Genesis 30:17 kjv

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

Genesis 30:17 nkjv

And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.

Genesis 30:17 niv

God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son.

Genesis 30:17 esv

And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.

Genesis 30:17 nlt

And God answered Leah's prayers. She became pregnant again and gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob.

Genesis 30 verses

Genesis 30 17 Meaning

Genesis 30:17 records a significant divine intervention, stating that God "hearkened" or paid attentive regard to Leah. In response to this divine favor, Leah conceived and subsequently gave birth to Jacob's fifth son, later named Issachar (Gen 30:18). This event highlights God's sovereign control over fertility and His direct involvement in the patriarchal narrative, advancing the growth of the future twelve tribes of Israel amidst the family's internal struggles and rivalries.

Genesis 30 17 Context

Genesis 30:17 occurs within the intense fertility rivalry between Jacob's two wives, Leah and Rachel, and their maidservants. At this point in the narrative, Rachel is barren, prompting her to give her maid Bilhah to Jacob to bear children on her behalf. Leah, after bearing four sons, stops conceiving, and subsequently gives her maid Zilpah to Jacob, who then bears two sons. The verse immediately follows the "mandrakes incident" (Gen 30:14-16), where Reuben (Leah's firstborn) finds mandrakes, believed to aid fertility. Rachel requests them from Leah, and Leah agrees to give them in exchange for Jacob spending the night with her. This complex marital negotiation sets the stage for God's direct intervention, as Leah subsequently conceives and bears her fifth son, Issachar, highlighting God's ultimate sovereignty over the womb regardless of human machinations or traditional beliefs about fertility enhancers. The birth of each son is critical for the unfolding of God's covenant with Jacob to multiply his descendants, leading to the formation of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Genesis 30 17 Word analysis

• And God (וַיִּשְׁמַע אֱלֹהִים - wa-yish'ma Elohim):

  • וַיִּשְׁמַע (wa-yish'ma): A verb from the root shama', meaning "to hear," but frequently implying more than just audibility; it conveys paying careful attention, listening, and often acting in response. Here, it denotes God's favorable and active reception of Leah's desire or unvoiced plea. It implies divine acknowledgment and responsive action.
  • אֱלֹהִים (Elohim): The generic and common Hebrew name for God, emphasizing His divine power and sovereign authority as Creator and ultimate Ruler. Its use here reinforces that Leah's conception was a direct act of the supreme, true God.

• hearkened unto Leah (אֶל-לֵאָה - el-le'ah):

  • אֶל (el): A preposition meaning "to" or "unto," specifying Leah as the direct object of God's attentive hearing and intervention.
  • לֵאָה (Le'ah): Leah, Jacob's first wife. Her name's exact meaning is debated but possibly "weary" or "cow." God's "hearkening" to her specific plight after years of feeling unloved and vying for Jacob's attention underscores His personal concern for individuals even within complex family dynamics.

• and she conceived (וַתַּהַר - wa-ta'har):

  • וַתַּהַר (wa-ta'har): A verb meaning "to become pregnant" or "to conceive." This term immediately shows the direct, physical consequence of God's "hearkening." It underscores divine agency in what appears to be a natural biological process, demonstrating God's sovereign control over the womb.

• and bare Jacob (וַתֵּלֶד לְיַעֲקֹב - wa-te'led le-Ya'akov):

  • וַתֵּלֶד (wa-te'led): A verb meaning "to bear" or "to give birth." This marks the fulfillment of the conception and the physical appearance of the child.
  • לְיַעֲקֹב (le-Ya'akov): With the preposition "to" (לְ), it signifies that the child born belongs to Jacob, emphasizing the continuation of his lineage and the growth of the covenant family.

• a fifth son (בֵּן חֲמִישִׁי - ben khamishiy):

  • בֵּן (ben): "son," specifying the gender.
  • חֲמִישִׁי (khamishiy): "fifth," indicating his numerical order among Jacob's sons from Leah, leading directly into his naming as Issachar in the next verse (Gen 30:18), a name connected to "reward" or "hire," underscoring Leah's perception of divine recompense.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And God hearkened unto Leah": This phrase highlights divine sovereignty and compassionate intervention. It contrasts with human attempts and strategies (like the mandrakes), affirming that ultimate power over fertility resides with God alone. It portrays God as attentive and responsive to the condition and, likely, prayers or deep longings of Leah.
  • "and she conceived, and bare Jacob a fifth son": This describes the direct, divinely enabled outcome of God's hearkening. It signifies a tangible blessing and further advances the patriarchal family line crucial for the development of God's covenant people. The rapid progression from divine listening to physical birth emphasizes God's immediate and effective action.

Genesis 30 17 Bonus section

• The term "hearkened" (shama') in this context not only signifies that God heard Leah's situation or perhaps a specific, unrecorded prayer but also implies His decision to act upon what He heard. This resonates with numerous biblical examples of God "hearing" the cries of His people and delivering them.
• The placement of this divine intervention immediately after the "mandrakes" episode is significant. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, mandrakes were widely believed to be aphrodisiacs or fertility agents. By stating that God hearkened to Leah and enabled conception, the text subtly, yet powerfully, polemicizes against the belief that any earthly substance holds ultimate power over fertility, reinforcing God's exclusive authority over creation and life. This counters any notion of reliance on superstitious beliefs over divine will.
• Leah's journey is one of persistent seeking of affection and recognition, both from Jacob and from God. Her previous sons' names (Reuben: "see, a son!", Simeon: "the Lord has heard that I am unloved," Levi: "now my husband will become attached to me," Judah: "this time I will praise the Lord") all reflect her continuous inner struggle and her growing acknowledgment of God's role in her life. Gen 30:17, through God directly "hearkening" to her, elevates her status, implying a direct, unmediated divine favor, not merely the outcome of competition.

Genesis 30 17 Commentary

Genesis 30:17 is a succinct yet powerful statement that foregrounds divine action amidst complex human relationships. The competitive fertility dynamics within Jacob's household, driven by a desire for esteem and heirs, highlight human efforts to control circumstances. However, this verse serves as a crucial theological assertion: ultimately, it is God who holds sovereign sway over life and barrenness. "And God hearkened unto Leah" signals a specific divine responsiveness to Leah, possibly her quiet anguish, her faith, or even her part in the mandrakes exchange, which she considered a "reward" from God (Gen 30:18). This instance reinforces the biblical truth that God is attentive to the cries of His people, whether explicitly uttered as prayer or revealed through deep desire and perceived injustices. The birth of the "fifth son" (Issachar, meaning "there is recompense/reward") signifies God's faithfulness to His promise to multiply Jacob's descendants, thereby ensuring the unfolding of the covenant established with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This event reassures believers that divine providence orchestrates circumstances, often working through natural means, but always according to His will and for His overarching purposes.