English Standard Version
Genesis 30:38
38He set the sticks that he had peeled in front of the flocks in the troughs, that is, the watering places, where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred when they came to drink,
Genesis 30:38 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink,
- New King James Version (NKJV)And the rods which he had peeled, he set before the flocks in the gutters, in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, so that they should conceive when they came to drink.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated.
Context of Genesis 30:38
36And he set a distance of three days' journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban's flock. 37Then Jacob took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the sticks. He set the sticks that he had peeled in front of the flocks in the troughs, that is, the watering places, where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred when they came to drink, 39the flocks bred in front of the sticks and so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. 40And Jacob separated the lambs and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban. He put his own droves apart and did not put them with Laban's flock.
Read all of Genesis 30Genesis 30:38 word by word
וַיַּצֵּ֗ג אֶת־הַמַּקְלוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר פִּצֵּ֔ל בָּרֳהָטִ֖ים בְּשִֽׁקֲת֣וֹת הַמָּ֑יִם אֲשֶׁר֩ תָּבֹ֨אןָ הַצֹּ֤אן לִשְׁתּוֹת֙ לְנֹ֣כַח הַצֹּ֔אן וַיֵּחַ֖מְנָה בְּבֹאָ֥ן לִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he setיָצַגyâtsag · to setH3322
- the rodsמַקֵּלmaqqêl maqqelâh · rodH4731
- which he had pilledפָּצַלpâtsal · to peelH6478
- beforeנֹ֫כַחnôkach · beforeH5227
- the flocksצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
- in the guttersרַ֫הַטrahaţ · troughH7298
- in the wateringמַיmayim · waterH4325
- troughsשֹׁ֫קֶתshôqeth · troughH8268
- cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- to drinkשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
- that they should conceiveיָחַםyâcham · to conceiveH3179
Commentaries on Genesis 30:38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks - It has long been an opinion that whatever makes a strong impression on the mind of a female in the time of conception and gestation, will have a corresponding influence on the mind or body of the fetus. This opinion is not yet rationally accounted for. It is not necessary to look for a miracle here; for though the fact has not been accounted for, it is nevertheless sufficiently plain that the…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
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-43Verses 25-43 The fourteen years being gone, Jacob was willing to depart without any provision, except God's promise. But he had in many ways a just claim on Laban's substance, and it was the will of God that he should be provided for from it. He referred his cause to God, rather than agree for stated wages with Laban, whose selfishness was very great. And it would appear that he acted honestly, when none but those of the colours fixed upon should be found…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37-43God blessed Jacob even though Laban was deceitful. Jacob cleverly used selective breeding to grow his flock. He followed the traditional belief that peeled sticks could affect the type of animals born. The peeled branches seemed to help his animals produce streaked and spotted offspring. Jacob later admitted that God had helped him succeed (31:7–12). Jacob ended up with stronger animals, while Laban got the weaker ones (30:41–42).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3838. 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.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 30:38
In the dictionaries
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
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