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Genesis 30

Gen 30, Ge 30, Gn 30


Genesis 30

1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.

7 And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

10 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.

11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.

12 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.

13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.

15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.

16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

19 And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.

20 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.



21 And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

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

25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.

26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.

27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.

28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.

29 And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.

30 For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?

31 And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock.

32 I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.

33 So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.

34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.

35 And he removed that day the he goats that were ring-streaked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.

36 And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

37 And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree; and pilled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.

38 And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.

39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ring-streaked, speckled, and spotted.

40 And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ring-streaked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.

41 And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.

42 But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.

43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

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Summary and the Meaning of Genesis Chapter 30 in the KJV Holy Bible

Genesis Chapter 30 is a continuation of the story of Jacob and his family. In this chapter, we see the ongoing rivalry between Jacob's two wives, Leah and Rachel, as they compete for his love and attention. The main themes of this chapter include jealousy, fertility, and the fulfillment of God's promises. Through the events that unfold, we can see the consequences of human actions and the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His plans.

The Rivalry between Leah and Rachel

The chapter begins with Rachel, who is still barren, becoming envious of her sister Leah, who has already given birth to four sons. Rachel turns to Jacob and demands that he give her children, or she will die. Jacob, frustrated with Rachel's jealousy, responds by saying, "Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?" (Genesis 30:2 KJV). This exchange highlights the tension and competition between the two sisters, as well as the cultural expectation for women to bear children.

Rachel then comes up with a plan to use her handmaid, Bilhah, as a surrogate for her to have children through. This was a common practice in ancient times, and it was seen as a way for a woman to fulfill her duty of bearing children, even if she was unable to do so herself. Bilhah gives birth to two sons, Dan and Naphtali, and Rachel claims them as her own. This further intensifies the rivalry between Leah and Rachel, as Leah also gives her handmaid, Zilpah, to Jacob to bear children for her.

Leah's handmaid, Zilpah, gives birth to two sons, Gad and Asher, and Leah claims them as her own. The competition between the two sisters continues as they use their handmaids to bear more children for Jacob, with Leah giving birth to two more sons, Issachar and Zebulun, and Rachel giving birth to her first son, Joseph.

This rivalry between Leah and Rachel shows the destructive nature of jealousy and the lengths people will go to in order to fulfill their desires. It also highlights the importance of bearing children in ancient societies and the pressure placed on women to do so.

The Fertility Struggle and God's Faithfulness

While Leah and Rachel are competing for Jacob's love and attention, they are also struggling with their own fertility. In ancient times, a woman's worth was often measured by her ability to bear children, and being barren was seen as a curse from God. This struggle is evident in Rachel's desperation for children and Leah's joy at each birth.

However, through this struggle, we see God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. In Genesis 30:22, it says, "And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb" (KJV). This verse shows that God is in control of fertility and that He has a plan for each person's life. Despite Rachel's jealousy and impatience, God remains faithful to His promise to make her a mother.

God's faithfulness is also evident in the birth of Joseph, who will play a significant role in the future of Israel. Despite the rivalry and tension between Leah and Rachel, God uses their competition to bring about His plans and fulfill His promises.

The Symbolism of the Mandrakes

In this chapter, we also see the symbolism of the mandrakes, which were believed to have fertility properties in ancient times. Rachel bargains with Leah for the mandrakes that Reuben, Leah's son, had found in the field. Leah agrees to give Rachel the mandrakes in exchange for spending the night with Jacob. This exchange further highlights the competition between the two sisters and their desire for children.

However, the mandrakes also symbolize the struggle for power and control in the family. Rachel believes that the mandrakes will help her become pregnant, and she is willing to use them to gain an advantage over Leah. This shows the destructive nature of competition and the desire for power, as it can lead people to use manipulative tactics to get what they want.

The Meaning of Genesis Chapter 30

Overall, Genesis Chapter 30 teaches us about the consequences of human actions and the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises. The rivalry between Leah and Rachel shows the destructive nature of jealousy and the pressure placed on women to bear children in ancient societies. It also highlights the importance of trusting in God's timing and plan, rather than trying to manipulate situations to fulfill our desires.

The struggle for fertility in this chapter also reminds us of the value and worth of each individual, regardless of their ability to bear children. It shows that God has a plan for each person's life, and He remains faithful to His promises, even in the midst of our struggles and impatience.

Furthermore, the symbolism of the mandrakes serves as a warning against the destructive nature of competition and the desire for power. It reminds us to trust in God's provision and to avoid using manipulative tactics to get what we want.

In conclusion, Genesis Chapter 30 teaches us valuable lessons about human nature, the consequences of our actions, and the faithfulness of God. It reminds us to trust in God's plan and timing, to value each individual regardless of their abilities, and to avoid destructive behaviors such as jealousy and competition. It also serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His ability to fulfill His promises, even in the midst of our struggles and shortcomings.



This article is informed by the King James Version of the Holy Bible, the authors' personal knowledge, considerations and experience, and additional materials and resources available in internet.

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