Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version but if the animals were weak, he would not place them there. So the weak animals went to Laban and the strong ones to Jacob. New Living Translation But he didn’t do this with the weaker ones, so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob’s. English Standard Version but for the feebler of the flock he would not lay them there. So the feebler would be Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s. Berean Standard Bible But if the animals were weak, he did not set out the branches. So the weaker animals went to Laban and the stronger ones to Jacob. Berean Literal Bible And the flock that were feeble, he did not put them in. So the feeble ones were to Laban, and the strong ones to Jacob. King James Bible But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. New King James Version But when the flocks were feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. New American Standard Bible but when the flock was sickly, he did not put them in; so the sickly were Laban’s, and the stronger were Jacob’s. NASB 1995 but when the flock was feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. NASB 1977 but when the flock was feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. Legacy Standard Bible but when the flock was feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. Amplified Bible but when the flock was sickly, he did not put the branches there; so the sicker [animals] were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. Berean Annotated Bible But if the animals were weak, he did not set out the branches. So the weaker animals went to Laban (white) and the stronger ones to Jacob (he grasps the heel). Christian Standard Bible As for the weaklings of the flocks, he did not put out the branches. So it turned out that the weak sheep belonged to Laban and the stronger ones to Jacob. Holman Christian Standard Bible As for the weaklings of the flocks, he did not put out the branches. So it turned out that the weak sheep belonged to Laban and the stronger ones to Jacob. American Standard Version but when the flock were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. Contemporary English Version But he would not put out the branches when the weaker animals were mating. So Jacob got all of the healthy animals, and Laban got what was left. English Revised Version but when the flock were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. GOD'S WORD® Translation But when the flocks in heat were weak, he didn't lay down the branches. So the weaker ones belonged to Laban and the stronger ones to Jacob. Good News Translation But he did not put the branches in front of the weak animals. Soon Laban had all the weak animals, and Jacob all the healthy ones. International Standard Version But he didn't put the branches in front of any of the feeble members of the flock. As a result, the feeble ones belonged to Laban, but the stronger ones belonged to Jacob. NET Bible But if the animals were weaker, he did not set the branches there. So the weaker animals ended up belonging to Laban and the stronger animals to Jacob. New Heart English Bible but for the weaker of the flock, he did not put them there. So the weaker would be Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s. Webster's Bible Translation But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut if the animals were weak, he did not set out the branches. So the weaker animals went to Laban and the stronger ones to Jacob. World English Bible but when the flock were feeble, he didn’t put them in. So the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand when the flock is feeble, he does not set [them]; and the feeble ones have been Laban’s, and the strong ones Jacob’s. Berean Literal Bible And the flock that were feeble, he did not put them in. So the feeble ones were to Laban, and the strong ones to Jacob. Young's Literal Translation and when the flock is feeble, he doth not set them; and the feeble ones have been Laban's, and the strong ones Jacob's. Smith's Literal Translation And in the sheep being feeble, he will not put in: and those being feeble, were to Laban, and those being strong, to Jacob. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut when the latter coming was, and the last conceiving, he did not put them. And those that were late ward, become Laban's: and they of the first time, Jacob's. Catholic Public Domain Version Yet when the late arrivals and the last to conceive were let in, he did not place these. And so those that arrived late became Laban’s, and those that arrived first became Jacob’s. New American Bible but with the weaker animals he would not put the shoots there. So the feeble animals would go to Laban, but the hardy ones to Jacob. New Revised Standard Version but for the feebler of the flock he did not lay them there; so the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut when the sheep were feeble, he did not put the rods in; so the feebler were Laban's and the stronger Jacob's. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And among the late breeders of the flock he was not laying it down, and the late breeders were for Laban and the early for Yaquuv. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917but when the flock were feeble, he put them not in; so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. Brenton Septuagint Translation But he did not put them in indiscriminately whenever the cattle happened to bring forth, but the unmarked ones were Laban's, and the marked ones were Jacob's. