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

1Rachel saw that she could not have children for Jacob, and she became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” Jacob became angry with Rachel and asked, “Can I take the place of God, who has kept you from having children?” 3She said, “Here’s my servant Bilhah. Sleep with her. She can have children for me, and I can build a family for myself through her.” 4So she gave him her slave Bilhah as his wife, and Jacob 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 angry and confronted Laban. “What is my crime?” Jacob demanded of Laban. “What is my offense that you have come chasing after me?
• Exodus 32:19When he came near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. In a burst of anger Moses threw down the tablets and smashed them at the foot of the mountain.
• Matthew 5:22But I can guarantee that whoever is angry with another believer will answer for it in court. Whoever calls another believer an insulting name will answer for it in the highest court. Whoever calls another believer a fool will answer for it in hellfire.
• Mark 3:5Jesus was angry as he looked around at them. He was deeply hurt because their minds were closed. Then he told the man, “Hold out your hand.” The man held it out, and his hand became normal again.
• Ephesians 4:26Be angry without sinning. Don’t go to bed angry.
• Genesis 16:2So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Why don’t you sleep with my slave? Maybe I can build a family through her.” Abram agreed with Sarai.
• Genesis 25:21Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
• Genesis 50:19Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I can’t take God’s place.
• 1 Samuel 1:5He would also give one portion to Hannah because he loved her, even though the Lord had kept her from having children.
• 1 Samuel 2:5Those who were well-fed hire themselves out for a piece of bread, but those who were hungry hunger no more. Even the woman who was childless gives birth to seven children, but the mother of many children grieves all alone.
• 2 Kings 5:7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes ⌞in distress⌟. He asked, “Am I God? Can I kill someone and then bring him back to life? This man sends someone to me so that I can cure his skin disease! All of you should realize and understand that he’s trying to pick a fight with me.”
• Deuteronomy 7:13He will love you, bless you, and increase the number of your descendants. He will bless you with children. He will bless your land with produce: grain, new wine, and olive oil. He will bless your herds with calves, and your flocks with lambs and kids. This will all happen in the land the Lord will give you, as he swore to your ancestors.
• Psalms 113:9He makes a woman who is in a childless home a joyful mother. Hallelujah!
• Psalms 127:3Children are an inheritance from the Lord. They are a reward from him.
• Luke 1:42She said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child that you will have.

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