Genesis 30:37

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 30:37

37. Jacob took rods, c.—There are many varieties of the hazel, some of which are more erect than the common hazel, and it was probably one of these varieties Jacob employed. The styles are of a bright red color, when peeled and along with them he took wands of other shrubs, which, when stripped of the bark, had white streaks. These, kept constantly before the eyes of the female at the time of gestation, his observation had taught him would have an influence, through the imagination, on the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 30:25-43

9. Jacob’s new contract with Laban 30:25-43Jacob and Laban ("White") made an agreement that each man felt he could manipulate to his own advantage. However, God sovereignly overruled to bless Jacob as He had promised in spite of Laban’s deceit and Jacob’s deviousness (cf. Job 5:13; Psalms 7:15; 1 Corinthians 3:19).As the previous pericope shows how Yahweh provided descendants for Jacob as He had promised (seed), this one demonstrates how He made Jacob wealthy (blessing). In both cases God acted... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:1-43

Jacob’s Children. His Stratagem to Increase his Property1. Rachel envied her sister] To be childless was regarded as a great reproach: cp. Luke 1:25. Fruitfulness meant an addition of strength and prosperity to a family. 3. By this symbolic act Bilhah’s children would be legally regarded as Rachel’s: cp. Luke 16:1 note. 6. Dan] ’judging.’ God had judged her case and decided in her favour by giving her, after a fashion, a child. 8. Great wrestlings] lit. ’wrestlings of God,’ an emphatic... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 30:1-43

THE TÔLDÔTH ISAAC (Genesis 25:19 to Genesis 35:29). THE BIRTH OF ISAAC’S SONS.Abraham begat Isaac—The Tôldôth in its original form gave probably a complete genealogy of Isaac, tracing up his descent to Shem, and showing thereby that the right of primogeniture belonged to him; but the inspired historian uses only so much of this as is necessary for tracing the development of the Divine plan of human redemption.The Syrian.—Really, the Aramean, or descendant of Aram. (See Genesis 10:22-23.) The... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 30:37

(37) And Jacob took him rods . . . —Jacob’s plan was to place before the ewes and she-goats at breeding time objects of a speckled colour, and as he put them at their watering-place, where everything was familiar to them, they would, with the usual curiosity of these animals, gaze upon them intently, with the result, physically certain to follow, that many of them would bear speckled young.Poplar.—Really, the storax-tree (styrax officinalis). “This,” says Canon Tristram, “is a very beautiful... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 30:1-43

CHAPTER 30 Jacob with Laban 1. The sons of Bilhah: Dan and Naphtali (Genesis 30:1-8 ) 2. The sons of Zilpah: Gad and Asher (Genesis 30:9-13 ) 3. The children of Leah: Issachar, Zebulon and Dinah (Genesis 30:14-20 ) 4. The birth of Joseph (Genesis 30:22-24 ) 5. Jacob’s request to return (Genesis 30:25-26 ) 6. Laban’s confession and Jacob’s prosperity (Genesis 30:27-43 ) Little comment is needed on this. The avarice and deceit of Laban is matched by the dexterity and cunning of... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Genesis 30:37

30:37 And Jacob {l} took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which [was] in the rods.(l) Jacob used no deceit in this for it was God’s commandment as he declares in Genesis 31:9; Genesis 31:11. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:1-43

THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN RACHEL AND LEAH The fruitfulness of Leah moved Rachel to jealousy, then her demand to Jacob for children moves him to anger (vs.1-2). We may see a serious lesson in Rachel's words, "Give me children or else I die." If we do not see evident fruit, we have the tendency to give up: the exercise of soul that desires true godliness may virtually die. Many Christians have their proper growth stunted by this very thing. On the other hand, Jacob's anger does not help the... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:1-43

JACOB AND LABAN THEIR FIRST MEETING (Genesis 29:1-14 ) Jacob’s journey to Haran, his mother’s country, was first to the north and then the east, re-traversing the original course of his grandfather Abraham. As he nears its termination; his attention is attracted by the shepherds with their flocks around a well, whose mouth is covered with a stone. Inquiry reveals that they belong to Haran, and are acquainted with his uncle Laban. Rachel, his daughter and the keeper of his sheep, will be... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Genesis 30:1-43

In the Service of Laban Genesis 29-31 The story occupied by Genesis 29-31 represents one of the oft-recurring mysteries of human life. That is to say, in view of what has just taken place, that story seems to be an anti-climax, and is felt to be, in some serious sense, even a disappointment. It is almost impossible to bring the mind from the contemplations upon which it has just been fixed to read such an incident as that which spreads itself over these three chapters. When a man has seen... read more

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