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Genesis 30:30

in Genesis 30

Indeed, you had very little before my arrival, but now your wealth has increased many times over. The LORD has blessed you wherever I set foot. But now, when may I also provide for my own household?”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it hath increased unto a multitude; and Jehovah hath blessed thee whithersoever I turned: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?

KJV

For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?

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This verse in Genesis 30

Commentary

6 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

For it was little which thou had before I came - Jacob takes advantage of the concession made by his father-in-law, and asserts that it was for his sake that the Lord had blessed him: Since my coming, לרגלי leragli, according to my footsteps - every step I took in thy service, God prospered to the multiplication of thy flocks and property.

This site's exposition

You know how I have served you

on Genesis 30:29-30

Jacob answers with an account of his service. Laban had very little before his arrival, and his wealth has increased many times over. Jacob dates the increase from the day he came. His closing question is when he may provide for his own household, with four women, eleven sons and a daughter to keep.

This site's exposition

wherever I set foot

The Berean's wherever I set foot renders a Hebrew phrase that Adam Clarke gives literally as according to his footsteps. He took it as every step in Laban's service. Laban had named the LORD's blessing first, at verse 27, and Jacob takes up the admission.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

HOMILIES ON GENESIS 57.4 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"I call you to witness my labors," he is saying. "I mean, you know how I did my best with good grace and how, after taking charge of your poor creatures, I made them grow into a vast herd through my attention and vigilance." Then, to show his godly attitude, he added, "The Lord, you see, has blessed you in my coming. So isn't it high time for me to build a house of my own?" You yourself know that after my arrival grace from on high increased your prosperity. So now, since I too have made every effort on my part with good grace in discharge of my service and the grace of God has become manifest, it is only fair that I too should build a house for myself." Now, what is the meaning of "build a house for myself"? It means, to live now in freedom and to pay attention to a house of one's own.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

For it was little which thou hadst before I came,.... Perhaps but a single flock, and that not a very large one, since Rachel, his youngest daughter, had the care of it: and it is now increased unto a multitude; or "broke forth" (m), spread itself over the fields and plains, hills and mountains adjacent, so that they were covered with his sheep, these bringing forth thousands and ten thousands, Psa 144:13, and the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming; or "at my foot" (n); ever since he set foot in his house.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Note, Humble saints take more pleasure in doing good than in hearing of it again. (2.) That he himself was bound in duty to take care of his own family: Now, when shall I provide for my own house also? Note, Faith and charity, though they are excellent things, must not take us off from making necessary provisions for our own support, and the support of our families.

The words behind it

18 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • כִּ֡יfor

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • מְעַט֩a little

    meatH4592 →101 times

  • אֲשֶׁר־which

    ʾasher-H834 →5497 times

  • הָיָ֨הit be[longed]

    hayahH1961 →3559 times

  • לְךָ֤to <the> you

    lekha

  • לְפָנַי֙<to> before me

    lefanaiH6440 →2123 times

  • וַיִּפְרֹ֣ץand it has increased

    vaiyifrotzH6555 →49 times

  • לָרֹ֔בto abundance

    laroH7230 →149 times

  • וַיְבָ֧רֶךְand he has blessed

    vayvarekhH1288 →330 times

  • יְהוָ֛הYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • אֹתְךָ֖<obj.> you

    ʾotekhaH853 →10935 times

  • לְרַגְלִ֑יto foot my

    leragliH7272 →247 times

  • וְעַתָּ֗הand now

    veatahH6258 →433 times

  • מָתַ֛יwhen?

    mataiH4970 →

  • אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֥הwill I work

    ʾeesehH6213 →2628 times

  • גַם־also

    gam-H1571 →769 times

  • אָנֹכִ֖יI

    ʾanokhiH595 →359 times

  • לְבֵיתִֽי׃for own household my

    leveitiH1004 →2046 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

13 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Genesis 26:12Now Isaac sowed seed in the land, and that very year he reaped a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him,11 works1 Timothy 5:8If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.9 worksGenesis 30:27But Laban replied, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.”7 worksGenesis 30:43Thus Jacob became exceedingly prosperous. He owned large flocks, maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys.6 worksGenesis 12:3I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”6 works2 Corinthians 12:14See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.5 works
The other 7 cross-references, with their words ▾
Deuteronomy 11:10For the land that you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated on foot, like a vegetable garden.3 worksJob 1:10Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.3 worksGenesis 1:22Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”3 worksGenesis 31:38I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flock.3 worksGenesis 39:3When his master saw that the LORD was with him and made him prosper in all he did,2 worksJudges 15:19So God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned, and he was revived. That is why he named it En-hakkore, and it remains in Lehi to this day.2 works1 Corinthians 16:2On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Timothy 5:8

    If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

    it leads to

    • Galatians 6:10

      Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

    • 2 Corinthians 12:14

      See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save…

    • Luke 11:11–13

      What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?

    • Isaiah 58:7

      Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own…

    • Titus 1:16

      They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

  • Through

    2 Corinthians 12:14

    See, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save…

    it leads to

    • Proverbs 19:14

      Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

    • Genesis 24:35–36

      “The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.

    • 1 Corinthians 10:33

      as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.

Where this verse is studied

About Genesis

The Tower of Babel, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, 1563. Public domain.
The Tower of Babel, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, 1563. Public domain.
Genesis: the study guide →Read Genesis 30 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 57.4; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Genesis 30 →