Genesis 30:43 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

NIV: In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

NASB: So the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

CSB: And the man became very rich. He had many flocks, female and male slaves, and camels and donkeys.

NLT: As a result, Jacob became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys.

KJV: And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

NKJV: Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

Jacob's deal with Laban for the off-color animals to be born in the flocks (Genesis 30:25–34) seemed, at first, to be another way in which Laban would take advantage of his son-in-law (Genesis 29:18–30). His greed is so potent that even his own daughters (Genesis 29:16), who are bitter rivals (Genesis 30:8), will later unify in condemning their father for his attitude (Genesis 31:14–16). Not only does Laban agree to what seems to be a ridiculously good deal, he tries to cheat Jacob by stripping the flocks of the very animals Jacob needs to produce in order to make his wages (Genesis 30:35–36).

Since God is on Jacob's side, Laban's tactics won't work. Instead, with God's intervention and Jacob's crafty strategy, the deal made Jacob a wealthy man in his own right. So many off-color sheep and goats were born into the flock that Jacob was apparently able to sell some of them to acquire male and female servants of his own, as well as camels and donkeys.

The Lord promised great things to Jacob before he arrived in Laban's territory. Now God has demonstrated that His blessing continues to be on Jacob. Soon Jacob will be ready at last to return to the land of his own people.

Genesis 30:25-43 describes Jacob's struggle to convince Laban to allow him to return to his own people with his wives and children, even though the 14 years of Jacob's contracted service have ended. Laban asks Jacob to name new wages to continue to work for him. Laban knows he has grown wealthy due to the Lord's blessing on Jacob. Jacob asks to own all the new off-color sheep and goats that will be born to Laban's flock. Laban agrees and quickly tries to cheat Jacob. Nevertheless, the Lord blesses Jacob's unusual breeding practices, causing so many off-color animals to be born in the flock that Jacob becomes a wealthy man in his own right. Soon he will leave Laban behind for good.

God alone gives children. He causes babies to be born. He even determines what color baby sheep and goats will be. Genesis 30 describes the urgent desire of Rachel and Leah to have sons for Jacob and how God hears and grants their prayers in His own time. In addition, God blesses Jacob's unusual breeding practices with Laban's flocks to finally allow Jacob to overcome his father-in-law's schemes to keep Jacob under his service.

In the previous chapter, Laban tricked Jacob both into marrying Leah along with Rachel and into working for him as a servant for a total of fourteen years. God blessed unloved Leah by allowing her to bear four sons to Jacob. As this chapter opens, Rachel remains barren while Leah and both of their servant women continue to bear sons. Finally God answers Rachel's prayer, allowing her to bear Joseph. His contract completed, Jacob demands Laban send him away to his own people. Laban refuses, asking Jacob to set new terms for his service. Jacob's deal, along with the Lord's blessing and his unusual breeding practices with the flocks, results in Jacob becoming a wealthy man in his own right. This wealth and power will enable him to finally break free and return home.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.