And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.

GENESIS 30:37KJV
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Genesis 30:37 (KJV)

What does Genesis 30:37 mean?

Genesis 30:37 describes how Jacob took fresh branches from poplar, hazel, and chestnut trees, peeled off strips of bark to create white streaks, and exposed the white inner wood. Jacob prepared these rods as part of a plan involving his work with Laban’s flocks.

In this part of the story, Jacob is working for his father-in-law Laban and is trying to influence the appearance of the sheep and goats he is tending. The verse shows Jacob’s careful and intentional actions, setting up a method he believes will help him get more of the speckled and spotted animals, which he is allowed to keep as his wages.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 30:37

  • רַהַט (matteh, “rods”): This word refers to sticks or branches, emphasizing that Jacob used actual, physical pieces of wood in his process.
  • לָבָן (lavan, “white”): The word for “white” is used twice, highlighting the visual contrast Jacob created by peeling the rods to expose the lighter inner wood.
  • פָּצַל (patsal, “pilled/peeled”): This verb means to peel or strip off bark, showing Jacob’s deliberate action to change the appearance of the rods.
  • יַחַן (lach, “green/fresh”): The word for “green” here means fresh or moist, indicating that Jacob used living, flexible branches rather than dry wood.

Why Genesis 30:37 matters

  • This verse clears up that Jacob’s actions were intentional and methodical, not random or superstitious, showing his resourcefulness in a difficult situation.
  • The details about the types of trees and the peeling of bark set up the unusual breeding method Jacob uses, which becomes important in the next verses and affects the outcome of his agreement with Laban.
  • Understanding the specific steps Jacob took helps make sense of the wider story, where Jacob’s cleverness and God’s providence both play roles in how he prospers while working for Laban.

Where else these words appear

“poplar” Hebrew H3839 · used in 2 verses

  • Hosea 4:13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.

“tree” Hebrew H6196 · used in 2 verses

  • Ezekiel 31:8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.

“pilled” Hebrew H6478 · used in 2 verses

  • Genesis 30:38 And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.

“green” Hebrew H3892 · used in 6 verses

  • Numbers 6:3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
  • Judges 16:7 And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.
  • Ezekiel 17:24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.