And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

GENESIS 30:39KJV
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Genesis 30:39 (KJV)

What does Genesis 30:39 mean?

Genesis 30:39 describes how Jacob’s flocks mated in front of rods he had set up, and as a result, the animals gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. This verse shows Jacob using an unusual method to influence the appearance of the newborn animals in his care.

In the story, Jacob is working for his father-in-law Laban and has made an agreement to keep only the oddly colored animals as his wages. Jacob places rods in front of the flocks during mating, hoping to increase the number of streaked and spotted animals. The verse highlights Jacob’s resourcefulness and the unusual breeding practice he used as part of his arrangement with Laban.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 30:39

  • "flocks" (צֹאן, tso'n): This word refers to sheep or goats in general, emphasizing that Jacob was dealing with the main livestock of the region.
  • "conceived" (יָחַם, yacham): This verb means to become hot or to be in heat, pointing to the animals’ mating behavior, not just general reproduction.
  • "ringstraked" (עָקֹד, aqod): This word describes animals with striped or banded markings, which is important because these were the types of animals Jacob was allowed to keep.
  • "speckled" (נָקֹד, naqod) and "spotted" (טָלוּא, talu’a): These words refer to animals with spots or patches, further clarifying the specific appearance of the animals Jacob was hoping to breed.

Why Genesis 30:39 matters

  • This verse helps clear up how Jacob’s agreement with Laban worked: only the animals with unusual markings would belong to Jacob, so the details about their appearance are important.
  • The verse shows Jacob’s practical ingenuity, using what he believed might influence the outcome, even if the method seems strange to modern readers.
  • Understanding the specific Hebrew words for the animal markings helps readers see how carefully the text distinguishes between different types of livestock, which is central to the story’s outcome.

Where else these words appear

“ringstraked” Hebrew H6124 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 30:35 And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
  • Genesis 30:40 And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.
  • Genesis 31:10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.

“spotted” Hebrew H2921 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 30:32 I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.
  • Genesis 30:33 So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.
  • Joshua 9:5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.

“speckled” Hebrew H5348 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 30:32 I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.
  • Genesis 30:35 And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
  • Genesis 31:10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.

“conceived” Hebrew H3179 · used in 9 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.
  • Genesis 31:10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.
  • Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.