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Genesis 30:15

in Genesis 30

But Leah replied, “Is it not enough that you have taken away my husband? Now you want to take my son’s mandrakes as well?” “Very well,” said Rachel, “he may sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken away my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to-night for thy son’s mandrakes.

KJV

And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.

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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.

Thou hast taken my husband - It appears probable that Rachel had found means to engross the whole of Jacob’s affection and company, and that she now agreed to let him visit the tent of Leah, on account of receiving some of the fruits or plants which Reuben had found.

This site's exposition

found some mandrakes in the field

on Genesis 30:14-16

Reuben finds mandrakes in the wheat harvest and brings them to his mother. Rachel asks for them, and Leah trades a night with their husband. Leah meets Jacob coming in from the field and tells him she has hired him, and that root names the son conceived that night.

This site's exposition

you have taken away my husband

Leah's charge shows who had Jacob's nights, and Adam Clarke took it that Rachel had kept him to herself. Matthew Henry compared the bargain to Jacob buying Esau's birthright with stew. Henry saw great folly in wanting a small thing that much.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Note, There may be great sin and folly in the inordinate desire of a small thing. Leah takes this advantage (as Jacob had of Esau's coveting his red pottage) to obtain that which was justly due to her, but to which Rachel would not otherwise have consented. Note, Strong passions often thwart one another, and those cannot but be continually uneasy that are hurried on by them.
And she said unto her,....

Modern Voices1 voice

The people of the tribe of Issachar would become servants to many, work for wages, and live a comfortable life. By understanding times, you will prosper!

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

IS IT A SMALL MATTER THAT THOU HAST TAKEN AWAY MY HUSBAND? The intent thereof is as follows: “Is it a small matter that you take my husband unto yourself as if you are his wife and I am the handmaid?
Ramban: Spain, 1194–1270 · Ramban on Genesis 30:15:1, via Sefaria, Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
‘DUDA’IM.’ These are ‘sigli’ (violets). In Arabic it is called jasmin. So I found in Rashi’s commentary.
Ramban: Spain, 1194–1270 · Ramban on Genesis 30:14:1, via Sefaria, Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

20 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.

  • וַתֹּ֣אמֶרand she said

    vatomerH559 →5305 times

  • לָ֗הּto <the> her

    lah

  • הַמְעַט֙¿ small

    hamatH4592 →101 times

  • קַחְתֵּ֣ךְtaking you

    kachtekhH3947 →966 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • אִישִׁ֔יhusband my

    ʾishiH376 →1663 times

  • וְלָקַ֕חַתand to take

    velakachatH3947 →966 times

  • גַּ֥םalso

    gamH1571 →769 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • דּוּדָאֵ֖י[the] mandrakes of

    dudaeiH1736 →6 times

  • בְּנִ֑יson my

    beniH1121 →4930 times

  • וַתֹּ֣אמֶרand she said

    vatomerH559 →5305 times

  • רָחֵ֗לRachel

    rachelH7354 →47 times

  • לָכֵן֙<to> therefore

    lakhenH3651 →771 times

  • יִשְׁכַּ֤בhe will lie

    yishkavH7901 →212 times

  • עִמָּךְ֙with you

    ʾimokhH5973 →1050 times

  • הַלַּ֔יְלָהthis night

    halaylahH3915 →233 times

  • תַּ֖חַתfor

    tachatH8478 →505 times

  • דּוּדָאֵ֥י[the] mandrakes of

    dudaeiH1736 →6 times

  • בְנֵֽךְ׃son your

    venekhH1121 →4930 times

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

Related verses

9 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.

Numbers 16:13Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also appoint yourself as ruler over us?4 worksIsaiah 7:13Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well?3 worksEzekiel 16:47And you not only walked in their ways and practiced their abominations, but soon you were more depraved than they were.3 works1 Corinthians 4:3I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.3 worksNumbers 16:9–10Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel and brought you near to Himself to perform the work at the LORD’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?3 worksLeviticus 18:18You must not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is still alive.3 works
The other 3 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Kings 16:31And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal.2 worksGenesis 30:20“God has given me a good gift,” she said. “This time my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” And she named him Zebulun.2 worksEzekiel 34:18Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink the clear waters? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?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

    Isaiah 7:13

    Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well?

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 43:24

      You have not bought Me sweet cane with your silver, nor satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities.

    • Malachi 2:17

      You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?” By saying, “All who do evil are good in the sight of the LORD, and in them He…

  • Through

    Ezekiel 16:47

    And you not only walked in their ways and practiced their abominations, but soon you were more depraved than they were.

    it leads to

    • 2 Kings 21:9

      But the people did not listen and Manasseh led them astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.

    • Ezekiel 5:6–7

      But she has rebelled against My ordinances more wickedly than the nations, and against My statutes worse than the countries around her. For her people have rejected My ordinances and have not walked in…

    • Ezekiel 16:51

      Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have multiplied your abominations beyond theirs, and all the abominations you have committed have made your sisters appear righteous.

    • Ezekiel 16:48

      As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did as you and your daughters have done.

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 4:3

    I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

    it leads to

    • John 7:24

      Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”

    • 1 Corinthians 2:15

      The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.

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; Chuck Pierce, Understanding Issachar: Interpreting the Times and Seasons! (article); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Genesis 30 →