Genesis 30:35

35 But that day he removed the streaked and spotted male goats and all the speckled and spotted female goats, all that [had] white on it, and every dark-colored ram, and {put them in the charge of his sons}.

Genesis 30:35 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 30:35

And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked
and spotted
That had strakes of a different colour from the rest on their shoulders, thighs, logs, or feet, or in any part of the body: the word here used stands in the room of that before translated "speckled"; this Laban did, as the context shows; he went about it immediately at the motion of Jacob, with which he was pleased: and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted;
so that there might be neither male nor female of those mixed colours; this he did to prevent any generation of them: [and] everyone that had [some] white in it;
any white spot in it, as the Targum of Jonathan; that is, everyone of the brown or black colour, that had any white in it: and all the brown among the sheep:
that were entirely so: and, gave [them] into the hands of his sons;
not the sons of Jacob, as some in Aben Ezra; for they were not fit for the care of a flock, the eldest son, Reuben, not being seven years of age; but the sons of Laban, who were now grown up and fit for such service.

Genesis 30:35 In-Context

33 And my righteousness will answer for me {later} when you come concerning my wages before you. Every [one] that [is] not speckled or spotted among the goats, or dark-colored among the sheep shall be stolen [if it is] with me."
34 Then Laban said, "Look! Very well. It shall be according to your word."
35 But that day he removed the streaked and spotted male goats and all the speckled and spotted female goats, all that [had] white on it, and every dark-colored ram, and {put them in the charge of his sons}.
36 And he put a journey of three days between him and Jacob, and Jacob pastured the remainder of Laban's flock.
37 Then Jacob took fresh branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled white strips on them, exposing the white which [was] on the branches.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. That is, Laban
  • [b]. Literally "he gave into the hands of his sons"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.