Genesis 30:11 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 30:11 kjv
And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
Genesis 30:11 nkjv
Then Leah said, "A troop comes!" So she called his name Gad.
Genesis 30:11 niv
Then Leah said, "What good fortune!" So she named him Gad.
Genesis 30:11 esv
And Leah said, "Good fortune has come!" so she called his name Gad.
Genesis 30:11 nlt
Leah named him Gad, for she said, "How fortunate I am!"
Genesis 30 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 29:32 | Leah conceived and bore a son and called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction...” | Leah's first son, Reuben, names reflecting affliction. |
| Gen 29:33 | She conceived again and bore a son and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated...” | Leah's second son, Simeon, names reflecting being heard. |
| Gen 29:34 | She conceived again and bore a son and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me...” | Leah's third son, Levi, names reflecting attachment. |
| Gen 29:35 | She conceived again and bore a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” | Leah's fourth son, Judah, names reflecting praise. |
| Gen 30:3 | Then she said, "Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, that she may bear on my knees, that I also may have children through her." | Handmaid system for childbearing (Rachel). |
| Gen 30:6 | Then Rachel said, “God has judged me and has also heard my voice and has given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan. | Rachel's first handmaid's son, Dan, names reflecting judgment. |
| Gen 30:8 | Then Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali. | Rachel's second handmaid's son, Naphtali, names reflecting struggle. |
| Gen 30:9 | When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. | Leah also uses a handmaid (Zilpah) due to infertility. |
| Gen 30:18 | Leah said, "God has given me my reward..." So she called his name Issachar. | Leah's own fifth son, Issachar, names reflecting reward. |
| Gen 30:20 | Then Leah said, "God has endowed me with a good dowry..." So she called his name Zebulun. | Leah's own sixth son, Zebulun, names reflecting endowment. |
| Gen 30:24 | She called his name Joseph, saying, "May the LORD add to me another son." | Rachel's first son, Joseph, names reflecting addition. |
| Gen 35:18 | And as her soul was departing... she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. | Benjamin's naming reflecting sorrow/strength. |
| Gen 49:19 | Gad, a troop shall press upon him: but he shall press upon their heel. | Jacob's prophecy for the tribe of Gad, playing on a possible second meaning "troop." |
| Deut 33:20 | And of Gad he said, "Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! He couches like a lion; he tears the arm, yes, the crown of the head." | Moses' blessing on Gad, emphasizing their military prowess, reinforcing "troop." |
| Josh 22:9 | The people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned home and departed... | Tribe of Gad mentioned in historical context. |
| 1 Chr 5:18 | The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant men, men who carried shield and sword, drew the bow... | Gadites described as mighty warriors, aligning with "troop." |
| Isa 65:11 | But you who forsake the LORD, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune [Hebrew: Gad] and fill cups for Destiny... | Direct warning against worshipping "Fortune" (Gad) as an idol. |
| Prov 16:33 | The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. | Divine providence, not mere luck/fortune. |
| Ps 37:23 | The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way. | God directs destiny, not arbitrary fortune. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. | God's sovereignty over circumstances, beyond "good fortune." |
| Eph 1:11 | In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will... | God's absolute control over all events. |
| Lam 3:37-38 | Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both evil and good proceed? | Ultimate source of all things is God. |
Genesis 30 verses
Genesis 30 11 meaning
Genesis 30:11 recounts Leah's exclamation and the naming of Gad, her seventh son and the first by her handmaid Zilpah. When Zilpah conceived and bore a son, Leah, witnessing this, exclaimed, "With good fortune!" or "Fortune has come!" and consequently named him Gad. The Hebrew name Gad (גָּד) means "fortune" or "good fortune," reflecting Leah's interpretation of the event as a sign of favorable circumstances and divine blessing in her ongoing rivalry for children and affection with Rachel.
Genesis 30 11 Context
Genesis 30:11 is situated within the narrative of Jacob's growing family, specifically detailing the ongoing rivalry between Leah and Rachel to bear sons for Jacob. After Rachel resorted to her handmaid Bilhah to have children (Dan and Naphtali), Leah, seeing she had stopped bearing, followed suit by giving her handmaid Zilpah to Jacob. The birth of Gad is the first of two sons Zilpah bears for Leah, further intensifying the competition but also expressing Leah's relentless desire for fertility and, implicitly, Jacob's affection and God's favor. Each naming act in this chapter reflects the mother's current state of mind, hopes, and her interpretation of divine involvement in her life and womb.
