Genesis 30:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Leah said, God hath endued me [with] a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Le'ah said, "God has given me a wonderful gift. Now at last my husband will live with me, since I have borne him six sons."And she called him Z'vulun [living together].

Berean Standard Bible:

“God has given me a good gift,” she said. “This time my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” And she named him Zebulun.

American Standard Version:

And Leah said, God hath endowed me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Leah^{H3812} said^{H559}, God^{H430} hath endued^{H2064} me with a good^{H2896} dowry^{H2065}; now^{H6471} will my husband^{H376} dwell^{H2082} with me, because I have born^{H3205} him six^{H8337} sons^{H1121}: and she called^{H7121} his name^{H8034} Zebulun^{H2074}.

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Commentary for Genesis 30:20

Genesis 30:20 is a verse from the Old Testament that captures a moment in the life of Leah, one of the wives of Jacob. The historical context of this verse is set within the complex family dynamics of the patriarchal narratives in the Book of Genesis.

**Themes:**

1. **Fertility and Favor:** The verse reflects the theme of fertility, which was highly valued in ancient Near Eastern culture. Leah sees her ability to bear children, particularly sons, as a divine blessing and a means to secure her position within the family.

2. **Competition and Insecurity:** Leah's statement reveals the competition between her and her sister Rachel, Jacob's other wife. This rivalry is a recurring theme in the narrative, with both women vying for Jacob's affection and attention through childbearing.

3. **Naming and Identity:** The act of naming the child Zebulun (meaning "dwelling" or "exaltation") is significant. Names in the Bible often have deep meanings and are tied to the parents' hopes or to significant events.

4. **Divine Providence:** Leah attributes her fertility to God, acknowledging divine involvement in her life. This reflects a broader biblical theme of God's hand in human affairs, particularly in the lives of the patriarchs and matriarchs.

**Historical Context:**

The verse is part of the story of Jacob, who worked for Laban, his uncle, and married his daughters, Leah and Rachel. Jacob's preference for Rachel over Leah set the stage for the sisters' ongoing competition to bear children for Jacob. In the culture of the time, a woman's social status and security were closely tied to her ability to produce heirs, especially male heirs.

Leah's declaration upon the birth of Zebulun, her sixth son, suggests that she believes her fertility has finally earned her the love and attention of her husband. This reflects the ancient cultural expectation that a wife's primary role was to bear children and ensure the continuation of the family line.

The verse also hints at the future tribal system of Israel, as Leah's sons, including Zebulun, would become the ancestors of some of the twelve tribes of Israel. Thus, the birth of Zebulun has implications not only for Leah's personal situation but also for the broader history of the Israelite people.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3812
   There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֵאָה
   Transliteration: Lêʼâh
   Pronunciation: lay-aw'
   Description: from לָאָה; weary; Leah, a wife of Jacob; Leah.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H430
   There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
   Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
   Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
   Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
   
4. Strong's Number: H2064
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָבַד
   Transliteration: zâbad
   Pronunciation: zaw-bad'
   Description: a primitive root; to confer; endure.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2896
   There are 517 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טוֹב
   Transliteration: ṭôwb
   Pronunciation: tobe
   Description: from טוֹב; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well); beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant, [phrase] pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured).
   
6. Strong's Number: H2065
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זֶבֶד
   Transliteration: zebed
   Pronunciation: zeh'-bed
   Description: from זָבַד; a gift; dowry.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6471
   There are 108 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פַּעַם
   Transliteration: paʻam
   Pronunciation: pah'-am
   Description: or (feminine) פַּעֲמָה; from פָּעַם; a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow); anvil, corner, foot(-step), going, (hundred-) fold, [idiom] now, (this) [phrase] once, order, rank, step, [phrase] thrice, (often-), second, this, two) time(-s), twice, wheel.
   
8. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
9. Strong's Number: H2082
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָבַל
   Transliteration: zâbal
   Pronunciation: zaw-bal'
   Description: a primitive root; apparently properly, to inclose, i.e.; to reside; dwell with.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3205
    There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָלַד
    Transliteration: yâlad
    Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
    Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
    
11. Strong's Number: H8337
    There are 203 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֵׁשׁ
    Transliteration: shêsh
    Pronunciation: shaysh
    Description: masculine שִׁשָּׁה; a primitive number; compare שׂוּשׂ; six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth; six(-teen, -teenth), sixth.
    
12. Strong's Number: H1121
    There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֵּן
    Transliteration: bên
    Pronunciation: bane
    Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
    
13. Strong's Number: H7121
    There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָרָא
    Transliteration: qârâʼ
    Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
    Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
    
14. Strong's Number: H8034
    There are 771 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֵׁם
    Transliteration: shêm
    Pronunciation: shame
    Description: a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.
    
15. Strong's Number: H2074
    There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: זְבוּלוּן
    Transliteration: Zᵉbûwlûwn
    Pronunciation: zeb-oo-loon'
    Description: or זְבֻלוּן; or זְבוּלֻן; from זָבַל; habitation; Zebulon, a son of Jacob; also his territory and tribe; Zebulun.