Genesis 30 · Verse 38

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 30:38, King James Version

Genesis 30:38 in other translations

BSB	Then he set the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of the flocks coming in to drink. So when the flocks were in heat and came to drink,
WEB	He set the rods which he had peeled opposite the flocks in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. They conceived when they came to drink.
ASV	And he set the rods which he had peeled over against the flocks in the gutters in the watering-troughs where the flocks came to drink; and they conceived when they came to drink.
YLT	and setteth up the rods which he hath peeled in the gutters in the watering troughs (when the flock cometh in to drink), over-against the flock, that they may conceive in their coming in to drink;
DARBY	And he set the rods which he had peeled before the flock, in the troughs at the watering-places where the flock came to drink, and they were ardent when they came to drink.
BBE	And he put the banded sticks in the drinking-places where the flock came to get water; and they became with young when they came to the water.
Webster	And he set the rods, which he had peeled, 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.

What does Genesis 30:38 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

38. watering troughs--usually a long stone block hollowed out, from which several sheep could drink at once, but sometimes so small as to admit of only one drinking at a time.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 38 And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks - It has long been an opinion that whatever makes a strong impression on the mind of a female in the time of conception and gestation, will have a corresponding influence on the mind or body of the fetus. This opinion is not yet rationally accounted for. It is not necessary to look for a miracle here; for though the fact has not been accounted for, it is nevertheless sufficiently plain that the effect does not exceed the powers of nature; and I have no doubt that the same modes of trial used by Jacob would produce the same results in similar cases. The finger of God works in nature myriads of ways unknown to us; we see effects without end, of which no rational cause can be assigned; it has pleased God to work thus and thus, and this is all that we know; and God mercifully hides the operations of his power from man in a variety of eases, that he may hide pride from him. Even with the little we know, how apt are we to be puffed up! We must adore God in a reverential silence on such subjects as these, confess our ignorance, and acknowledge that nature is the instrument by which he chooses to work, and that he performs all things according to the counsel of his own will, which is always infinitely wise and infinitely good.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 30:25-43

The fourteen years being gone, Jacob was willing to depart without any provision, except God's promise. But he had in many ways a just claim on Laban's substance, and it was the will of God that he should be provided for from it. He referred his cause to God, rather than agree for stated wages with Laban, whose selfishness was very great. And it would appear that he acted honestly, when none but those of the colours…

Read the full comment on Genesis 30:25-43 →

Genesis 30:38 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיַּצֵּ֗גvai.ya.Tzegand he placedH3322

אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853

הַמַּקְלוֹת֙ha.mak.loTthe branchesH4731

אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherwhichH834

פִּצֵּ֔לpi.Tzelhe had strippedH6478

בָּרֳהָטִ֖יםbo.ro.ha.Timin the drinking troughsH7298

בְּשִֽׁקֲת֣וֹתbe.shi.ka.Totin [the] watering channels ofH8268

הַמָּ֑יִםha.Ma.yim<the> waterH4325

אֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherwhichH834

תָּבֹ֨אןָta.Vo.nathey cameH935

הַצֹּ֤אןha.Tzonthe flockH6629

לִשְׁתּוֹת֙lish.toTto drinkH8354

לְנֹ֣כַחle.No.khachto beforeH5227

הַצֹּ֔אןha.Tzonthe flockH6629

וַיֵּחַ֖מְנָהvai.ye.Cham.nahand they matedH3179

בְּבֹאָ֥ןbe.vo.'Anwhen came theyH935

לִשְׁתּֽוֹת\׃lish.Totto drinkH8354

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Context

Genesis 30:37
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 30:38
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 30:39
And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

Read all of Genesis 30

Genesis 30:38 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y puso las varas que había mondado en las pilas, delante del ganado, en los abrevaderos del agua donde venían á beber las ovejas, las cuales se recalentaban viniendo á beber.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et il plaça les branches, qu’il avait pelées, devant le bétail dans les auges, dans les abreuvoirs où le bétail venait boire; et le bétail entrait en chaleur lorsqu’il venait boire;
German Elberfelder 1871	Und er legte die Stäbe, die er geschält hatte, in die Tränkrinnen, in die Wassertränken, wohin die Herde zu trinken kam, vor die Herde hin; und sie wurde brünstig, wenn sie zu trinken kam.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Posuitque eas in canalibus, ubi effundebatur aqua: ut cum venissent greges ad bibendum, ante oculos haberent virgas, et in aspectu earum conciperent.