Genesis 30:42 kjv

But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.

Genesis 30:42 nkjv

But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban's and the stronger Jacob's.

Genesis 30:42 niv

but if the animals were weak, he would not place them there. So the weak animals went to Laban and the strong ones to Jacob.

Genesis 30:42 esv

but for the feebler of the flock he would not lay them there. So the feebler would be Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.

Genesis 30:42 nlt

But he didn't do this with the weaker ones, so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob's.

Genesis 30 verses

Genesis 30 42 Meaning

Genesis 30:42 details a specific aspect of Jacob's shrewd sheep breeding strategy employed during his service to Laban. When the animals were feeble, Jacob refrained from applying his special breeding technique involving striped rods. The result was that the weak offspring belonged to Laban, while the robust and healthy ones became Jacob's. This outcome reflects Jacob's deliberate and selective approach, divinely orchestrated, to accumulate wealth from Laban's flocks.

Genesis 30 42 Context

Genesis chapter 30 concludes the period of Jacob's service to Laban, which lasted for twenty years (Gen 31:41). Following Jacob's request to return home after eleven years, Laban, recognizing God's blessing through Jacob (Gen 30:27), offers him wages. Jacob then proposes a unique breeding scheme for their flocks: all spotted, speckled, or streaked goats, and dark sheep, would be his wage (Gen 30:31-33). Laban initially agrees but deceptively removes all such existing animals (Gen 30:35-36). In response, Jacob employs an elaborate, culturally-influenced method involving stripped branches placed before strong mating animals (Gen 30:37-39). Genesis 30:42 specifically highlights Jacob's selective application of this method, targeting only the vigorous animals, ensuring the weaker ones produced offspring for Laban, while the stronger offspring went to Jacob. This entire narrative unfolds within the broader context of Jacob's journey after fleeing Esau, his encounter with God at Bethel, and God's ongoing faithfulness in blessing and prospering him despite difficult circumstances and Laban's persistent trickery.

Genesis 30 42 Word analysis

• But when: Indicates a conditional exception or a specific circumstance under which a different action was taken.
• the flock: Refers specifically to the sheep and goats of Laban and Jacob. This collective noun highlights the main asset being disputed and multiplied.
• was feeble: (Hebrew: עָטֻף, 'aṭuf) Signifies weakness, sluggishness, faintness, or exhaustion. It describes animals lacking vigor or vitality, susceptible to producing weak offspring. Jacob was discerning about the health and potential of the breeding animals.
• he did not put them in: This refers to Jacob's deliberate action of withholding the peeled rods (mentioned in Gen 30:37-38). This shows his strategic decision-making; he applied his technique only to the strong and robust animals. It was not a blanket application but a calculated one.
• so: This conjunction clearly states the direct consequence or outcome of Jacob's selective breeding approach.
• the feebler were Laban's: (Hebrew: וְהָעֲטֻפִים לָבָן, w'ha'aṭufim Lābān) This explicitly states the distribution of the less desirable offspring. The weakened condition of the flock members meant weaker offspring, which by Jacob's design and Laban's unknowing agreement, became Laban's portion. This points to Laban receiving the inferior part of the herd.
• and the stronger Jacob's: (Hebrew: וְהַחֲסֹנִים לְיַעֲקֹב, w'haḥaṣonim l'Ya'aqōb) This declares the result for Jacob. "Stronger" (חָסֹן, chasōn) describes robust, vigorous, and healthy animals. These were the more valuable, productive animals. This verse emphasizes Jacob's successful accumulation of prime livestock.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "But when the flock was feeble, he did not put them in": This phrase highlights Jacob's strategic observation and selective manipulation. He was not haphazard in his method; rather, he discerned the condition of the animals and tailored his actions accordingly. This demonstrates shrewdness and foresight, operating under divine guidance as later revealed in Genesis 31:9-12.
  • "so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's": This establishes the stark contrast in outcomes. It portrays a divine justice unfolding through natural means, where Laban, who repeatedly deceived Jacob, ultimately received the inferior portion, while Jacob, whom God had promised to bless, received the superior and thriving portion. It is a direct statement of the unequal distribution of prosperity, favoring Jacob due to divine intervention working through his human ingenuity.

Genesis 30 42 Bonus section

• This episode subtly challenges ancient Near Eastern beliefs that natural prosperity was solely a result of specific pagan rituals or pure chance. While Jacob employed methods that might have had some folk basis, the biblical narrative firmly places the success of the method directly at God's feet. God saw Laban's mistreatment and intervened directly to favor Jacob, ensuring that even Jacob's "shrewd" actions became vehicles for divine blessing and justice.
• The emphasis on "feeble" vs. "stronger" also foreshadows larger biblical themes where God often empowers the weak (like Jacob, a younger son, fleeing from his brother) and subverts human expectations to accomplish His purposes (1 Cor 1:27).
• The prosperity gained by Jacob here is crucial for his eventual return to the Promised Land as a significant tribal leader, laying the material foundation for the future nation of Israel as promised by God at Bethel.

Genesis 30 42 Commentary

Genesis 30:42 succinctly describes Jacob's sophisticated manipulation of his breeding strategy against Laban. Far from being a mere superstitious practice, this verse reveals Jacob's shrewd discernment. He actively chose when and to whom to apply his breeding technique. By presenting the peeled rods only to the robust animals during mating, Jacob effectively secured the stronger, healthier offspring for his own flocks. The feebler ones, resulting from less controlled breeding conditions, were allocated to Laban. This division of the flock's increase reflects God's hand at work, turning Laban's deceptions into Jacob's gain, not solely through Jacob's cleverness, but ultimately by divine design. God explicitly reveals to Jacob in Genesis 31:9-12 that He was orchestrating these outcomes, having "seen all that Laban has been doing to you." This ensures that the prosperity is seen as a gift from God and an act of justice, fulfilling God's covenant promises to Jacob despite Laban's unfair practices. The seemingly "natural" process was thus imbued with divine intent, ensuring Jacob's eventual and abundant prosperity.