Bereshis 30:42

42 But when the tzon were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler would belong to Lavan, and the stronger to Ya’akov.

Bereshis 30:42 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 30:42

And when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in
Or "when covered", as Menachem, that is, with wool, and so not so desirous of copulation with the males, nor so fit and strong for generation; and therefore he put not in the rods into the gutters, partly that he might have none feeble in his flock, and partly that he might not spoil Laban of his whole flock, strong and weak: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's;
not only his flocks became more numerous than Laban's, but were a better quality.

Bereshis 30:42 In-Context

40 And Ya’akov did separate the kesavim, and set the faces of the tzon toward the streaked, and all the dark in the tzon Lavan; and he put his own adarim (flocks) by themselves, and put them not unto the tzon Lavan.

41 And it came to pass, whensoever tzon hamekusharot (the stronger flock) did breed, that Ya’akov set the maklot before the eyes of the tzon in the trough channels, that they might breed among the maklot.

42 But when the tzon were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler would belong to Lavan, and the stronger to Ya’akov.

43 And the ish increased exceedingly, and had much tzon, and shefachot, and avadim, and gemalim, and chamorim.