Genesis 30:39

Genesis 30:39 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.
• New International Version (NIV)they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.
• English Standard Version (ESV)the flocks bred in front of the sticks and so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted.

Context of Genesis 30:39

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. 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, they mated in front of the branches. Then they gave birth to young that were striped, speckled, or spotted. 40Jacob separated the rams from the flock and made the rest of the sheep face any that were striped or black in Laban’s flocks. So he made separate herds for himself and did not add them to Laban’s flocks. 41Whenever the stronger of the flocks were in heat, Jacob would lay the branches in the troughs in front of them so that they would mate by the branches.

Genesis 30:39 word by word

וַיֶּחֱמ֥וּ הַצֹּ֖אן אֶל־הַמַּקְל֑וֹת וַתֵּלַ֣דְןָ הַצֹּ֔אן עֲקֻדִּ֥ים נְקֻדִּ֖ים וּטְלֻאִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the flocksצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
• conceivedיָחַםyâcham · to conceiveH3179
• before the rodsמַקֵּלmaqqêl maqqelâh · rodH4731
• and brought forthיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
• ringstrakedעָקֹד‛âqôd · stripedH6124
• speckledנָקֹדnâqôd · speckledH5348
• and spottedטָלָאţâlâ' · to spotH2921

Cross-references for Genesis 30:39

• Genesis 31:9So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.
• Exodus 12:35The Israelites did what Moses had told them and asked the Egyptians for gold and silver jewelry and for clothes.

Commentaries on Genesis 30:39

• 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. 25-4325. when Rachel had born Joseph--Shortly after the birth of this son, Jacob's term of servitude expired, and feeling anxious to establish an independence for his family, he probably, from knowing that Esau was out of the way, announced his intention of returning to Canaan (He 13:14). In this resolution the faith of Jacob was remarkable, for as yet he had nothing to rely on but the promise of God (compare Ge 28:15).Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 30:39

• Animals
• Contracts
• Covetousness
• Craftiness
• Dishonesty
• Jacob
• Laban
• Sheep
• Son-In-Law
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Add
• Agate
• Coming
• Concubine
• Happy
• Reproach
• Archaeology; Archaeology and Criticism
• Child; Children
• Genealogy
• Genesis

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