Genesis 30:43 kjv

And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

Genesis 30:43 nkjv

Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

Genesis 30:43 niv

In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

Genesis 30:43 esv

Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

Genesis 30:43 nlt

As a result, Jacob became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys.

Genesis 30 verses

Genesis 30 43 Meaning

Genesis 30:43 describes the remarkable increase in Jacob's wealth during his service to Laban. Despite Laban's deceptive practices, God supernaturally prospered Jacob, enabling him to acquire vast holdings of livestock, servants, camels, and donkeys. This verse highlights the tangible manifestation of God's covenantal blessing and His faithfulness to Jacob, overturning Laban's attempts to diminish him.

Genesis 30 43 Context

Genesis 30:43 concludes the narrative of Jacob's intricate arrangement with Laban concerning the division and breeding of their flocks. Jacob, having served Laban for twenty years, seeks to establish his own household and fortune. The agreement stipulates that Jacob would take all the speckled, spotted, and dark sheep and goats, while the rest would belong to Laban. Laban, being cunning, removes all such animals before the new arrangement began, hoping to minimize Jacob's share. However, the subsequent verses, especially Gen 30:37-42, describe Jacob's method involving peeled branches before the flocks. While this appears to be a naturalistic explanation, the preceding verse (Gen 30:42) states that this method worked specifically for the "stronger" animals, implying a selective outcome beyond Jacob's full control. Ultimately, the tremendous and disproportionate prosperity described in Gen 30:43 is presented as a result of divine intervention and blessing (as Jacob himself later testifies in Gen 31:9), overriding Laban's repeated attempts to cheat Jacob out of his due wages and fulfilling God's covenantal promises to Jacob from Bethel.

Genesis 30 43 Word analysis

• And the man (w'ha'ish וְהָאִישׁ): Refers specifically to Jacob. The definite article highlights his central role in the narrative and his distinct identity from Laban.
• became exceedingly prosperous (vayyiphrotz me'od me'od וַיִּפְרֹץ מְאֹד מְאֹד):
  • vayyiphrotz (from root פָּרַץ, paratz): Meaning "to break forth," "to burst out," "to spread abroad," "to increase suddenly and powerfully." This word signifies an explosive, uncontrollable growth. It implies God breaking through Laban's schemes and multiplying Jacob beyond natural expectations or limitations.
  • me'od me'od (מְאֹד מְאֹד): This is a powerful Hebrew intensive adverb, meaning "very, very much," "exceedingly exceedingly," "to a superlative degree." The repetition emphasizes the extraordinary, supernatural, and unprecedented scale of Jacob's prosperity. It conveys hyper-abundance and immeasurable increase.
• and had large flocks (wattehi loh tzon rabbah me'od וַתְּהִי־לוֹ צֹאן רַבָּה מְאֹד):
  • tzon rabbah (צֹאן רַבָּה): Refers to sheep and goats (flocks) that were "great in quantity." The term tzon is a general term for small cattle.
  • me'od: Again, emphasizes the "very great" quantity of the flocks.
• female servants, male servants, camels, and donkeys (u-shfakhote wa-`avadim u-gemalim wa-chamorim וּשְׁפָחוֹת וַעֲבָדִים וּגְמַלִּים וַחֲמֹרִים): This comprehensive list itemizes the diverse forms of wealth in a pastoral and nomadic society. These assets were direct indicators of a household's size, labor force, trade capacity, and overall prosperity.
  • Female servants (shfakhote) and male servants (`avadim): Essential for managing vast flocks and household affairs, indicating a growing household and influence.
  • Camels (gemalim): Valuable for long-distance travel, trade, and carrying heavy loads, signifying considerable wealth and logistical capability.
  • Donkeys (chamorim): Used for transport, labor, and smaller-scale journeys, also a significant asset for mobility and agricultural tasks.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "The man became exceedingly prosperous": This phrase directly links Jacob's immense success to the paratz root, portraying it not as incremental growth but as an explosive divine breakthrough, overcoming all obstacles posed by Laban.
  • "large flocks, female servants, male servants, camels, and donkeys": This is a precise enumeration of tangible wealth markers in ancient Near Eastern culture. The accumulation of all these assets signals comprehensive and abundant prosperity, directly contrasting Jacob's initial poverty when he fled to Laban with only his staff (Gen 32:10). This full list underscores the fulfillment of God's blessing in every domain.

Genesis 30 43 Bonus section

• The prosperity described in Gen 30:43 stands in direct refutation of Laban's repeated deceptions (Gen 31:7, 41), underscoring that God's plan cannot be thwarted by human malice or greed. Jacob later explicitly states that God Himself "has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me" (Gen 31:9), clearly attributing his success to divine intervention rather than his own clever breeding techniques alone.
• The unusual method Jacob employed with the streaked and speckled branches, detailed in verses 37-40, is presented as having produced specific results. However, it's crucial to read this within the larger narrative of divine blessing. Verse 42 highlights that only the "stronger" of the flocks were affected, while the "weaker" ones were not. This suggests that the outcome was not merely a mechanical effect of Jacob's methods but rather God supernaturally intervening, guiding the outcomes of the breeding, making certain animals conceived under particular conditions to be Jacob's. This prosperity, therefore, is ultimately a testament to God's sovereign hand in upholding His covenant promises and providentially caring for His chosen servant.
• This material wealth for Jacob was also preparatory. It provided the resources (livestock, servants, supplies) for him to safely return to Canaan, face Esau, and establish the tribal patriarchs, laying the foundational prosperity for the formation of the nation of Israel.

Genesis 30 43 Commentary

Genesis 30:43 powerfully encapsulates the result of God's providential care and covenant faithfulness to Jacob. Despite being consistently defrauded and oppressed by Laban, Jacob's wealth grew not just steadily, but "exceedingly exceedingly" – a divine exaggeration of natural increase. The term paratz, "broke forth," speaks to a supernatural expansion that bursts through all constraints, signifying God's unstoppable power working on Jacob's behalf. The enumeration of his possessions, from vast flocks to various types of servants and animals, paints a vivid picture of a man who rose from destitution to immense affluence, all due to the hand of God. This prosperity was not merely material gain; it was a visible sign that God was honoring His promises made to Jacob at Bethel (Gen 28:15) and actively building the nascent nation of Israel through His chosen patriarch, regardless of human obstacles or cunning. It teaches that divine blessing often manifests tangibly, turning human disadvantage into divine advantage, showcasing God's sovereignty over even the most unfair circumstances.