Genesis 30
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 30
1 Rachel, seeing that it had not been granted to her to bear sons to Jacob, became jealous of her sister and said to Jacob, “Give me sons, or I shall die!”
2 Jacob was irritated with Rachel and said, “Am I God? He is the one who did not grant you the fruit of the womb.”
3 She answered, “Here is my servant Bilhah; sleep with her so that she may give birth upon my knees[a] and I also may have offspring through her.”
4 She gave her slave Bilhah to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her. 5 Bilhah conceived and bore a son to Jacob. 6 Rachel said, “God has been just to me and has also listened to my voice, giving me a son.” Because of this she named him Dan.
7 Bilhah, the slave of Rachel, conceived a second time and bore another son to Jacob. 8 Rachel said, “I have undergone a great struggle with my sister and I have won.” Because of this she named him Naphtali.
9 Leah, seeing that she had ceased bearing children, took her slave Zilpah and gave her as a wife to Jacob. 10 Zilpah, the slave of Leah, bore Jacob a son. 11 Leah said, “What good luck!” And she named him Gad.
12 Zilpah, the slave of Leah, bore a second son to Jacob. 13 Leah said, “What joy! The women shall call me truly happy.” Therefore, she named him Asher.
14 Around the time of the wheat harvest, Reuben found some mandrakes,[b] and he brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Give me a little of your son’s mandrakes.”
15 But Leah answered, “Is it not enough that you have taken away my husband? Why do you want to take away my son’s mandrakes as well?” Rachel answered, “Then he can lie with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”
16 That night, when Jacob arrived from the fields, Leah went out to him and said to him, “You must sleep with me because I paid for the right to have you with my son’s mandrakes.” Thus, he slept with her that night. 17 God heard Leah, and she conceived and bore a fifth son to Jacob. 18 Leah said, “God has rewarded me for having given my slave to my husband.” This is why she named him Issachar.
19 Leah conceived and bore a sixth son to Jacob. 20 Leah said, “God gave me a beautiful gift. This time my husband will prefer me because I have borne him six sons.” She therefore named him Zebulun.
21 She then bore a daughter and named her Dinah.
22 God also remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb. 23 She conceived and bore a son and said, “God has removed my dishonor.” 24 She named him Joseph saying, “May the Lord grant me another son.”
25 Jacob’s Means of Becoming Prosperous.[c] After Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Let me go and return to my homeland. 26 Give me my wives, for whom I have served you, and my children, so that I can leave. You know how I served you.”
27 Laban said to him, “If I have found favor with you, please stay, for through divination I have come to know that the Lord has blessed me because of you.” 28 He added, “Establish your salary and I will give it to you.”
29 He answered, “You know how I served you and how your possessions have multiplied through my work. 30 What little you had before I arrived has grown beyond measure, and the Lord has blessed you since my arrival. But now, when will I be able to work for myself as well?”
31 Laban then said, “What must I do for you?” Jacob answered, “You do not have to do anything if you will do the following for me. I will return to pasture your flock and watch over it. 32 Today I will pass through all the animals. I will separate every dark animal from among the sheep and every goat that is spotted or speckled. This will be my salary. 33 In the future, let my honesty answer for me. When you come to verify my salary, every animal that is not speckled or spotted from among the goats and those that are not dark from among the sheep, if you find them with me, will be considered to have been robbed.”
34 Laban said, “Good, let it be as you have said.” 35 That day he removed the speckled and spotted he-goats and the speckled and spotted she-goats, all of those that had some white on them, and every sheep that was a dark color. He placed the flock in the care of his sons, 36 and he determined that there should be a distance of a three days’ journey by camel from Jacob’s flock. Jacob cared for the rest of Laban’s flock.
