Genesis 30:24

KJV

And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

KJV (with Strong's)

And she called {H7121} his name {H8034} Joseph {H3130}; and said {H559}, The LORD {H3068} shall add {H3254} to me another {H312} son {H1121}.

Complete Jewish Bible

She called him Yosef [may he add], saying, "May ADONAI add to me another son."

Berean Standard Bible

She named him Joseph, and said, “May the LORD add to me another son.”

American Standard Version

and she called his name Joseph, saying, Jehovah add to me another son.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 30:24 marks a pivotal moment in the life of Rachel and the patriarchal narrative, recording the birth of Joseph, her long-awaited first son. This verse encapsulates Rachel’s profound relief and forward-looking hope, as she names her son Joseph, declaring that the LORD has not only taken away her reproach but will also "add to me another son," signifying her expectation of continued divine blessing and fruitfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the complex and often contentious family dynamics of Jacob, Leah, Rachel, and their respective handmaids, Bilhah and Zilpah, as detailed in [Genesis 29-30](/genesis/29-30 "Jacob's Marriages and Family"). Rachel's barrenness had been a source of deep personal anguish and societal shame, contrasted sharply with Leah's prolific childbearing. The immediate preceding verse, [Genesis 30:23](/genesis/30-23 "Rachel's declaration of reproach removed"), reveals Rachel's initial reaction to Joseph's birth, acknowledging that "God has taken away my reproach." Genesis 30:24 builds upon this by explaining the name Joseph and expressing her future hope, setting the stage for Joseph's significant role in the unfolding narrative of the nascent nation of Israel, particularly his later deliverance of his family from famine, as recounted in [Genesis 37-50](/genesis/37-50 "The Story of Joseph").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern societies, a woman's status and honor were profoundly linked to her ability to bear children, especially sons, who would carry on the family name and inheritance. Barrenness was considered a great personal tragedy and often interpreted as a sign of divine disfavor, leading to significant social stigma. The practice of a barren wife giving her maidservant to her husband to bear children on her behalf (as seen with Bilhah and Zilpah) was a recognized custom (e.g., the Nuzi tablets), aimed at ensuring the continuation of the family line. Rachel's long struggle and ultimate breakthrough with Joseph's birth would have been seen as a powerful demonstration of divine intervention, challenging the cultural despair associated with barrenness and affirming God's active involvement in the lives of His covenant people.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 30:24 contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Providence**, as God "remembers" Rachel and opens her womb, demonstrating His control over life and His faithfulness to His promises, even amidst human weakness and conflict, as seen throughout [the patriarchal narratives](/genesis/12-50 "The Patriarchal Narratives"). The verse also underscores the **Significance of Names**, as Joseph's name carries a dual meaning that encapsulates Rachel's past relief ("taken away") and future hope ("add"), a common biblical motif where names reflect circumstances, character, or destiny. Furthermore, it exemplifies the theme of **Hope Amidst Adversity**, as Rachel's persistent desire and prayer for a child, despite years of barrenness, are ultimately answered, providing a powerful testament to perseverance in faith, a theme often echoed in stories like that of Hannah in [1 Samuel 1](/1_samuel/1 "Hannah's Prayer").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Genesis 30:24 records Rachel's naming of her firstborn son, Joseph, and her accompanying declaration of faith and hope, revealing both her immediate relief and her future aspiration.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Joseph (Hebrew, _Yôwçêph'_):** This name, H3130, is derived from the Hebrew root *yasaf* (H3254), meaning "to add" or "to increase." The name literally means "He will add" or "May he add." Rachel's choice of name directly reflects her statement in the verse, "The LORD shall add to me another son," expressing her profound hope for future offspring and a larger family. The name itself is a prayer and a statement of faith.
