Genesis 30:36

36 Then he put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob, while Jacob continued to tend the rest of Laban’s flocks.

Genesis 30:36 in Other Translations

36 And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

36 And he set a distance of three days' journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the rest of Laban's flock.

36 who took them a three-days’ journey from where Jacob was. Meanwhile, Jacob stayed and cared for the rest of Laban’s flock.

36 Then he put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob. Meanwhile Jacob went on tending what was left of Laban's flock.

36 He put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob. Jacob, meanwhile, was shepherding the rest of Laban's flock.

Genesis 30:36 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 30:36

And he set three days' journey between himself and Jacob
Not three days' journey for a man, but for cattle; this distance there was between the place where Laban and his sons kept the spotted, speckled, and brown cattle, and that in which Jacob kept the flock only consisting of white sheep; and this was done, that the flocks might not be mixed, and that there might be no opportunity to take any of the spotted ones, and that they might not stray into Jacob's flock; or lest any of his seeing them might bring forth the like, such precaution was used: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flock;
those that remained after the spotted, speckled, and brown were taken out; and Jacob having none but white sheep, there was no great likelihood, according to the course of nature, of his having much for his hire; since he was only to have the spotted, speckled, and brown ones that came from them, and generally like begets like; and, according to the Jewish writers ^F16, those that were committed to his care were old and barren, and sick, and infirm, that so he might have no profit from them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 73. fol. 64. 1. Targum Jon. & Jarchi in loc.

Genesis 30:36 In-Context

34 “Agreed,” said Laban. “Let it be as you have said.”

35 That same day he removed all the male goats that were streaked or spotted, and all the speckled or spotted female goats (all that had white on them) and all the dark-colored lambs, and he placed them in the care of his sons.

36 Then he put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob, while Jacob continued to tend the rest of Laban’s flocks.

37 Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches.

38 Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink,

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 31:22; Exodus 3:18; Exodus 5:3; Exodus 8:27