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jacob Prospers…41Whenever the stronger females of the flock were in heat, Jacob would place the branches in the troughs, in full view of the animals, so that they would breed in front of the branches. 42But if the animals were weak, he did not set out the branches. So the weaker animals went to Laban and the stronger ones to Jacob. 43Thus Jacob became exceedingly prosperous. He owned large flocks, maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys.… Cross References But if the animals were weak, he did not set out the branches. Isaiah 35:3-4 Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees! / Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak. / Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. / But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. So the weaker animals went to Laban Genesis 31:7-9 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. / Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me. Ezekiel 34:20-22 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says to them: ‘Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. / Since you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak ones with your horns until you have scattered them abroad, / I will save My flock, and they will no longer be prey. I will judge between one sheep and another. Jeremiah 22:13 “Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages, and the stronger ones to Jacob. Genesis 31:10-12 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.’ / ‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you. Hosea 12:12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram and Israel worked for a wife—for a wife he tended sheep. Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it. Genesis 31:9 Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me. Genesis 31:12 ‘Look up,’ he said, ‘and see that all the males that are mating with the flock are streaked, spotted, or speckled; for I have seen all that Laban has done to you. Genesis 31:41-42 Thus for twenty years I have served in your household—fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks—and you have changed my wages ten times! / If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment.” Genesis 32:10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant. Indeed, with only my staff I came across the Jordan, but now I have become two camps. Genesis 28:13-15 And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. / Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. / Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Exodus 12:36 And the LORD gave the people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that they granted their request. In this way they plundered the Egyptians. Exodus 3:21 And I will grant this people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that when you leave, you will not go away empty-handed. Treasury of Scripture But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. Jump to Previous Animals Cattle Feeble Feebler Flock Flocks Jacob Jacob's Laban's Ones Sheep Sticks Strong Stronger WeakJump to Next Animals Cattle Feeble Feebler Flock Flocks Jacob Jacob's Laban's Ones Sheep Sticks Strong Stronger WeakGenesis 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. But if the animals were weak, he did not set out the branches. This phrase highlights Jacob's strategic approach to breeding his flocks. In the context of Genesis 30, Jacob is using selective breeding techniques to increase his own wealth while working for Laban. The "branches" refer to the peeled rods Jacob placed in the watering troughs, which he believed influenced the animals' breeding outcomes. This practice reflects ancient beliefs about sympathetic magic, where visual stimuli were thought to affect physical outcomes. Jacob's decision not to use the branches with weaker animals suggests a deliberate effort to ensure that only the strongest animals would reproduce, thereby enhancing the quality of his own flocks. So the weaker animals went to Laban and the stronger ones to Jacob. Persons / Places / Events 1. JacobThe grandson of Abraham, son of Isaac, and husband to Leah and Rachel. He is a central figure in this passage, employing a strategy to increase his wealth. 2. Laban Jacob's uncle and father-in-law, who had a complex and often contentious relationship with Jacob. Laban's flocks are the subject of Jacob's breeding strategy. 3. Paddan-aram The region where Laban lived and where Jacob spent many years working for him. It is significant as the setting for Jacob's family and economic developments. 4. The Flocks The animals that Jacob tended for Laban, which became a source of wealth and contention between the two men. 5. The Branches Jacob used peeled branches as part of a selective breeding technique to influence the outcome of the flocks' offspring. Teaching Points Divine Providence and Human EffortJacob's actions demonstrate a blend of human ingenuity and divine blessing. While he employed a strategy, it was ultimately God who ensured his success. Believers are encouraged to work diligently while trusting in God's provision. Integrity in Relationships The relationship between Jacob and Laban was fraught with deception and manipulation. This serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of integrity and honesty in our dealings with others. God's Faithfulness Despite the challenges Jacob faced, God remained faithful to His promises. This encourages believers to trust in God's faithfulness, even when circumstances seem unfavorable. Wise Stewardship Jacob's management of the flocks shows the importance of wise stewardship of resources. Believers are called to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to them. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 30:42?2. How does Genesis 30:42 demonstrate God's sovereignty in Jacob's livestock strategy? 3. What role does faith play in Jacob's actions in Genesis 30:42? 4. How does Genesis 30:42 connect to God's promise to bless Jacob? 5. How can we apply Jacob's resourcefulness in Genesis 30:42 to our lives? 6. What does Genesis 30:42 teach about trusting God's provision in difficult situations? 7. How does Genesis 30:42 reflect God's involvement in human affairs and decisions? 8. What does Genesis 30:42 reveal about Jacob's character and his relationship with God? 9. How does Genesis 30:42 illustrate the theme of divine providence in the Bible? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 30? 11. Did Jacob agree to keep only speckled and spotted sheep? 12. In Genesis 30:37-39, does the idea that peeled branches can influence an animal's offspring have any support in modern biology? 13. In Genesis 30:32-36, how plausible is it for Jacob's selective breeding plan to produce spotted or speckled livestock solely through visual stimuli? 14. In Genesis 31:10-12, how could Jacob's dream and the striped rods realistically influence the genetics of the flocks? What Does Genesis 30:42 Mean But if the animals were weak• Jacob kept a close watch on the physical condition of Laban’s flock (Genesis 30:32-33). • He recognized that some ewes and goats were “feebler” and would produce less vigorous offspring (cf. Proverbs 27:23). • Because Jacob’s agreement with Laban rewarded him only for the streaked, speckled, or spotted animals, he was free to manage the breeding of the herd according to wisdom and discernment (Genesis 30:31-34; Luke 16:10). he did not set out the branches • Earlier Jacob had peeled fresh rods and placed them at the watering troughs when the stronger females came to drink and mate (Genesis 30:37-41). • When he saw a weaker group approach, he withheld the rods, knowing that withholding them would likely keep the feebler animals from producing the markings that would accrue to him. • This selective strategy, combined with God’s direct intervention revealed later in Jacob’s dream (Genesis 31:10-12), protected Jacob from taking advantage of Laban’s weaker stock while still honoring the terms of their contract (Colossians 3:23-24). So the weaker animals went to Laban • By avoiding the use of the rods in front of the feebler animals, Jacob ensured that the offspring without the desired markings remained Laban’s property (Genesis 30:35-36). • This outcome satisfied the original agreement and demonstrated Jacob’s integrity amid Laban’s repeated attempts to exploit him (Genesis 31:7). • God used the arrangement to expose Laban’s greed and to vindicate Jacob (Genesis 31:9; Psalm 37:7-9). and the stronger ones to Jacob • The healthier animals, influenced by Jacob’s careful management and by the Lord’s blessing, produced vigorous, marked offspring that became Jacob’s wages (Genesis 30:43). • Scripture stresses that the true source of Jacob’s increase was God’s covenant faithfulness, not mere husbandry technique (Genesis 31:42; Deuteronomy 8:18). • Jacob’s prosperity fulfilled God’s promise to bless him and advance the unfolding plan of redemption through his family line (Genesis 28:13-15; Psalm 75:6-7). summary Genesis 30:42 shows Jacob acting shrewdly yet fairly within the agreement he had with Laban. By withholding the peeled branches from weaker animals, he left the inferior stock to Laban while the stronger, marked animals became his own. Behind Jacob’s strategy stands the faithful hand of God, who protected him from exploitation, honored his hard work, and advanced His covenant purposes through the growth of Jacob’s flocks. Verse 42. - But when the cattle were feeble, - literally, in the covering (sc. with wool; hence weakening) of the flock, which took place in autumn - he put them not in (partly to prevent the introduction of feeble animals amongst his parti-colored flocks, but partly also, it is thought, to avoid prematurely exciting Laban's suspicion): so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew But if the animalsהַצֹּ֖אן (haṣ·ṣōn) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock were weak, וּבְהַעֲטִ֥יף (ū·ḇə·ha·‘ă·ṭîp̄) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's 5848: To shroud, clothe, to languish he did not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no set out the branches. יָשִׂ֑ים (yā·śîm) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set So the weaker animals הָעֲטֻפִים֙ (hā·‘ă·ṭu·p̄îm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 5848: To shroud, clothe, to languish went to וְהָיָ֤ה (wə·hā·yāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be Laban לְלָבָ֔ן (lə·lā·ḇān) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3837: Laban -- father-in-law of Jacob and the stronger ones וְהַקְּשֻׁרִ֖ים (wə·haq·qə·šu·rîm) Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural Strong's 7194: To tie, gird, confine, compact, in love, league to Jacob. לְיַעֲקֹֽב׃ (lə·ya·‘ă·qōḇ) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc Links Genesis 30:42 NIVGenesis 30:42 NLT Genesis 30:42 ESV Genesis 30:42 NASB Genesis 30:42 KJV Genesis 30:42 BibleApps.com Genesis 30:42 Biblia Paralela Genesis 30:42 Chinese Bible Genesis 30:42 French Bible Genesis 30:42 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 30:42 But when the flock were feeble he (Gen. 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