* **The LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** Represented by H3068, this is the personal, covenantal name of God, often translated as Yahweh or Jehovah. Rachel's explicit attribution of the blessing to "The LORD" underscores her recognition of divine agency in Joseph's birth. It signifies that this was not a natural occurrence or a result of human effort alone, but a direct, sovereign act of the self-existent and eternal God, who hears prayers and intervenes in the lives of His people.
* **shall add (Hebrew, _yâçaph'_):** This verb, H3254, is a primitive root meaning "to add or augment," often implying continuation or increase. Rachel's use of this verb, "The LORD *shall add* to me another son," reveals her forward-looking faith. It is not merely a wish but an expressed expectation that the God who has just performed a miracle by granting her Joseph will continue His work and bless her with more children. This highlights her belief in God's ongoing faithfulness and generosity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And she called his name Joseph;":** This clause signifies Rachel's authority and joy in naming her firstborn son. The act of naming was deeply significant in ancient cultures, often reflecting the circumstances of birth, the parents' hopes, or a prophetic declaration. By naming him Joseph, Rachel immediately connects his identity to her desire for more children, echoing the meaning of the name "He will add."
* **"and said,":** This simple conjunction introduces Rachel's accompanying explanation and prayer, which provides the theological and emotional context for the naming. Her words are not just a casual remark but a profound expression of her heart and her understanding of God's work in her life.
* **"The LORD shall add to me another son.":** This is the core of Rachel's declaration. It explicitly attributes Joseph's birth and her future hope to "The LORD" (Yahweh), emphasizing divine agency. The phrase "shall add" (Hebrew *yâçaph*) directly links to the name Joseph (*Yôwçêph*), creating a powerful wordplay. Furthermore, this statement reveals Rachel's unquenched desire for more children, specifically "another son," demonstrating her faith that God's blessing is not exhausted by one miracle but is continuous and expansive. This also subtly connects to her earlier statement in [Genesis 30:23](/genesis/30-23 "Rachel's declaration of reproach removed"), where she uses the phonetically similar word *'asaf* ("taken away"), implying that Joseph's name simultaneously signifies the removal of her reproach and the promise of future increase.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs significant **Wordplay**, a common literary device in Hebrew narrative, particularly in the naming of children. The name "Joseph" (Hebrew *Yosef*) is directly linked to the verb *yasaf* ("to add"), which Rachel uses to express her hope for "another son." However, it also subtly alludes to the phonetically similar verb *'asaf* ("to take away"), which Rachel uses in the preceding verse ([Genesis 30:23](/genesis/30-23 "Rachel's declaration of reproach removed")) to describe God taking away her reproach. This dual meaning embedded in the name Joseph encapsulates Rachel's journey from barrenness and shame to fruitfulness and future expectation. This verse also demonstrates **Divine Attribution**, as Rachel explicitly credits "The LORD" for her son's birth and her hope for future children, highlighting God's active and sovereign involvement in human affairs. Finally, there is an element of **Foreshadowing**, as Rachel's desire for "another son" is indeed fulfilled with the birth of Benjamin ([Genesis 35:16-18](/genesis/35-16-18 "The Birth of Benjamin")), though tragically at the cost of her own life.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joseph's birth, as recorded in Genesis 30:24, stands as a powerful testament to God's sovereign faithfulness and His compassionate remembrance of His people. Despite years of Rachel's barrenness and the complex, often fraught, family dynamics within Jacob's household, God intervenes precisely when He chooses, demonstrating that His plans are not thwarted by human limitations or imperfections. Rachel's naming of Joseph, imbued with both a backward glance at her "reproach" being "taken away" and a forward-looking hope for God to "add" more children, underscores the biblical truth that God is the giver of life and the fulfiller of promises. Her faith-filled declaration reveals a heart that trusts in God's ongoing generosity and power to bless beyond initial provisions, setting a pattern for believers to maintain hope and expectation in God's continued work.