37 But Jacob took fresh shoots of poplar, almond, and plane trees, and he made white[d] stripes in them by peeling the bark back down to the white core of the shoots. 38 He then took the shoots from which he had peeled the bark and he placed them in the channels, that is, in the watering troughs where the animals came to drink. They were placed where the animals could see them, and the animals mated when they came to drink. 39 Thus, the animals mated in the sight of the shoots, and the goats had kids that were streaked, speckled, and spotted.[e]
40 As for the sheep, Jacob separated them and had them face the animals that were streaked or fully dark of the flock of Laban. He put his own flock in a separate place; he did not put them together with Laban’s flock. 41 Every once in a while, the healthier animals mated, and Jacob would put the shoots in the trough where the animals could see them, so that they would mate in the sight of the shoots. 42 When the animals were weak, he did not put them there. Thus, the weak animals belonged to Laban, and those that were healthy belonged to Jacob. 43 He grew rich beyond measure and possessed great numbers of flocks, male and female slaves, and camels and donkeys.
Footnotes
- Genesis 30:3 Upon my knees: after birth a father customarily took a child on his lap to indicate it was his. Rachel appeals to this custom to show that Bilhah’s child is hers.
- Genesis 30:14 Mandrakes: the ancients regarded the mandrake or mandragora as an aphrodisiac and capable of promoting pregnancy.
- Genesis 30:25 For a long time, Laban has exploited the services of his nephew; now, despite their agreement, he deprives him of the speckled sheep and dark-colored goats to prevent him from obtaining a flock for himself. But Jacob has a trick or two up his sleeve.
- Genesis 30:37 Poplar . . . white: the Hebrew terms for these words are puns on the name Laban. As Jacob had gotten the best of Esau (whose other name, Edom, means “red”) by means of red stew (Gen 25:30), so he now tries to get the best of Laban (whose name means “white”) by means of white branches. In effect, Jacob is using Laban’s own tactic (deception) against him.
- Genesis 30:39 Jacob’s scheme works—but only because of God’s intervention (see Jacob’s own admission in Gen 31:9), not because of Jacob’s superstition.
Gênesis 30
Almeida Revista e Corrigida 2009
30 Vendo, pois, Raquel que não dava filhos a Jacó, teve Raquel inveja de sua irmã e disse a Jacó: Dá-me filhos, senão morro. 2 Então, se acendeu a ira de Jacó contra Raquel e disse: Estou eu no lugar de Deus, que te impediu o fruto de teu ventre? 3 E ela disse: Eis aqui minha serva Bila; entra a ela, para que tenha filhos sobre os meus joelhos, e eu assim receba filhos por ela. 4 Assim, lhe deu a Bila, sua serva, por mulher; e Jacó entrou a ela. 5 E concebeu Bila e deu a Jacó um filho. 6 Então, disse Raquel: Julgou-me Deus, e também ouviu a minha voz, e me deu um filho; por isso, chamou o seu nome Dã. 7 E Bila, serva de Raquel, concebeu outra vez e deu a Jacó o segundo filho. 8 Então, disse Raquel: Com lutas de Deus, tenho lutado com minha irmã e também venci; e chamou o seu nome Naftali.
9 Vendo, pois, Leia que cessava de gerar, tomou também a Zilpa, sua serva, e deu-a a Jacó por mulher. 10 E deu Zilpa, serva de Leia, um filho a Jacó. 11 Então, disse Leia: Vem uma turba; e chamou o seu nome de Gade. 12 Depois, deu Zilpa, serva de Leia, um segundo filho a Jacó. 13 Então, disse Leia: Para minha ventura, porque as filhas me terão por bem-aventurada; e chamou o seu nome Aser.
14 E foi Rúben, nos dias da sega do trigo, e achou mandrágoras no campo. E trouxe-as a Leia, sua mãe. Então, disse Raquel a Leia: Ora, dá-me das mandrágoras do teu filho. 15 E ela lhe disse: É já pouco que hajas tomado o meu marido? Tomarás também as mandrágoras do meu filho? Então, disse Raquel: Por isso, se deitará contigo esta noite pelas mandrágoras de teu filho. 16 Vindo, pois, Jacó, à tarde, do campo, saiu-lhe Leia ao encontro e disse: A mim entrarás, porque certamente te aluguei com as mandrágoras do meu filho. E deitou-se com ela aquela noite. 17 E ouviu Deus a Leia, e concebeu e teve um quinto filho. 18 Então, disse Leia: Deus me tem dado o meu galardão, pois tenho dado minha serva ao meu marido. E chamou o seu nome Issacar. 19 E Leia concebeu outra vez e deu a Jacó um sexto filho. 20 E disse Leia: Deus me deu a mim uma boa dádiva; desta vez morará o meu marido comigo, porque lhe tenho dado seis filhos. E chamou o seu nome Zebulom. 21 E, depois, teve uma filha e chamou o seu nome Diná. 22 E lembrou-se Deus de Raquel, e Deus a ouviu, e abriu a sua madre. 23 E ela concebeu, e teve um filho, e disse: Tirou-me Deus a minha vergonha. 24 E chamou o seu nome José, dizendo: O Senhor me acrescente outro filho.
