This chapter continues the story of the conflict between Rachel and Leah.
In the ancient Near East, it was important for a married woman to have many children. If a woman did not have many children, people believed it brought shame upon her. This is one of the reasons why Rachel and Leah were always jealous of each other. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#jealous)
Speckled and spotted sheep were considered to be imperfect. Therefore, they were considered to be much less valuable than the spotless sheep. Despite Jacob's fair offer, Laban once again tried to cheat him out of something he deserved. Jacob anticipated Laban's cheating.
"When Rachel realized that she was unable to become preganant"
Rachel is exaggerating to show how upset she is about not having children. Alternate translation: "I will feel completely worthless" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-hyperbole)
"Cause me to become pregnant"
Jacob's anger is spoken of as if it were a fire. Alternate translation: "Jacob was very angry with Rachel" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
This is a rhetorical question that Jacob uses to scold Rachel. It can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "I am not God! I am not the one who is preventing you from having children!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
"Rachel said"
"Look" or "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"
At that time, this was an acceptable way for a barren woman to have children that would legally belong to her. The full meaning of this may be made explicit. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This is the name of Rachel's female servant. See how you translated this name in Genesis 29:29.
This is a polite way of asking him to have sexual relations with her servant. See how you translated a similar phrase in Genesis 16:2. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
This is a way of saying that the child that Bilhah gives birth to will belong to Rachel. Alternate translation: "for me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
"and in this way she will cause me to have children"
This is a polite way of saying that he had sexual relations with Bilhah. See how you translated a similar phrase in Genesis 16:2. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
This is the name of Rachel's female servant. See how you translated this name in Genesis 29:29.
"gave birth to a son for Jacob"
"Rachel gave him the name"
Translators may also add a footnote that says "The name Dan means 'he judged.'" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"Bilhah ... became pregnant again"
"gave birth to a second son for Jacob"
The phrase "wrestlings have I wrestled" is an idiom used for emphasis. It is also a metaphor that speaks of Rachel's attempts to have a child like her sister as if she were having a physical fight with Leah. Alternate translation: "I have had a great struggle to have children like my older sister, Leah" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
"I have won" or "I have succeeded"
Translators may also add a footnote that says "The name Naphtali means 'my struggle.'"
"When Leah became aware that"
"she gave Zilpah, her servant, to Jacob as a wife"
This is the name of Leah's female servant. See how you translated this in Genesis 29:24.
"gave birth to a son for Jacob"
"How fortunate!" or "What good luck!"
Translators may also add a footnote that says "The name Gad means 'fortunate.'"
This is the name of Leah's female servant. See how you translated this name in Genesis 29:24. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"gave birth to a second son for Jacob"
"How blessed I am!" or "How happy I am!"
"the women" or "the young women"
Translators may also add a footnote that says "The name Asher means 'happy.'" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"Reuben went out"
Here the phrase "in the days of" is an idiom that refers to the season or time of year. Alternate translation: "at the time of year of the wheat harvest" or "during the wheat harvest" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
This is a fruit that was said to increase fertility and the desire to sleep with one's lover. Alternate translation: "love fruit" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-unknown)
"Do you not care ... my husband?" This is a rhetorical question used to scold Rachel. This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "It is bad enough ... my husband." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
This is a rhetorical question, used to scold Rachel. This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "Now you want ... too!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
Here "lie with" is a euphemism. Alternate translation: "Then Jacob will have sexual relations with you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
Here "come to" is a euphemism for sexual relations. Alternate translation: "You must have sexual intercourse with me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
"for the price of my son's mandrakes." See how you translated "mandrake" in Genesis 30:14.
Here "lay with" is a euphemism. Alternate translation: "Jacob had sexual relations with Leah" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
"She became pregnant"
"gave birth to a fifth son for Jacob"
God rewarding Leah is spoken of as if he were a boss paying wages to someone who works for him. Alternate translation: "God has given my due" or "God has rewarded me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Translators may also add a footnote that says: "The name Issachar means 'there is a reward.'"
"Leah became pregnant again"
"gave birth to a sixth son for Jacob"
Translators may also add a footnote that says: "The name Zebulun means 'honor.'"
This is the name of Leah's daughter. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
The phrase "call to mind" means to remember. This does not mean God forgot about Rachel. It means he considered her request. Alternate translation: "God considered Rachel and granted to her what she wanted" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
God causing Rachel to no longer feel ashamed is spoken of as if "shame" were an object that person could take away from someone else. The abstract noun "shame" can be stated as "ashamed." Alternate translation: "God has caused me to no longer feel ashamed" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
Translators may also add a footnote that says: "The name Joseph means 'may he add.'" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
Rachel's first sons were through her female servant Bilhah.
"After Rachel gave birth to Joseph"
"so I can go"
Jacob is reminding Laban of their contract (Genesis Gen 29:27). The abstract noun "service" can be stated as "served." Alternate translation: "you know that I have served you long enough" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
"Laban said to Jacob"
The eyes represent seeing, and seeing represents thoughts or judgment. Alternate translation: "If I have found favor with you" or "If you are pleased with me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
This is an idiom that means that someone is approved of by someone else. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
"please stay, because"
"I have discovered by my own spiritual and magical practices"
"because of you"
This can be made more explicit. Alternate translation: "Tell me how much I have to pay to keep you here" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"Jacob said to Laban"
"how well your livestock have done since I started taking care of them"
"your herds were small before I worked for you"
"but now your wealth has greatly increased"
"Now when will I take care of my own family?" Jacob uses a question to emphasize that he wants to start providing for his own family. This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "Now I want to take care of my family!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
"What can I pay you" or "What can I give you." This can be made more explicit. Alternate translation: "What can I pay you so that you stay and work for me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
The connecting word "But" can be used at the beginning to show that what Jacob is about to say contrasts with what he just said. Alternate translation: "But if you will do this thing for me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-connectingwords)
The phrase "this thing" refers to what Jacob will propose in verse 32.
"feed and take care of your flock"
"and remove every sheep with spots, every black sheep, and every goat with spots"
"This will be the cost of keeping me here"
The word "integrity" means "honesty." This speaks about integrity as if it were a person who could testify for or against another person. Alternate translation: "And later you will know if I have been honest with you or not" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-personification)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "If you find any goats without spots or any sheep that are not black, you can consider them stolen" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"Let it be as you say" or "We will do what you have said"
"that had stripes and spots"
"that had spots"
"every goat that had some white in it"
"all the black sheep"
Here "hand" stands for control or care. Alternate translation: "had his sons take care of them" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
This page has intentionally been left blank.
These are all trees with white wood. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-unknown)
"he peeled off pieces of bark so that the white wood underneath would show"
long open containers for holding water for animals to drink
"The animals of the flocks conceived" or "The animals mated"
"gave birth to babies with stripes and spots"
It can be made explicit that this happened over several years. Alternate translation: "During the several years following, Jacob separated" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"look toward"
"he set his flocks apart"
Here the flock's "eyes" represent the sheep and emphasize what they see. Alternate translation: "so that the flock could see them" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
"in front of the sticks"
"the weaker animals"
"So the weaker offspring belonged to Laban, while the stronger offspring belonged to Jacob." You can make this even more explicit. Alternate translation: "So the weaker offspring did not have stripes or spots and so belonged to Laban, while the stronger offspring did have stripes or spots and so belonged to Jacob" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"Jacob"
"greatly prospered" or "became very wealthy"