Genesis 30:22 kjv

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

Genesis 30:22 nkjv

Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.

Genesis 30:22 niv

Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive.

Genesis 30:22 esv

Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.

Genesis 30:22 nlt

Then God remembered Rachel's plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children.

Genesis 30 verses

MeaningGenesis 30:22 signifies God's divine and compassionate intervention in Rachel's life, ending her prolonged barrenness. It highlights God's active remembrance, attentive hearing of unstated prayers or deeply held desires, and sovereign power to open her womb, leading to conception and childbirth. This event marks a turning point, underscoring that fertility is a gift from God, independent of human efforts or schemes.

Cross References

ContextThis verse is situated in the narrative of Jacob's growing family, characterized by intense rivalry between his two wives, Leah and Rachel, and their maidservants (Bilhah and Zilpah). Earlier, in Genesis 29:31, it is explicitly stated that "the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren." Rachel's desperate plea in Genesis 30:1, "Give me children, or I'll die!", underscores her deep anguish and the cultural significance of bearing children for a woman's identity and social standing in ancient Near Eastern society. The verses immediately preceding Genesis 30:22 describe Leah's continuing childbirth and also the use of mandrakes, a human attempt to enhance fertility, which proved futile for Rachel's deepest desire. The verse therefore represents a shift from human efforts and inter-familial schemes to direct divine intervention, asserting God's ultimate sovereignty over life and fertility. Historically, barrenness was considered a great reproach, and the ability to conceive was understood as a direct blessing or curse from the deity, making God's action here a profound statement.

Word analysis

• Then: Signifies a decisive shift and a turning point in the narrative, following a period of waiting, struggle, and human maneuvering.
• God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): The most common Hebrew name for God in the Old Testament, denoting the mighty and supreme Creator, highlighting His universal power and authority, especially over matters of life and death, and creation itself, including the womb. This emphasizes the divine rather than human origin of the miracle.
• remembered (זָכַר, zakhar): More than merely recalling information, this Hebrew term implies active and intentional thought followed by purposeful action. When used of God, it often signifies His faithful regard for His covenant people or His active intervention in response to a need or prayer. It conveys compassion and a determination to fulfill His promises or address a grievance. It implies He took notice of her long-standing distress.
• Rachel: Jacob's beloved wife, who had been barren for years, despite her fervent desire for children and previous attempts at proxy motherhood through her maidservant. She represents the direct recipient of God's compassionate action.
• He listened (שָׁמַע, shama): To hear and act upon, to heed or attend. Though Rachel's specific prayer immediately prior to this is not recorded, her profound longing and previous desperate cry were known to God. This term indicates God's attentiveness to her anguish and implies an active, responsive hearing of her heart's desire, leading to a favorable outcome.
• to her: Emphasizes God's personal and direct attention to Rachel's individual plight and longing, showing His care for individual suffering within a larger family narrative.
• and opened (פָּתַח, patach): Signifies a divine act of initiating or causing something to begin or become accessible. This directly contrasts with God having previously "closed" her womb (Gen 29:31), indicating a reversal only achievable through supernatural means. It points to God's ultimate control.
• her womb (רַחְמָהּ, rachmah): The biological organ of conception and gestation. The explicit mention of "her womb" emphasizes that this was a physical, tangible miracle directed precisely at her longstanding inability to conceive, highlighting the sovereignty of God over human biological functions.
• "God remembered Rachel; He listened to her": This phrase beautifully links God's active, compassionate awareness with His responsiveness to the person. It shows a sequence of divine engagement: observation, deep care, and active reception of her cries/longing.
• "listened to her and opened her womb": This further details God's active engagement. His listening immediately translates into powerful, tangible action, fulfilling her deepest desire and resolving her prolonged sorrow. This divine causality makes it clear that only God's direct intervention could end her barrenness.

CommentaryGenesis 30:22 serves as a powerful declaration of God's sovereign will and compassionate nature, particularly in the context of barrenness and family lineage within the patriarchal narratives. After years of familial strife, human efforts to control fertility through maidservants, and the ineffective use of mandrakes, this verse presents a sudden, direct, and unambiguous divine intervention. God "remembered" Rachel, signifying not a mere mental recollection but an active, purposeful turning towards her distress, an exercise of His covenantal faithfulness. His "listening" suggests an acknowledgment of her deep, unvoiced, or persistent prayers and anguish, demonstrating His intimate awareness of human suffering. The ultimate act of "opening her womb" directly reverses His previous closure (Gen 29:31), unequivocally asserting that only God holds ultimate power over life, fertility, and the fulfillment of family lines. This divine act highlights God's timing, demonstrating that while He may delay, He is never indifferent, and His interventions occur in His perfect season, often after human means have failed, ensuring His glory is magnified. It teaches reliance on God over human stratagem and provides hope that God hears and responds to the deep desires of His people, in His own perfect way.

Bonus section

• Divine Initiative: This verse emphasizes God's initiative in breaking Rachel's barrenness. It's not attributed to a particular act of faith from Rachel just prior to this, but rather God's sovereign remembrance and timing. This showcases God's unconditional favor and grace.
• Polemic against human remedies: The earlier narrative involving mandrakes (Gen 30:14-16) highlights human attempts to control or influence fertility through natural means. The direct statement that God opened Rachel's womb acts as a clear theological counterpoint, asserting that genuine fruitfulness ultimately stems from divine power, not earthly remedies or superstitions.
• Foreshadowing Christ's compassion: The same God who "remembered" Rachel and heard her longing for life continues to be one who hears and responds to humanity's deepest needs. This resonates with the New Testament accounts of Jesus' compassion towards those suffering and His power to bring life and healing where there was barrenness and despair.