What does Genesis 30:24 mean?

After years of infertility, and a bitter competition with her own sister, Rachel has finally given birth to a natural son of her own. As a result, Rachel expressed her faith that God had given this son to her as a gift. In doing so, she declared in the previous verse that God had taken away the shame she carried as a childless wife. That culture would have viewed barrenness as a shameful, embarrassing condition. Now Rachel gives her son a name that also serves as a prayer for yet another son. Joseph means, in part, "may God add." The Hebrew for this name, Yowceph, is related to the word used earlier in the verse for "taking away" her shame, ā'sap, as well as the word used for "giving" of a future son, yacaph.

Favoritism, unfortunately, runs in Jacob's family. His mother and father were very clear about which child they each preferred (Genesis 25:28). Rebekah's preference for Jacob inspired her to help Jacob cheat his brother, Esau, out of a blessing from their father, Isaac (Genesis 27:5–10). Since he never wanted to marry her in the first place, Jacob demonstrates a clear "hatred" for his first wife Leah, in comparison to her sister and his adored second wife, Rachel (Genesis 29:18–30). Rather than learning a lesson from these imbalances, Jacob will instead follow suit, lavishing his favor on Joseph to such an extent that it fuels jealous revenge in the hearts of his other sons (Genesis 37:3–4).

The birth of Joseph increases the number of Jacob's sons to 11. It also seems to be the event that turns Jacob's thoughts to moving back to his home in the promised land of Canaan. Now that his true love, and favored wife, has borne a son, Jacob probably feels that he is ready to return home, and to face his future.