Genesis 30:18
in Genesis 30Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my maidservant to my husband.” So she named him Issachar.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I gave my handmaid to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.
KJV
And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.
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This verse in Genesis 30
Commentary
7 notes on this verse(Verse 17 and 18.) And God heard Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob her fifth son, and she said, 'God has given me my wages because I gave my maid to my husband.' And she called his name Issachar. The Septuagint Interpreters have given the etymology of this name, it is wages. Not that, as many wrongly read with an added pronoun, it is to be understood as written, which is wages, but the whole name is interpreted, it is wages.
This site's exposition
God listened to Leah
on Genesis 30:17-18
God listened to Leah, and she bore a fifth son, and the verse sets that directly after the bargain. Leah names the boy Issachar, hire, and reads him as her reward for giving her maidservant. Henry reads the birth as a mercy given, with the trade left where it stands.
This site's exposition
God has rewarded me
Adam Clarke splits the name as there is a wage. Leah reads the son as payment for giving her maidservant to Jacob, and Matthew Henry called that a strange reading of providence. He warned against taking God's favours as approval of human folly.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Leah was now blessed with two sons; the first she called Issachar ( a hire ), reckoning herself well repaid for her mandrakes, nay (which is a strange construction of the providence) rewarded for giving her maid to her husband. Note, We abuse God's mercy when we reckon that his favours countenance and patronize our follies.
And Leah said, God hath given me my hire,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
God hath given me my hire - שכרי sechari. And she called his name Issachar, יששכר, This word is compounded of יש yesh, Is, and שכר sachar, Wages, from שכר sachar, to content, satisfy, saturate; hence a satisfaction or compensation for work done, etc.
Modern Voices1 voice
A commentator
Chuck PierceUnderstanding Issachar: Interpreting the Times and Seasons! (article) (2010)
proposed
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!
The words behind it
12 Hebrew wordsEvery 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.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַתֹּ֣אמֶר | vatomer | and she said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לֵאָ֗ה | leah | Leah | H3812 → | 34 times |
| נָתַ֤ן | natan | he has given | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| אֱלֹהִים֙ | ʾelohim | God | H430 → | 2601 times |
| שְׂכָרִ֔י | sekhari | reward my | H7939 → | 28 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| נָתַ֥תִּי | natati | I gave | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| שִׁפְחָתִ֖י | shifchati | maidservant my | H8198 → | 63 times |
| לְאִישִׁ֑י | leishi | to husband my | H376 → | 1663 times |
| וַתִּקְרָ֥א | vatikra' | and she called | H7121 → | 733 times |
| שְׁמ֖וֹ | shemo | name his | H8034 → | 864 times |
| יִשָּׂשכָֽר׃ | yisoshkhar | Issachar | H3485 → | 43 times |
וַתֹּ֣אמֶרand she said
vatomerH559 →5305 times
לֵאָ֗הLeah
leahH3812 →34 times
נָתַ֤ןhe has given
natanH5414 →2011 times
אֱלֹהִים֙God
ʾelohimH430 →2601 times
שְׂכָרִ֔יreward my
sekhariH7939 →28 times
אֲשֶׁר־that
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
נָתַ֥תִּיI gave
natatiH5414 →2011 times
שִׁפְחָתִ֖יmaidservant my
shifchatiH8198 →63 times
לְאִישִׁ֑יto husband my
leishiH376 →1663 times
וַתִּקְרָ֥אand she called
vatikra'H7121 →733 times
שְׁמ֖וֹname his
shemoH8034 →864 times
יִשָּׂשכָֽר׃Issachar
yisoshkharH3485 →43 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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 Chronicles 12:32From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their kinsmen at their command.
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:17
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
- Luke 12:56–57
You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret the present time?
- Esther 1:13
Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice.
- Proverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
- Isaiah 33:6
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.
- Ephesians 5:17
Through
Genesis 35:23The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
it leads to
- Genesis 30:18–20
Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my maidservant to my husband.” So she named him Issachar.
- Genesis 30:18–20
Through
Deuteronomy 33:18Concerning Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys, and Issachar, in your tents.
it leads to
- Genesis 49:13–15
Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore and become a harbor for ships; his border shall extend to Sidon.
- Genesis 49:13–15
Through
Genesis 46:13The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron.
it leads to
- 1 Chronicles 12:32
From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their kinsmen at their command.
- 1 Chronicles 12:32
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Chuck Pierce, Understanding Issachar: Interpreting the Times and Seasons! (article); Jerome, Hebrew Questions on Genesis; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.