God’s Word Translation
Genesis 30:37
37Then Jacob took fresh-cut branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled the bark on them in strips of white, uncovering the white which was on the branches.
Genesis 30:37 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.
- New International Version (NIV)Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then Jacob took fresh sticks of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the sticks.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now Jacob took for himself rods of green poplar and of the almond and chestnut trees, peeled white strips in them, and exposed the white which was in the rods.
Context of Genesis 30:37
35However, that same day Laban took out the striped and spotted male goats, all the speckled and spotted female goats (every one with white on it), and every black lamb. He had his sons take charge of them. 36He traveled three days away from Jacob. Jacob continued to take care of the rest of Laban’s flocks. Then Jacob took fresh-cut branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled the bark on them in strips of white, uncovering the white which was on the branches. 38He placed the peeled branches in the troughs directly in front of the flocks, at the watering places where the flocks came to drink. When they were in heat and came to drink, 39they mated in front of the branches. Then they gave birth to young that were striped, speckled, or spotted.
Read all of Genesis 30Genesis 30:37 word by word
וַיִּֽקַּֽח־ל֣וֹ יַעֲקֹ֗ב מַקַּ֥ל לִבְנֶ֛ה לַ֖ח וְל֣וּז וְעֶרְמ֑וֹן וַיְפַצֵּ֤ל בָּהֵן֙ פְּצָל֣וֹת לְבָנ֔וֹת מַחְשֹׂף֙ הַלָּבָ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַמַּקְלֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- him rodsמַקֵּלmaqqêl maqqelâh · rodH4731
- of greenלַחlach · freshH3892
- poplarלִבְנֶהlibneh · poplarH3839
- and of the hazelלוּזlûz · almondH3869
- and chesnut treeעַרְמוֹן‛armôn · plane treeH6196
- and pilledפָּצַלpâtsal · to peelH6478
- whiteלָבָןlâbân lâbên · whiteH3836
- strakesפִּצְלָהpetsâlâh · stripeH6479
- appearמַחְשֹׂףmachώôph · exposingH4286
Cross-references for Genesis 30:37
- Genesis 31:9So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.
- Ezekiel 31:8The cedar trees in God’s garden couldn’t compare to it. The pine trees couldn’t equal its branches. The plane trees couldn’t measure up to its branches. All the trees in God’s garden couldn’t match its beauty.
Commentaries on Genesis 30:37
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 37Rods of green poplar - לח לבנה libneh lach . The libneh is generally understood to mean the white poplar; and the word lach, which is here joined to it, does not so much imply greenness of color as being fresh, in opposition to witheredness. Had they not been fresh - just cut off, he could not have pilled the bark from them. And of the hazel - לוז luz, the nut or filbert tree, translated by others the almond tree; which of the two is here intended is not…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. 37exposing the white inner wood: This clever wordplay explains the entire section. When Jacob exposed the white (Hebrew laban) streaks of wood underneath, he played the "white" game (the Laban game) and won. By outsmarting Laban ("Whitey"), Jacob's flocks increased and he became successful.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3737. 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…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 30:37
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries