Genesis 30:4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 30:1-13

We have here the bad consequences of that strange marriage which Jacob made with the two sisters. Here is, I. An unhappy disagreement between him and Rachel (Gen. 30:1, 2), occasioned, not so much by her own barrenness as by her sister's fruitfulness. Rebekah, the only wife of Isaac, was long childless, and yet we find no uneasiness between her and Isaac; but here, because Leah bears children, Rachel cannot live peaceably with Jacob. 1. Rachel frets. She envied her sister, Gen. 30:1. Envy is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:4

And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid ,.... To be enjoyed as a wife, though she was no other than a concubine; yet such were sometimes called wives, and were secondary ones, and were under the proper lawful wife, nor did their children inherit; but those which Jacob had by his wives' maids did inherit with the rest: and Jacob went in unto her ; consenting to what Rachel his wife proposed to him: having concubines, as well as more wives than one, were not thought criminal in those times,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 30:1-13

Rachel and Leah, or unholy rivalry. I. RACHEL 'S ENVY OF LEAH . 1. The insufficient cause . "She saw that she bare Jacob no children," while Leah had begun to have a family. Though commonly regarded by Hebrew wives as a peculiarly severe affliction, childlessness was not without its compensations, which Rachel should have reckoned. Then the motherhood of Leah was the good fortune of a sister, in which Rachel should have lovingly rejoiced; and both the barrenness and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 30:4

And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her . "Whence we gather that there is no end of sin where once the Divine institution of marriage is neglected" (Calvin). Jacob began with polygamy, and is now drawn into concubinage. Though God overruled this for the development of the seed of Israel, he did not thereby condone the offense of either Jacob or Rachel. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 30:1-43

- Jacob’s Family and Wealth6. דן dān, Dan, “judge, lord.”8. נפתלי naptālı̂y, Naphtali, “wrestling.”11. גד gād, Gad, “overcoming, victory.” בגד bāgād, “in victory or” =גד בא bā' gād, “victory cometh.” גוּד gûd, “press down.” גדוּד gedûd, “troop.”13. אשׁר 'ǎashēr, Asher, “prosperity, happiness.”18. ישׂשכר yı̂śāskār, Jissakar, “reward.” The second Hebrew letter (ש s) seems to have been merely a full mode of writing the word, instead of the abbreviated form ישׂכר yı̂śākār.20.... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:1-24

Children born in Haran (29:31-30:24)Jacob’s coolness to Leah created unhappiness in his household. Leah’s desire for Jacob’s love is seen in the names she gave her first four sons (31-35). Rachel, feeling ashamed that she had not yet produced a child herself, gave her slave-girl to Jacob so that the slave-girl might produce a son whom Rachel could adopt as her own. The result was two sons (30:1-8; cf. 16:1-4). Leah, believing she was not able to have any more children, did the same, and soon... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 30:1-42

The last paragraph of the preceding chapter and most of this one relate the birth of the Twelve Patriarchs. The last section of this chapter (Genesis 30:24-43) relates Jacob's preparations to leave Laban and return to Canaan. As the birth of the antediluvian patriarchs was discussed earlier and presented by means of a chart, the Twelve Patriarchs of Israel will now be presented in much the same manner. It is not necessary to read over and over again that Jacob went in unto her ... and she... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 30:1-8

Rachel’s reaction to her barrenness and Jacob’s response contrast with how Rebekah and Isaac, and Sarah and Abraham behaved in similar circumstances. Sarah resorted to a custom acceptable in her culture, though contrary to God’s will, to secure an heir for Abraham (cf. Genesis 16:1-2). Isaac prayed that God would open Rebekah’s womb and waited (Genesis 25:21). Rachel and Jacob followed the example of Sarah and Abraham.The conflict between Rachel and Leah focuses on love and motherhood. Rachel... 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