Genesis 30:24

24 and she named him Joseph. Rachel said, "I wish the Lord would give me another son."

Genesis 30:24 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 30:24

And she called his name Joseph
Which signifies "adding", or rather, "to be added"; or, "God shall add", giving this reason for it; and said, the Lord shall add to me another son:
which is expressive of strong faith; that as she had begun to bear children, she should bear another, as she did; though some read the words as a wish or prayer, "may the Lord", or, "and that the Lord would add" F8; but our version seems best: the name Joseph is composed of two words, one which signifies to gather or take away, used in ( Genesis 30:23 ) , and another which signifies to add; and so has respect to the Lord's taking away her reproach, and adding to her another son: Melo, an Heathen writer, makes mention of Joseph by name, as Polyhistor F9 relates, and makes him the twelfth and last son of Abraham, whereas he was the eleventh of Jacob. He was born, as the Jews say F11, the twenty seventh of Tammuz or June, and lived one hundred and ten years.


FOOTNOTES:

F8 (Poy) "addat", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F9 Apud. Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 19. p. 421.
F11 Shalshal. ibid.

Genesis 30:24 In-Context

22 Then God remembered Rachel and answered her prayer, making it possible for her to have children.
23 When she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, she said, "God has taken away my shame,"
24 and she named him Joseph. Rachel said, "I wish the Lord would give me another son."
25 After the birth of Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, "Now let me go to my own home and country.
26 Give me my wives and my children and let me go. I have earned them by working for you, and you know that I have served you well."
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.