Genesis 30:2

Genesis 30:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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?
• New International Version (NIV)Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Jacob’s anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”

Context of Genesis 30:2

1When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she envied her sister. “Give me sons, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God? He has withheld offspring from you!” 3Then she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah. Go sleep with her, and she’ll bear children for me so that through her I too can build a family.” 4So Rachel gave her slave Bilhah to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her.

Genesis 30:2 word by word

וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֥ף יַעֲקֹ֖ב בְּרָחֵ֑ל וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֲתַ֤חַת אֱלֹהִים֙ אָנֹ֔כִי אֲשֶׁר־מָנַ֥ע מִמֵּ֖ךְ פְּרִי־בָֽטֶן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Jacob’sיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
• angerאַף'aph · face: angerH639
• was kindledחָרָהchârâh · to be incensedH2734
• against Rachelרָחֵלrâchêl · RachelH7354
• and he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• I in God’sאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• stead, who hath withheldמָנַעmâna‛ · to withholdH4513
• from thee the fruitפְּרִיperîy · fruitH6529
• of the wombבֶּ֫טֶןbeţen · belly: wombH990

Cross-references for Genesis 30:2

• Genesis 31:36Then Jacob became incensed and brought charges against Laban. “What is my crime?” he said to Laban. “What is my sin, that you have pursued me?
• Exodus 32:19As he approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses became enraged and threw the tablets out of his hands, smashing them at the base of the mountain.
• Matthew 5:22But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire.
• Mark 3:5After looking around at them with anger, he was grieved at the hardness of their hearts and told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
• Ephesians 4:26Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,
• Genesis 16:2Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said.
• Genesis 25:21Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The Lord was receptive to his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.
• Genesis 50:19But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
• 1 Samuel 1:5But he gave a double portion to Hannah, for he loved her even though the Lord had kept her from conceiving.
• 1 Samuel 2:5Those who are full hire themselves out for food, but those who are starving hunger no more. The woman who is childless gives birth to seven, but the woman with many sons pines away.
• 2 Kings 5:7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Recognize that he is only picking a fight with me.”
• Deuteronomy 7:13He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will bless your offspring, and the produce of your land — your grain, new wine, and fresh oil — the young of your herds, and the newborn of your flocks, in the land he swore to your ancestors that he would give you.
• Psalms 113:9He gives the childless woman a household, making her the joyful mother of children. Hallelujah!
• Psalms 127:3Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, offspring, a reward.
• Luke 1:42Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed!

Commentaries on Genesis 30:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Amos I in God's stead - Amos I greater than God, to give thee what he has refused?Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-43Verses 1-43 - Jacob‘s Family and Wealth 6. דן dān Dan, “judge, lord.” 8. נפתלי naptālı̂y Naphtali, “wrestling.” 11. גד gād Gad, “overcoming, victory.” בגד bāgād “in victory or” =גד בא bā' gād “victory cometh.” גוּד gûd “press down.” גדוּד gedûd “troop.” 13. אשׁר 'ǎashēr Asher, “prosperity, happiness.” 18. ישׂשכר yı̂śāskār Jissakar, “reward.” The second Hebrew letter (ש s ) seems to have been merely a full mode of writing the word, instead of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2In that culture, for a woman not to have children could feel like a kind of death (compare 1 Samuel 1). Only God could enable Rachel to have children.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-241. 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…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 30:2

• Bilhah
• Childlessness
• Children
• Emulation
• Family
• Jacob
• Polygamy
• Rachel

In the dictionaries

• Rachel
• Add
• Agate
• Barren
• Coming
• Concubine
• Fruit
• Happy
• Reproach
• Archaeology; Archaeology and Criticism

Commentaries on Genesis 30

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings