blossoms and ripens fruit, one might form a conjecture that it was Rachel's dudaim. These were brought her in the wheat harvest, which in Galilee is in the month of May, about this time, and the mandrake was now in fruit." The Abbee Mariti describes it as growing "low like a lettuce, to which its leaves have a great resemblance, except that they have a dark green colour. The flowers are purple, and the root is for the most part forked. The fruit, when ripe in the beginning of May, is of the size and colour of a small apple, exceedingly ruddy, and of a most agreeable odour. Our guide thought us fools for suspecting it to be unwholesome." Song of Solomon 7:13

Give me: Genesis 25:30

Reciprocal: Genesis 46:13 - Issachar Ezekiel 48:25 - Issachar

Verse 15

Numbers 16:9, Numbers 16:10, Numbers 16:13, Isaiah 7:13, Ezekiel 16:47, 1 Corinthians 4:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:20 - now will Leviticus 18:18 - to vex her 1 Kings 16:31 - as if it had been a light thing Ezekiel 34:18 - a small

Verse 17

am 2257, bc 1747, Genesis 30:6, Genesis 30:22, Exodus 3:7, 1 Samuel 1:20, 1 Samuel 1:26, 1 Samuel 1:27, Luke 1:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:35 - left bearing Genesis 30:9 - left Genesis 46:15 - Leah Numbers 26:23 - the sons

Verse 18

and she: Genesis 35:23, Genesis 46:13, Genesis 49:14, Genesis 49:15, Deuteronomy 33:18, 1 Chronicles 12:32

Issachar: that is, An hire

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:33 - Because Numbers 1:28 - General Numbers 26:23 - the sons Deuteronomy 27:12 - Simeon Revelation 7:7 - Issachar

Verse 19

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:16 - was Leah Genesis 46:14 - Zebulun Numbers 26:26 - General Ezekiel 48:26 - Zebulun

Verse 20

am cir, 2258, bc cir, 1746

now will: Genesis 30:15, Genesis 29:34

and she: Genesis 35:23, Genesis 46:14, Genesis 49:13, Judges 4:10, Judges 5:14, Psalms 68:27

Zebulun: that is, Dwelling, Matthew 4:13, Zabulon

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:33 - Because Numbers 1:30 - General Numbers 26:26 - General Deuteronomy 27:13 - Reuben Ezekiel 48:26 - Zebulun

Verse 21

am cir, 2259, bc 1745

and called: Genesis 34:1-3, Genesis 34:26, Genesis 46:15

Dinah: that is, Judgment

Verse 22

remembered: Genesis 8:1, Genesis 21:1, Genesis 29:31, 1 Samuel 1:19, 1 Samuel 1:20, Psalms 105:42

opened: Genesis 30:2, Genesis 21:1, Genesis 21:2, Genesis 25:21, Genesis 29:31, Psalms 113:9, Psalms 127:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 16:2 - the Lord Genesis 19:29 - that God Genesis 29:17 - Rachel Genesis 30:17 - General Genesis 33:2 - Rachel Genesis 35:24 - General Genesis 42:38 - his brother Genesis 43:29 - mother's son Genesis 44:27 - General Genesis 49:22 - a fruitful Ruth 4:13 - the Lord 1 Samuel 1:11 - remember Ezekiel 48:4 - Manasseh Luke 1:25 - hath

Verse 23

Be fruitful and multiply, was the blessing of God: barrenness therefore was reckoned a reproach The intense desire of having children, observable among the Jewish women, arose not only from this reproach of barrenness, but from the hope of being the mother of the promised seed, and Him in whom all the nations of the earth were to be blessed. Genesis 29:31, 1 Samuel 1:5, 1 Samuel 1:6, Isaiah 4:1, Luke 1:21, Luke 1:25, Luke 1:27

Reciprocal: Ruth 4:13 - the Lord Psalms 113:9 - maketh Zephaniah 3:15 - hath taken John 16:21 - for

Verse 24

And she: Genesis 35:24, Genesis 37:2, Genesis 37:4, Genesis 39:1-23, Genesis 42:6, Genesis 48:1-22, Genesis 49:22-26, Deuteronomy 33:13-17, Ezekiel 37:16, Acts 7:9-15, Hebrews 11:21, Hebrews 11:22, Revelation 7:8

Joseph: that is, Adding, Genesis 35:17, Genesis 35:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 46:19 - Rachel Numbers 1:32 - General Deuteronomy 27:12 - Simeon 1 Chronicles 2:2 - Joseph John 16:21 - for

Verse 25

Send me away: Genesis 24:54, Genesis 24:56

mine: Genesis 18:33, Genesis 31:55

and to: Genesis 24:6, Genesis 24:7, Genesis 26:3, Genesis 27:44, Genesis 27:45, Genesis 28:13, Genesis 28:15, Genesis 31:13, Acts 7:4, Acts 7:5, Hebrews 11:9, Hebrews 11:15, Hebrews 11:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 29:30 - served Genesis 31:3 - land Exodus 18:23 - and all this

