Genesis 30:37

37 Then Jacob took young branches of trees, cutting off the skin so that the white wood was seen in bands.

Genesis 30:37 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 30:37

And Jacob took him rods of green poplar
Of the white poplar tree, called green, not from the colour, but from the moisture, being such as were cut off of the tree: and of the hazel and chestnut tree;
the former some take to be the almond tree, as Saadiah Gaon, and others; and the latter to be the plantain or plane tree, so Ainsworth, and others: and pilled white strakes in them;
took off the bark of them in some places, and left it on in others, which made white strakes: and made the white appear which [was] in the rods;
that part of the rods which was stripped of the bark appeared white; and it appeared the whiter for the bark that was left on in other parts; and both made the rods to appear to have various colours, which was the design of Jacob in pilling them.

Genesis 30:37 In-Context

35 So that day he took all the he-goats which were banded or coloured, and all the she-goats which were marked or coloured or had white marks, and all the black sheep, and gave them into the care of his sons;

36 And sent them three days' journey away: and Jacob took care of the rest of Laban's flock.

37 Then Jacob took young branches of trees, cutting off the skin so that the white wood was seen in bands.

38 And he put the banded sticks in the drinking-places where the flock came to get water; and they became with young when they came to the water.

39 And because of this, the flock gave birth to young which were marked with bands of colour.