Genesis 30

Genesis 30:1

When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children

"When Rachel realized that she was unable to become preganant"

I will die

"I will feel completely worthless"

Give me children

"Cause me to become pregnant"

Genesis 30:2

Jacob's anger burned against Rachel

"Jacob was very angry with Rachel"

Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?

"I am not God! I am not the one who is preventing you from having children!"

Genesis 30:3

She said

"Rachel said"

See

"Look" or "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"

there is my servant Bilhah ... I will have children by her

At that time, this was an acceptable way for a barren woman to have children that would legally belong to her. The full meaning of this may be made explicit.

Go to her

This is a polite way of asking him to have sexual relations with her servant.

on my knees

"for me"

I will have children by her

"and in this way she will cause me to have children"

Genesis 30:5

bore Jacob a son

"gave birth to a son for Jacob"

Genesis 30:6

she called his name

"Rachel gave him the name"

called his name Dan

Translators may also add a footnote that says "The name Dan means 'he judged.'"

Genesis 30:7

Bilhah ... conceived again

"Bilhah ... became pregnant again"

bore Jacob a second son

"gave birth to a second son for Jacob"

Genesis 30:8

With mighty wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister

"I have had a great struggle to have children like my older sister, Leah"

have prevailed

"I have won" or "I have succeeded"

called his name Naphtali

Translators may also add a footnote that says "The name Naphtali means 'my struggle.'"

Genesis 30:9

she took Zilpah, her servant, and gave her to Jacob as a wife

"she gave Zilpah, her servant, to Jacob as a wife"

Genesis 30:11

This is fortunate!

"How fortunate!" or "What good luck!"

called his name Gad

Translators may also add a footnote that says "The name Gad means 'fortunate.'"

Genesis 30:13

the daughters

"the women" or "the young women"

called his name Asher

Translators may also add a footnote that says "The name Asher means 'happy.'"

Genesis 30:14

Reuben went

"Reuben went out"

in the days of wheat harvest

"at the time of year of the wheat harvest" or "during the wheat harvest"

mandrakes

"love fruit"

Genesis 30:15

Is it a small matter to you ... my husband?

"It is bad enough ... my husband."

Do you now want ... too?

"Now you want ... too!"

Then he will lie with you

"Then Jacob will have sexual relations with you"

Genesis 30:16

You must come to me

"You must have sexual intercourse with me"

Jacob lay with Leah

"Jacob had sexual relations with Leah"

Genesis 30:18

God has given me my wages

"God has given my due" or "God has rewarded me"

She called his name Issachar

Translators may also add a footnote that says: "The name Issachar means 'there is a reward.'"

Genesis 30:20

She called his name Zebulun

Translators may also add a footnote that says: "The name Zebulun means 'honor.'"

Genesis 30:21

called her name Dinah

This is the name of Leah's daughter.

Genesis 30:22

God called Rachel to mind and listened to her

"God considered Rachel and granted to her what she wanted"

Genesis 30:23

God has taken away my shame

"God has caused me to no longer feel ashamed"

Genesis 30:24

She called his name Joseph

Translators may also add a footnote that says: "The name Joseph means 'may he add.'"

Genesis 30:26

and let me go

"so I can go"

you know the service I have given you

"you know that I have served you long enough"

Genesis 30:27

Laban said to him

"Laban said to Jacob"

If now I have found favor in your eyes

"If I have found favor with you" or "If you are pleased with me"

wait, because

"please stay, because"

I have learned by using divination

"I have discovered by my own spiritual and magical practices"

for your sake

"because of you"

Genesis 30:28

Name your wages

"Tell me how much I have to pay to keep you here"

Genesis 30:29

Jacob said to him

"Jacob said to Laban"

how your livestock have fared with me

"how well your livestock have done since I started taking care of them"

Genesis 30:30

and it has increased abundantly

"but now your wealth has greatly increased"

Now when will I provide for my own household also?

"Now I want to take care of my family!"

Genesis 30:31

If you will do this thing for me

"But if you will do this thing for me"

this thing

The phrase "this thing" refers to what Jacob will propose in verse 32.

Genesis 30:32

removing from it every speckled and spotted sheep, and every black one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats

"and remove every sheep with spots, every black sheep, and every goat with spots"

These will be my wages

"This will be the cost of keeping me here"

Genesis 30:33

My integrity will testify for me later on

"And later you will know if I have been honest with you or not"

Genesis 30:35

gave them into the hand

"had his sons take care of them"

Genesis 30:37

poplar, almond, and plane trees

These are all trees with white wood.

Genesis 30:38

the watering troughs

long open containers for holding water for animals to drink

Genesis 30:39

The flocks bred

"The animals of the flocks conceived" or "The animals mated"

produced striped, speckled, and spotted young

"gave birth to babies with stripes and spots"

Genesis 30:40

Jacob separated

"During the several years following, Jacob separated"

face toward

"look toward"

Genesis 30:41

before the eyes of the flock

"so that the flock could see them"

among the sticks

"in front of the sticks"

Genesis 30:42

So the feebler animals were Laban's, and the stronger were Jacob's

"So the weaker offspring did not have stripes or spots and so belonged to Laban, while the stronger offspring did have stripes or spots and so belonged to Jacob"

Genesis 30:43

The man

"Jacob"