Genesis 30:30 kjv
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?
Genesis 30:30 nkjv
For what you had before I came was little, and it has increased to a great amount; the LORD has blessed you since my coming. And now, when shall I also provide for my own house?"
Genesis 30:30 niv
The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I have been. But now, when may I do something for my own household?"
Genesis 30:30 esv
For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now when shall I provide for my own household also?"
Genesis 30:30 nlt
You had little indeed before I came, but your wealth has increased enormously. The LORD has blessed you through everything I've done. But now, what about me? When can I start providing for my own family?"
Genesis 30 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 30:27 | And Laban said... "I have learned by experience that the LORD has blessed me for your sake." | Laban's prior acknowledgment of divine blessing through Jacob. |
| Gen 39:3-5 | The LORD was with Joseph... the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake. | God blessing a master's household due to His servant. |
| Gen 39:23 | The LORD was with him, and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper. | God prospering His servant even in difficult circumstances. |
| Gen 12:2-3 | I will bless you... and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. | Abrahamic covenant: Blessing flows through God's chosen. |
| Gen 26:12 | Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. | God's blessing on Isaac resulting in abundant produce. |
| Gen 28:3 | May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you. | Jacob receiving the blessing of multiplication from Isaac. |
| Gen 1:28 | Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. | Initial divine command and blessing of fruitfulness. |
| Gen 9:1 | Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. | Renewed command for multiplication after the flood. |
| Gen 13:16 | I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth. | God's promise of numerous descendants to Abraham. |
| Exod 1:7 | But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly... | Fulfillment of multiplication, even in bondage. |
| Deut 7:13 | He will love you, bless you, and multiply you... | God's promise of blessing and increase for obedience. |
| Deut 28:8 | The LORD will command the blessing on you in your barns... | Blessings of prosperity and abundance from the Lord. |
| Prov 10:22 | The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. | Explicit statement that wealth comes from divine blessing. |
| Ps 90:17 | Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands. | Asking God to bless and prosper the work of human hands. |
| Ps 37:25 | I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken. | God's continuous care and provision for the righteous. |
| Mal 3:10-11 | Test me in this... if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour out blessing. | Divine promise of overwhelming blessing for obedience. |
| Job 1:10 | Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has? | God's protection and blessing on the righteous, impacting possessions. |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory. | God's unfailing provision for His people. |
| Col 3:23-24 | Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men... | Working as unto the Lord leads to reward/inheritance. |
| 1 Cor 3:6-7 | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. | God is the source of all growth and increase. |
| Gen 31:42 | If the God of my father... had not been with me, surely you would have sent me away empty. | Jacob's later acknowledgment of God's hand in his protection and prosperity. |
| Ps 115:14 | May the LORD add to you, more and more, to you and to your children! | A prayer for continuous divine increase. |
Genesis 30 verses
Genesis 30 30 Meaning
Genesis 30:30 states Jacob's assertion to Laban that before Jacob's arrival, Laban's possessions were small, but since Jacob came, they have exponentially increased. Jacob directly attributes this dramatic growth and abundance to the blessing of the LORD (YHWH) upon Laban through his presence and labor. It serves as Jacob's foundation for negotiating a fair wage and the establishment of his own household and prosperity.
Genesis 30 30 Context
Genesis chapter 30 continues the saga of Jacob's servitude under Laban in Paddan Aram. Jacob has served fourteen years for Leah and Rachel. This verse comes after Jacob expresses his desire to establish his own household and depart from Laban (Gen 30:25-26). Laban, having benefited immensely from Jacob's presence (Gen 30:27), attempts to retain him. Laban's own acknowledgment of divine blessing due to Jacob sets the stage for Jacob's statement in verse 30. Jacob uses Laban's prior admission as leverage for his terms of employment, leading to his unique negotiation concerning the flocks in the subsequent verses (Gen 30:31-36). The historical context reveals the common practice of shepherds caring for livestock, and wealth being measured in flocks. Laban's character is consistently portrayed as shrewd and deceitful, making Jacob's direct appeal to God's blessing a significant contrast.