Genesis 30 11 Word analysis
- And Leah said (וַתֹּאמֶר לֵאָה - vaTomer Le'ah): A common Hebrew narrative transition introducing direct speech. It sets the scene for Leah's immediate reaction and pronouncement. Leah is the active subject, conveying her personal interpretation and emotional state.
- "Gad has come!" / "With good fortune!" (בָּא גָד / בָּגָד - ba' Gad / baGād): This phrase is pivotal and highly debated by scholars.
- Masoretic Text: The traditional Hebrew text (Masoretic Text) spells it
בָּגָד(ba-gad). This is unusual as a verb-noun construct would typically beבָּא גָד(ba' gad, "a troop/fortune comes"). The single word formבָּגָדis often understood as bāḡāḏ, which can mean "with fortune" or "fortunately." - Meaning "Fortune": Many English translations render it as "How fortunate!" (ESV, NASB) or "With good fortune" (KJV). This aligns with the common understanding that the root
גָד(gad) signifies "fortune" or "luck." Leah sees Zilpah's conception and birth as a stroke of good fortune in her childbearing efforts. - Meaning "Troop": The root
גּוּד(gud) means "to troop," "attack," or "raid." Later biblical passages, particularly Jacob's blessing in Gen 49:19 ("Gad, a troop shall press upon him"), play on this meaning. While the "troop" meaning might hint at the tribe of Gad's later military characteristics, in Leah's immediate context of a birth, "fortune" seems more plausible and emotionally resonant. However, the ambiguity allows for rich thematic development later. - Context of Leah: Leah's words always connect her sons to God's attention to her (e.g., Reuben, Simeon) or her internal state/desires (e.g., Levi, Judah). Here, "fortune" reflects her hope that this birth will further her standing or alleviate her hardship.
- Masoretic Text: The traditional Hebrew text (Masoretic Text) spells it
- And she called his name Gad (וַתִּקְרָא אֶת־שְׁמוֹ גָּד - vaTikra et-sh'mo Gad): This standard naming formula confirms the link between Leah's exclamation and the name given to the child. The act of naming solidifies the meaning she attributes to his birth, ensuring it's remembered within the family narrative. This directly ties the child's identity to Leah's expressed sentiment of fortune.
Genesis 30 11 Bonus section
The potential allusion in Genesis 30:11 to a Canaanite deity named Gad, the god of fortune, is significant. While Leah's use of "fortune" is primarily personal, the narrative's inclusion of this name implicitly sets a theological boundary. In ancient Canaan, veneration of Gad (and Meni, 'Destiny') was common. However, the biblical narrative consistently frames all events—including births, blessings, and what humans perceive as "fortune"—as ultimately controlled and given by the one true God, YHWH. Thus, while Leah uses the common understanding of "fortune," the overarching biblical narrative implicitly critiques the pagan notion of blind luck or a separate deity of fortune, attributing ultimate sovereignty and provision to the LORD, not to a lesser god. This reinterpretation subtly subverts idolatry by acknowledging common language while redefining its ultimate source.
Genesis 30 11 Commentary
Genesis 30:11 succinctly captures a moment of relief and hope for Leah amidst intense sibling rivalry and fertility struggles. Leah's declaration, "With good fortune!" or "Fortune has come!", highlights her view of Zilpah's son as a positive turning point in her barrenness and competitive struggle with Rachel. The naming of Gad immediately after this exclamation embeds the concept of "fortune" into the child's very identity. This aligns with the prevailing ancient Near Eastern practice where names carried deep meaning, often reflecting the circumstances of birth, parental hopes, or prophetic expectations.
The ambiguity in the Hebrew word for Gad, allowing for interpretations of both "fortune" and "troop," offers a fascinating dual layer of meaning. While Leah primarily perceived it as good fortune, the broader biblical narrative, especially later blessings and accounts of the tribe of Gad, often plays on the "troop" aspect, showcasing their martial prowess. This suggests divine foresight beyond Leah's immediate understanding, transforming a personal expression of 'luck' into a divinely orchestrated destiny for one of Israel's tribes.
Crucially, in the wider biblical worldview, "fortune" or "luck" is always subordinate to divine providence. While Leah's human perspective is framed by her immediate "good fortune," the ultimate source of all blessings and "luck" is depicted as YHWH. This subtly contrasts with surrounding pagan cultures that might attribute such fortune to a deity named Gad (as referenced in Isa 65:11), redirecting credit back to the sovereign God of Israel who orchestrates all circumstances, including the growth of Jacob's family and the formation of his twelve tribes.