25 E aconteceu que, quando Raquel teve a José, disse Jacó a Labão: Deixa-me ir; que me vá ao meu lugar e à minha terra. 26 Dá-me os meus filhos e as minhas mulheres, pelas quais te tenho servido, e ir-me-ei; pois tu sabes o meu serviço, que te tenho feito.
Labão faz um novo pacto com Jacó
27 Então, lhe disse Labão: Se, agora, tenho achado graça a teus olhos, fica comigo. Tenho experimentado que o Senhor me abençoou por amor de ti. 28 E disse mais: Determina-me o teu salário, que to darei. 29 Então, lhe disse: Tu sabes como te tenho servido e como passou o teu gado comigo. 30 Porque o pouco que tinhas antes de mim é aumentado até uma multidão; e o Senhor te tem abençoado por meu trabalho. Agora, pois, quando hei de trabalhar também por minha casa? 31 E disse ele: Que te darei? Então, disse Jacó: Nada me darás; tornarei a apascentar e a guardar o teu rebanho, se me fizeres isto: 32 passarei hoje por todo o teu rebanho, separando dele todos os salpicados e malhados, e todos os morenos entre os cordeiros, e o que é malhado e salpicado entre as cabras; e isto será o meu salário. 33 Assim, testificará por mim a minha justiça no dia de amanhã, quando vieres e o meu salário estiver diante de tua face; tudo o que não for salpicado e malhado entre as cabras e moreno entre os cordeiros ser-me-á por furto. 34 Então, disse Labão: Tomara que seja conforme a tua palavra. 35 E separou, naquele mesmo dia, os bodes listrados e malhados e todas as cabras salpicadas e malhadas, tudo em que havia brancura e todo o moreno entre os cordeiros; e deu-os nas mãos dos seus filhos. 36 E pôs três dias de caminho entre si e Jacó; e Jacó apascentava o resto dos rebanhos de Labão.
A maneira como Jacó se pagou de Labão
37 Então, tomou Jacó varas verdes de álamo, e de aveleira, e de castanheiro e descascou nelas riscas brancas, descobrindo a brancura que nas varas havia, 38 e pôs estas varas, que tinha descascado, em frente do rebanho, nos canos e nas pias de água, aonde o rebanho vinha a beber, e conceberam vindo a beber. 39 E concebia o rebanho diante das varas, e as ovelhas davam crias listradas, salpicadas e malhadas. 40 Então, separou Jacó os cordeiros e pôs as faces do rebanho para os listrados e todo moreno entre o rebanho de Labão; e pôs o seu rebanho à parte e não o pôs com o rebanho de Labão. 41 E sucedia que, cada vez que concebiam as ovelhas fortes, punha Jacó as varas diante dos olhos do rebanho nos canos, para que concebessem diante das varas. 42 Mas, quando enfraqueceu o rebanho, não as pôs. Assim, as fracas eram de Labão, e as fortes, de Jacó. 43 E cresceu o varão em grande maneira; e teve muitos rebanhos, e servas, e servos, e camelos, e jumentos.
Genesis 30
King James Version
30 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.
5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.
6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.
7 And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.
8 And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.
9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.
10 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.
11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
12 And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.
13 And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.
14 And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.
15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.
16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
17 And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.
18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.
19 And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.
20 And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.
21 And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
22 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:
24 And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.
25 And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.
26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.
27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake.
28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.
29 And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.
30 For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?
31 And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock.
32 I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.
33 So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.
34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.
35 And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
36 And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.
37 And Jacob 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.
38 And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.
39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.
40 And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.
41 And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.
42 But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.
43 And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.
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