King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ 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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Ya'akov took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white streaks on them by peeling off the bark.
Berean Standard Bible:
Jacob, however, took fresh branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees, and peeled the bark, exposing the white inner wood of the branches.
American Standard Version:
And Jacob took him rods of fresh poplar, and of the almond and of the plane-tree; and peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Jacob{H3290} took{H3947} him rods{H4731} of green{H3892} poplar{H3839}, and of the hazel{H3869} and chesnut tree{H6196}; and pilled{H6478} white{H3836} strakes{H6479} in them, and made the white{H3836} appear{H4286} which was in the rods{H4731}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 31:9
- Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given [them] to me.
Genesis 31:13
- I [am] the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, [and] where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.
Ezekiel 31:8
- The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 30:37
1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Favor and Provision:** The passage reflects the theme of divine favor, as Jacob seeks to influence the breeding of Laban's livestock in a way that would increase his own wealth, believing that God would guide the outcome.
- **Ingenuity and Resourcefulness:** Jacob's actions show his resourcefulness and his belief in the power of visual stimuli to influence biological processes, which was a common belief in ancient cultures.
- **Complex Family Dynamics:** The broader narrative highlights the complex relationship between Jacob and his father-in-law, Laban, involving deception, family conflict, and the pursuit of individual prosperity.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Patriarchal Era:** Genesis 30:37 is set within the patriarchal narratives, which describe the lives and interactions of the early Hebrew patriarchs with God and their surroundings.
- **Mesopotamian Setting:** The event takes place in Mesopotamia, where Jacob has gone to live with his uncle Laban. This was a region known for its advanced knowledge of animal husbandry.
- **Cultural Beliefs:** The practice of exposing animals to striped or spotted rods during mating season was based on the belief that characteristics of what an animal sees during conception could be imprinted on the offspring. This reflects ancient Near Eastern beliefs about inheritance and environmental influence.
- **Laban's Deception:** Prior to this event, Laban had deceived Jacob by giving him Leah as a wife instead of Rachel, as previously agreed. Jacob's actions with the rods could be seen as a response to Laban's deceit, as Jacob seeks to prosper under the terms of their agreement.
- **Jacob's Bargain with Laban:** Jacob had proposed a deal with Laban where he would tend Laban's flocks in exchange for keeping certain colored sheep and goats. This verse describes Jacob's attempt to increase the number of animals he would acquire according to their agreement.
In summary, Genesis 30:37 illustrates Jacob's ingenuity and his reliance on God's favor within the context of the patriarchal narratives, highlighting themes of divine provision, human resourcefulness, and complex family relationships in the ancient Near Eastern setting.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3290
There are 319 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַעֲקֹב
Transliteration: Yaʻăqôb
Pronunciation: yah-ak-obe'
Description: from עָקַב; heel-catcher (i.e. supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch; Jacob. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H4731
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַקֵּל
Transliteration: maqqêl
Pronunciation: mak-kale
Description: or (feminine) מַקְּלָה; from an unused root meaning apparently to germinate; a shoot, i.e. stick (with leaves on, or for walking, striking, guiding, divining); rod, (hand-)staff. - Strong's Number: H3892
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לַח
Transliteration: lach
Pronunciation: lakh
Description: from an unused root meaning to be new; fresh, i.e. unused or undried; green, moist. - Strong's Number: H3839
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לִבְנֶה
Transliteration: libneh
Pronunciation: lib-neh'
Description: from לָבַן; some sort of whitish tree, perhaps the storax; poplar. - Strong's Number: H3869
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לוּז
Transliteration: lûwz
Pronunciation: looz
Description: probably of foreign origin; some kind of nuttree, perhaps the almond; hazel. - Strong's Number: H6196
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַרְמוֹן
Transliteration: ʻarmôwn
Pronunciation: ar-mone'
Description: probably from עָרַם; the plane tree (from its smooth and shed bark); chestnut tree. - Strong's Number: H6478
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּצַל
Transliteration: pâtsal
Pronunciation: paw-tsal'
Description: a primitive root; to peel; pill. - Strong's Number: H3836
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָבָן
Transliteration: lâbân
Pronunciation: law-bawn'
Description: or (Genesis 49:12) לָבֵן; from לָבַן; white; white. - Strong's Number: H6479
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פְּצָלָה
Transliteration: pᵉtsâlâh
Pronunciation: pets-aw-law'
Description: from פָּצַל; a peeling; strake. - Strong's Number: H4286
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַחְשֹׂף
Transliteration: machsôph
Pronunciation: makh-sofe'
Description: from חָשַׂף; a peeling; made appear.