* [1 Samuel 1:27-28](/1_samuel/1-27-28 "Hannah's Prayer and Samuel's Birth")
* [Psalm 113:9](/psalms/113-9 "God gives the barren woman a home")
* [Isaiah 49:15](/isaiah/49-15 "God will not forget His people")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Rachel's journey from barrenness to breakthrough, culminating in the birth of Joseph, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. Her experience reminds us that God hears our deepest cries and remembers us, even when our prayers seem to go unanswered for extended periods. Like Rachel, we are invited to cultivate a spirit of persistent hope and unwavering expectation, trusting that God's timing is perfect and His capacity to bless is boundless. We are called not only to celebrate the answers to prayer we receive but also to look forward with faith, believing that the God who has acted on our behalf in the past is faithful to continue His work in our lives, adding grace upon grace, and fulfilling His purposes even amidst our imperfect circumstances. This verse encourages us to articulate our desires to God with bold faith, knowing that He delights in giving good gifts to His children.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you currently experiencing a "barrenness" or a long-awaited desire?**
* **How does Rachel's immediate hope for "another son" after Joseph's birth challenge or encourage your own expectations of God's continued blessing?**
* **How can you more intentionally attribute God's blessings in your life to "The LORD," as Rachel did?**

### FAQ
**Why is the Hebrew name Joseph connected to both "taking away" and "adding"?**

Answer: The name Joseph (Hebrew: *Yosef*) is primarily derived from the Hebrew verb *yasaf* (יָסַף), meaning "to add" or "to increase," directly reflecting Rachel's desire for "another son" in [Genesis 30:24](/genesis/30-24 "Rachel's statement about Joseph"). However, in the preceding verse, [Genesis 30:23](/genesis/30-23 "Rachel's declaration in Genesis 30:23"), Rachel also uses the Hebrew verb *'asaf* (אָסַף), meaning "to take away," when she declares that God has "taken away my reproach." The phonetic similarity between *yasaf* and *'asaf* creates a clever linguistic wordplay. This suggests that the name Joseph encapsulates both the removal of Rachel's past shame (God "took away" her barrenness) and her future hope for more children (God "will add" to her family), making the name rich with meaning.

**What does Rachel's statement "The LORD shall add to me another son" reveal about her faith?**

Answer: Rachel's statement reveals a profound and forward-looking faith. Despite having just received a miraculous answer to prayer with Joseph's birth after years of barrenness, she immediately expresses a desire for more children, attributing this future blessing to "The LORD." This demonstrates her belief in God's continued faithfulness, generosity, and power to provide. Her hope was not exhausted by one answered prayer but was sustained by an ongoing trust in God's willingness to bless. It shows a spirit of expectation that God, who has begun a good work, will continue and complete it, reflecting a deep confidence in His character and covenant promises.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The birth of Joseph, a son miraculously given after a period of barrenness and reproach, profoundly foreshadows the ultimate "addition" God would bring to humanity through Christ. Just as Joseph was a deliverer for his family, saving them from famine and establishing them in Egypt, Jesus Christ is the ultimate Deliverer who "adds" us to God's eternal family, taking away the reproach of sin and granting us new life. Through Christ, the spiritual barrenness of humanity, marked by sin and separation from God, is overcome. God continually "adds" new believers to His kingdom, fulfilling the promise of a vast spiritual offspring, far exceeding Rachel's hope for just "another son." [Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), is the one through whom God's family truly increases and is sustained, bringing forth spiritual fruit where there was once only desolation, making us fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household ([Ephesians 2:19](/ephesians/2-19 "Ephesians 2:19 - Fellow Citizens with the Saints")). Indeed, through Him, we become heirs according to the promise ([Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Heirs According to the Promise")), a spiritual lineage that perpetually grows.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 49:22

¶ Joseph [is] a fruitful bough, [even] a fruitful bough by a well; [whose] branches run over the wall:

Genesis 49:26

The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.

Genesis 35:24

The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

Revelation 7:8

Of the tribe of Zabulon [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin [were] sealed twelve thousand.

Genesis 37:2

These [are] the generations of Jacob. Joseph, [being] seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad [was] with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

Genesis 42:6

And Joseph [was] the governor over the land, [and] he [it was] that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him [with] their faces to the earth.

Hebrews 11:21

By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of his staff.