Verse 26

my wives: Genesis 29:19, Genesis 29:20, Genesis 29:30, Genesis 31:26, Genesis 31:31, Genesis 31:41, Hosea 12:12

for thou: Genesis 30:29, Genesis 30:30, Genesis 31:6, Genesis 31:38-40

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:15 - sold us

Verse 27

favour: Genesis 18:3, Genesis 33:15, Genesis 34:11, Genesis 39:3-5, Genesis 39:21, Genesis 47:25, Exodus 3:21, Numbers 11:11, Numbers 11:15, Ruth 2:13, 1 Samuel 16:22, 1 Kings 11:19, Nehemiah 1:11, Nehemiah 2:5, Daniel 1:9, Acts 7:10

the Lord: Genesis 30:30, Genesis 12:3, Genesis 26:24, Genesis 39:2-5, Genesis 39:21-23, Psalms 1:3, Isaiah 6:13, Isaiah 61:9, Isaiah 65:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:22 - General Genesis 21:22 - God Genesis 31:2 - it was Genesis 31:38 - ewes Genesis 39:5 - for Joseph's Genesis 44:5 - divineth Deuteronomy 2:7 - blessed 1 Samuel 18:28 - General 2 Samuel 6:11 - the Lord blessed 1 Chronicles 13:14 - the Lord 2 Chronicles 31:10 - the Lord Acts 27:24 - lo 1 Corinthians 16:2 - as God

Verse 28

Genesis 29:15, Genesis 29:19

Verse 29

Genesis 30:5, Genesis 31:6, Genesis 31:38-40, Matthew 24:45, Ephesians 6:5-8, Colossians 3:22-25, Titus 2:9, Titus 2:10, 1 Peter 2:15, 1 Peter 2:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 4:2 - And Abel Genesis 30:26 - for thou Psalms 144:13 - our sheep

Verse 30

increased: Heb. broken forth, Genesis 30:43

and the: Genesis 30:27

since my coming: Heb. at my foot, Deuteronomy 11:10

when: 2 Corinthians 12:14, 1 Timothy 5:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:22 - General Genesis 12:3 - in thee Genesis 26:12 - blessed Genesis 30:26 - for thou Genesis 31:38 - ewes Genesis 39:3 - saw that Judges 15:19 - Enhakkore Job 1:10 - thou hast blessed Ecclesiastes 3:6 - time to get 1 Corinthians 16:2 - as God

Verse 31

2 Samuel 21:4-6, Psalms 118:8, Hebrews 13:5ö

Verse 32

of such: Genesis 30:35, Genesis 31:8, Genesis 31:10

Verse 33

righteousness: Genesis 31:37, 1 Samuel 26:23, 2 Samuel 22:21, Psalms 37:6

answer: Isaiah 59:12

in time to come: Heb. to-morrow, Exodus 13:14

that shall be: Supply the ellipsis by inserting "if found," after "stolen," and the sense will be clear.

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:32 - before Genesis 31:41 - fourteen Joshua 22:24 - In time to come Proverbs 11:6 - righteousness

Verse 34

Numbers 22:29, 1 Corinthians 7:7, 1 Corinthians 14:5, Galatians 5:12

Verse 35

he removed: From this it appears, that, as Jacob had agreed to take all the parti-coloured for his wages, and was now only beginning to act upon this agreement, and consequently had as yet no right to any of the cattle, therefore Laban separated from the flock all such cattle as Jacob might afterwards claim in consequence of his bargain, leaving only the black and white with Jacob.

the hand: Genesis 31:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:32 - of such Genesis 31:16 - which God Genesis 34:5 - now his Genesis 46:34 - Thy servants'

Verse 36

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:22 - General

Verse 37

Jacob: Genesis 31:9-13

green poplar: Livneh is the white poplar, so called from the whiteness of its leaves, bark, and wood, from lavan to be white., hasel, Jerome, Hiller, Celsius, Dr. Shaw, Bochart, and other learned men, say, that luz is not the "hazel" but the almond-tree, as the word denotes both in Arabic and Syriac.

chestnut tree: The Heb. word ârmon, signifies "the plane-tree," so called from the bark naturally peeling off, and leaving the trunk naked, as its root âram, signifies. Ezekiel 31:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:12 - Lift up Exodus 4:2 - a rod

Verse 39

brought forth: Genesis 31:9-12, Genesis 31:38, Genesis 31:40, Genesis 31:42, Exodus 12:35, Exodus 12:36

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:10 - ringstreaked

Verse 41

whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive: As the means which Jacob used would not in general produce similar effects, nay, probably the experiment was never in any other instance tried with effect, it is more in harmony with Divine truth to suppose that he was directed by some Divine intimation; and rendered successful, if not by a direct miracle, yet at least by the Lord's giving a new and uncommon bias to the tendency of natural causes. Genesis 30:41

Verse 43

Genesis 30:30, Genesis 13:2, Genesis 24:35, Genesis 26:13, Genesis 26:14, Genesis 28:15, Genesis 31:7, Genesis 31:8, Genesis 31:42, Genesis 32:10, Genesis 33:11, Genesis 36:7, Ecclesiastes 2:7, Ezekiel 39:10, The Lord will, in one way or other, honour those who simply trust his providence.

Reciprocal: Genesis 32:5 - have oxen Genesis 32:14 - General Genesis 46:8 - the names Job 1:10 - substance Psalms 107:38 - suffereth