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Genesis 30:42

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 30:42 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “but when the flock were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban`s, and the stronger Jacob`s.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

but when the flock were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban`s, and the stronger Jacob`s.
Genesis 30:42 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 30

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
39And the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth ringstreaked, speckled, and spotted.
40And Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstreaked and all the black in the flock of Laban: and he put his own droves apart, and put them not unto Laban`s flock.
41And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger of the flock did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the flock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods;
42but when the flock were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban`s, and the stronger Jacob`s.
43And the man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, and maid-servants and men-servants, and camels and asses.
← Genesis 30:41Genesis 30:43 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in, etc.] Or “when covered”, as Menachem, that is, with wool, and so not so desirous of copulation with the males, nor so fit and strong for generation; and therefore he put not in the rods into the gutters, partly that he might have none feeble in his flock, and partly that he might not spoil Laban of his whole flock, strong and weak: so the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s; not only his flocks became more numerous than Laban’s, but were a better quality.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“30:42 Laban now received due recompense for his treatment of Jacob. Laban’s attempt to defraud Jacob resulted in Jacob’s coming out ahead, because God was at work in his life.”
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Related study paths

Read Genesis 30 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification