Genesis 30:37

ยถ 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.

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}.

Ya'akov took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white streaks on them by peeling off the bark.

Jacob, however, took fresh branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees, and peeled the bark, exposing the white inner wood of the branches.

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.

Commentary

Context

Genesis 30:37 is part of a larger narrative detailing Jacob's shrewd efforts to build his own wealth while working for his cunning father-in-law, Laban. Laban had repeatedly changed Jacob's wages, attempting to exploit his labor (Genesis 31:7). After making a new agreement to take only the speckled, spotted, and ringstraked animals from the flocks (Genesis 30:32), Jacob devised a unique strategy. This verse describes the unusual method he employed to influence the outcome of the animal breeding, setting the stage for a significant increase in his own possessions.

Meaning and Significance

This verse describes Jacob's specific action: he took branches from "green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree" and "pilled white strakes in them." To "pill" means to peel or strip the bark, exposing the lighter wood underneath. Jacob then placed these striped rods in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink and mate. The underlying belief, common in ancient Near Eastern folk practices, was that visual stimuli during conception could influence the characteristics of offspring. While this practice might seem like a form of sympathetic magic or superstition to modern readers, the biblical narrative clarifies that the success of Jacob's method was not due to the rods themselves, but to God's direct intervention. As God later revealed to Jacob in a dream, it was divine providence, not Jacob's ingenuity with the rods, that ensured the flocks produced the desired offspring, thwarting Laban's deceitful intentions (Genesis 31:9, Genesis 31:12).

Linguistic Insights

  • "Pilled": From the Hebrew root pฤแนฃal (ืคึผึธืฆึทืœ), meaning "to peel," "strip," or "separate." It vividly describes the action of removing the bark.
  • "Poplar": The Hebrew word is libneh (ืœึดื‘ึฐื ึถื”), often identified as the white poplar, known for its pale bark.
  • "Hazel": The Hebrew luz (ืœึผื•ึผื–) is generally understood to refer to the almond tree, which also has distinctive bark and a pale inner wood.
  • "Chesnut": The Hebrew 'armon (ืขึทืจึฐืžื•ึนืŸ) is believed to be the plane tree, characterized by its peeling bark that reveals lighter patches underneath.

The selection of these specific trees suggests Jacob chose those whose bark could be easily stripped to reveal a stark contrast with the inner wood, maximizing the visual effect he intended.

Key Themes

  • Divine Providence and Faithfulness: The ultimate message of this passage is God's active involvement in Jacob's life, fulfilling His promises to prosper him despite Laban's trickery. It highlights God's faithfulness to His covenant people.
  • Jacob's Resourcefulness: While God was the ultimate source of Jacob's prosperity, Jacob himself was not passive. He actively applied his understanding and skill, demonstrating a blend of human effort and reliance on divine blessing.
  • Justice and Retribution: God used Jacob's seemingly unconventional method to ensure that Laban's repeated injustices were met with a just outcome, allowing Jacob to finally build his own household and wealth as promised (Genesis 28:15).

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that God can work through various means, even those that seem unusual or based on human folk wisdom, to accomplish His purposes. While Jacob's method with the rods might appear superstitious, the narrative emphasizes that the true power lay in God's sovereign hand. For us today, this teaches that our efforts, when undertaken in faith and in alignment with God's will, can be blessed and used by Him, even if the direct mechanism isn't always clear to us. It encourages us to trust in God's provision and justice, especially when facing unfair circumstances, knowing that He is able to bring about our prosperity and secure our future.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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.
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