Genesis 30:39
New International Version
they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.

New Living Translation
And when they mated in front of the white-streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted.

English Standard Version
the flocks bred in front of the sticks and so the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted.

Berean Standard Bible
they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.

King James Bible
And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

New King James Version
So the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted.

New American Standard Bible
So the flocks mated by the rods, and the flocks delivered striped, speckled, and spotted offspring.

NASB 1995
So the flocks mated by the rods, and the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted.

NASB 1977
So the flocks mated by the rods, and the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted.

Legacy Standard Bible
So the flocks mated by the rods, and the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted.

Amplified Bible
So the flocks mated and conceived by the branches, and the flocks gave birth to streaked, speckled, and spotted offspring.

Christian Standard Bible
The flocks bred in front of the branches and bore streaked, speckled, and spotted young.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The flocks bred in front of the branches and bore streaked, speckled, and spotted young.

American Standard Version
And the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth ringstreaked, speckled, and spotted.

Contemporary English Version
in front of the branches, and their young were spotted and speckled.

English Revised Version
And the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
they mated in front of the branches. Then they gave birth to young that were striped, speckled, or spotted.

Good News Translation
So when the goats bred in front of the branches, they produced young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted.

International Standard Version
When the flocks mated in front of the branches, they would bear offspring that were striped, speckled, or spotted.

Majority Standard Bible
they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.

NET Bible
When the sheep mated in front of the branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.

New Heart English Bible
the flocks bred in front of the branches, and the flocks brought bore streaked, speckled, and spotted.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ring-streaked, speckled, and spotted.

World English Bible
The flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks produced streaked, speckled, and spotted.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the flocks conceive at the rods, and the flock bears striped, speckled, and spotted ones.

Young's Literal Translation
and the flocks conceive at the rods, and the flock beareth ring-streaked, speckled, and spotted ones.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the sheep shall conceive at the rods, and shall bring forth sheep banded and speckled and patched.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it came to pass that in the very heat of coition, the sheep beheld the rods, and brought forth spotted, and of divers colours, and speckled.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And it happened that, in the very heat of joining together, the sheep looked upon the branches, and they bore the blemished and the variegated, those speckled with diverse color.

New American Bible
the goats mated by the shoots, and so they gave birth to streaked, speckled and spotted young.

New Revised Standard Version
the flocks bred in front of the rods, and so the flocks produced young that were striped, speckled, and spotted.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth lambs that were speckled and spotted.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the flock conceived lambs before the rods and the flock gave birth to white spotted forehead and spotted.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the flocks conceived at the sight of the rods, and the flocks brought forth streaked, speckled, and spotted.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
So the cattle conceived at the rods, and the cattle brought forth young speckled, and streaked and spotted with ash-coloured spots.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob Prospers
38Then he set the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of the flocks coming in to drink. So when the flocks were in heat and came to drink, 39they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. 40Jacob set apart the young, but made the rest face the streaked dark-colored sheep in Laban’s flocks. Then he set his own stock apart and did not put them with Laban’s animals.…

Cross References
Genesis 31:9-12
Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me. / When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females. / In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’ ...

Genesis 31:7-8
And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me. / If he said, ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore speckled offspring. If he said, ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then the whole flock bore streaked offspring.

Exodus 12:38
And a mixed multitude also went up with them, along with great droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.

Leviticus 19:19
You are to keep My statutes. You shall not crossbreed two different kinds of livestock; you shall not sow your fields with two kinds of seed; and you shall not wear clothing made of two kinds of material.

Deuteronomy 22:9
Do not plant your vineyard with two types of seed; if you do, the entire harvest will be defiled—both the crop you plant and the fruit of your vineyard.

Deuteronomy 22:10
Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.

Deuteronomy 22:11
Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.

1 Kings 3:14
So if you walk in My ways and keep My statutes and commandments, just as your father David did, I will prolong your days.”

1 Kings 4:33
He spoke of trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing in the wall, and he taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.

Ezekiel 34:17
This is what the Lord GOD says to you, My flock: ‘I will judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the goats.

Ezekiel 34:18
Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink the clear waters? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?

Ezekiel 34:19
Why must My flock feed on what your feet have trampled, and drink what your feet have muddied?’

Ezekiel 34:20
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says to them: ‘Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.

Ezekiel 34:21
Since you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak ones with your horns until you have scattered them abroad,

Ezekiel 34:22
I will save My flock, and they will no longer be prey. I will judge between one sheep and another.


Treasury of Scripture

And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

brought forth.