Genesis 30 30 Word analysis
- For (כִּי, kî): A strong causal conjunction, establishing Jacob's reasoning for what he is about to propose.
- it was little (מְעַט, me'aṭ): Hebrew for "small amount," "few," "insignificant." This highlights Laban's initial, modest possessions.
- which thou hadst: Refers to Laban's original flock, suggesting it was not prosperous before Jacob's arrival.
- before I came (לְפָנַי, ləp̄ānay): Literally "before my face" or "before my presence." It signifies the period prior to Jacob entering Laban's service, drawing a clear line between the past and present.
- and now: A contrasting temporal marker, shifting the focus to the current abundant state.
- it is increased (וַיִּפְרֹץ, wayyip̄rōṣ): The verb parats means "to burst forth," "to break through," "to spread abroad rapidly." It denotes an explosion of growth, far beyond normal or expected rates, suggesting divine intervention.
- unto a multitude (לָרֹב, lārōḇ): "In abundance," "in great measure." Reinforces the vastness of the increase.
- and the LORD (וַיְבָרֶךְ יְהוָה, waybarḵəḵā YHWH): Hebrew YHWH is the covenant name of God. Jacob explicitly attributes the blessing not to chance, human effort, or any pagan deity Laban might have acknowledged, but solely to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
- hath blessed thee (בֵּרַכְךָ, bêraḵḵā): From the root barak, meaning "to empower for success," "to confer prosperity." It's an active divine act, signifying an impartation of fruitfulness.
- since my coming (לְרַגְלִי, ləraḡlî): Literally "at my foot" or "following my steps." An idiom signifying "because of my presence" or "since I arrived." This links Jacob directly as the instrument through whom YHWH's blessing flowed, not as the source of the blessing itself.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and now it is increased unto a multitude": This emphatic contrast serves as Jacob's evidence for his next point. It highlights the stark difference in Laban's wealth, implying a powerful external force was at work during Jacob's tenure. It underscores that Laban’s current prosperity is a recent development.
- "and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming": This is the pivotal assertion. Jacob directly credits YHWH for Laban's prosperity. It is not Jacob taking credit for the increase through his own skill or diligence, but stating that his presence in Laban's house served as the conduit for divine blessing. This validates Laban's own prior admission in Gen 30:27 and sets the moral and spiritual foundation for Jacob's demand for just compensation.
Genesis 30 30 Bonus section
- This verse indirectly offers a subtle polemic against any belief in luck or other regional deities being responsible for prosperity. Jacob explicitly names YHWH as the source, reinforcing monotheism.
- The phrasing "since my coming" underscores a biblical principle: God's people can be a source of blessing to those around them, even if those individuals are not actively serving the Lord. This can be seen as an early fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant promise: "I will bless those who bless you" (Gen 12:3).
- Jacob's statement is not merely an observation; it is a calculated negotiation tactic, drawing upon an irrefutable truth and Laban's self-interest. It paves the way for the ingenious, divinely-guided method Jacob uses to establish his own wealth, highlighting God's active involvement in justly recompensing His servants.
- The overflowing "multitude" and "bursting forth" signify that God's blessings often transcend natural explanations and yield superabundant results. This demonstrates God's power to create wealth and fulfill promises despite human obstacles or deceptive schemes.
Genesis 30 30 Commentary
Genesis 30:30 encapsulates Jacob's strategy and the pervasive theme of divine blessing in Genesis. Jacob clearly and confidently articulates a truth that Laban has already acknowledged: the extraordinary increase of his flock is due to God's blessing through Jacob. This isn't Jacob boasting of his own skills, though he was undoubtedly diligent; instead, it's a testament to the sovereign hand of YHWH. God consistently works to fulfill His covenant promises of multiplication and blessing to Abraham's descendants, even in the difficult context of Jacob's servitude to Laban. Jacob's presence served as a divine magnet for prosperity, demonstrating that proximity to God's chosen can bring unexpected favor. This verse sets the stage for a critical negotiation, where Jacob appeals to God's proven faithfulness and Laban's admitted gain, to secure a fair portion for his own emerging family and future.