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.

GENESIS 30:1KJV
Know the Bible

Genesis 30:1 (KJV)

What does Genesis 30:1 mean?

Genesis 30:1 shows Rachel’s pain at having no children with Jacob while her sister Leah has children. Rachel’s envy leads her to confront Jacob with an urgent demand, revealing how deeply the difference between the sisters affects her.

Rachel speaks directly to Jacob: “Give me children, or else I die.” Her words express desperate distress; the verse does not describe an immediate threat to her life. Coming after Leah’s births in the preceding passage, Rachel’s demand places the sisters’ rivalry at the center of the scene.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 30:1

  • “envied” — קָנָא (qana): This word can describe jealousy or envy directed toward another person. Here, Rachel’s feeling is directed specifically toward her sister, whose situation differs from her own.
  • “Give” — יָהַב (yahav): This word means “give.” Rachel’s command is addressed to Jacob, making him the person she presses to change her situation.
  • “children” — בֵּן (ben): This word often means “son,” and its plural form can refer to sons or children. The KJV’s “children” presents Rachel’s demand broadly, while the surrounding account has just named Leah’s sons.

Why Genesis 30:1 matters

  • Rachel’s demand sets up Jacob’s reply about the limits of his power. In the next verse, Jacob asks, “Am I in God’s stead?” and says that God has withheld children from her.
  • The rivalry continues through decisions about children. In Genesis 30:3, Rachel gives her servant Bilhah to Jacob so that Rachel may have children through her.
  • Rachel’s story changes later in the passage. Genesis 30:22–24 reports that God remembers Rachel and that she gives birth to Joseph.

Where else these words appear

“envied” Hebrew H7065 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 26:14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
  • 2 Samuel 21:2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them;(now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)
  • Proverbs 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

“else” Hebrew H369 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
  • 2 Chronicles 20:25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
  • Isaiah 41:24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.

“Give” Hebrew H3051 · used in 30 verses

  • Genesis 11:3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
  • Deuteronomy 32:3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
  • Job 6:22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

“Rachel” Hebrew H7354 · used in 44 verses

  • Genesis 29:6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.
  • Genesis 30:2 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?
  • Genesis 33:1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.