Genesis 31:9-12,38,40,42
Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me…

Exodus 12:35,36
And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: …

Jump to Previous
Bands Beareth Birth Bore Branches Bred Cattle Colour Conceive Conceived Flock Flocks Forth Front Marked Mated Ones Ring-Straked Ringstreaked Ring-Streaked Rods Sight Speckled Spotted Streaked Striped Young
Jump to Next
Bands Beareth Birth Bore Branches Bred Cattle Colour Conceive Conceived Flock Flocks Forth Front Marked Mated Ones Ring-Straked Ringstreaked Ring-Streaked Rods Sight Speckled Spotted Streaked Striped Young
Genesis 30
1. Rachel, in grief for her barrenness, gives Bilhah her maid unto Jacob.
5. Bilhah bears Dan and Naphtali.
9. Leah gives Zilpah her maid, who bears Gad and Asher.
14. Reuben finds mandrakes,
15. with which Leah buys her husband's company of Rachel.
17. Leah bears Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah.
22. Rachel bears Joseph.
25. Jacob desires to depart.
27. Laban detains him on a new agreement.
37. Jacob's policy, whereby he becomes rich.














And the flocks bred
The Hebrew word for "flocks" is "צֹאן" (tso'n), which refers to small livestock such as sheep and goats. In the ancient Near Eastern context, flocks were a primary source of wealth and sustenance. The breeding of flocks was a critical aspect of pastoral life, reflecting God's provision and blessing. The act of breeding here is not merely a biological process but is seen as part of God's providential care and Jacob's shrewdness in ensuring his prosperity.

in front of the branches
The Hebrew word for "branches" is "מַקֵּל" (maqqel), which can also mean rods or sticks. Jacob's use of branches is a fascinating example of ancient husbandry practices. He peeled the bark to create visual stimuli, which he believed would influence the appearance of the offspring. This practice, while not scientifically supported, demonstrates Jacob's resourcefulness and reliance on God's promise to bless him. It also reflects the cultural understanding of the time regarding animal husbandry.

and they bore young
The phrase "bore young" comes from the Hebrew "יָלַד" (yalad), meaning to give birth. This is a fulfillment of God's promise to Jacob, as the increase in his flocks signifies divine favor. In the broader biblical narrative, fruitfulness is often associated with God's blessing and covenant faithfulness. The increase in Jacob's flocks is a tangible sign of God's ongoing provision and the unfolding of His plan for Jacob's lineage.

that were streaked or speckled or spotted
The Hebrew words for "streaked," "speckled," and "spotted" are "עָקֹד" (aqod), "נָקֹד" (naqod), and "טָלֹא" (talo), respectively. These terms describe the specific patterns on the animals' coats, which were significant because they determined ownership according to Jacob's agreement with Laban. The appearance of these patterns is a testament to God's intervention and Jacob's cleverness. In a spiritual sense, it underscores the theme of divine justice and the idea that God can use even the seemingly mundane aspects of life to fulfill His promises and bring about His purposes.

Verse 39. - And the flocks conceived (ut supra) before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted. The fact is said to have been frequently observed that, particularly in the case of sheep, whatever fixes their attention in copulation is marked upon the young. That Jacob believed in the efficacy of the artifice he adopted is apparent; but the multiplication of Parti-colored animals it will be safer to ascribe to Divine blessing than to human craft.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
they
הַצֹּ֖אן (haṣ·ṣōn)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

mated
וַיֶּחֱמ֥וּ (way·ye·ḥĕ·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3179: To be hot, to conceive

in front of
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the branches.
הַמַּקְל֑וֹת (ham·maq·lō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4731: A shoot, stick

And they bore
וַתֵּלַ֣דְןָ (wat·tê·laḏ·nā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

young [that were]
הַצֹּ֔אן (haṣ·ṣōn)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

streaked
עֲקֻדִּ֥ים (‘ă·qud·dîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6124: Striped, streaked

or speckled
נְקֻדִּ֖ים (nə·qud·dîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 5348: Speckled

or spotted.
וּטְלֻאִֽים׃ (ū·ṭə·lu·’îm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural
Strong's 2921: To cover with pieces, to spot, variegate


Links
Genesis 30:39 NIV
Genesis 30:39 NLT
Genesis 30:39 ESV
Genesis 30:39 NASB
Genesis 30:39 KJV

Genesis 30:39 BibleApps.com
Genesis 30:39 Biblia Paralela
Genesis 30:39 Chinese Bible
Genesis 30:39 French Bible
Genesis 30:39 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Genesis 30:39 The flocks conceived before the rods (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 30:38
Top of Page
Top of Page