Genesis 30:30

30 The few you had before I came have increased substantially; ADONAI has blessed you wherever I went. But now, when will I provide for my own household?"

Genesis 30:30 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 30:30

For [it was] little which thou hadst before I [came]
Perhaps but a single flock, and that not a very large one, since Rachel, his youngest daughter, had the care of it: and it is [now] increased unto a multitude;
or "broke forth" ^F13, spread itself over the fields and plains, hills and mountains adjacent, so that they were covered with his sheep, these bringing forth thousands and ten thousands, ( Psalms 144:13 ) ; and the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming;
or "at my foot" ^F14; ever since he set foot in his house. Aben Ezra observes it as a proverbial saying, such an one has a good foot, a lucky one, wherever he comes a blessing or success goes with him; or the meaning may be, wherever Jacob went or led his flock, and fed it, it prospered, the blessing of God going with him. Onkelos renders it, "for my sake"; and so it is the same with what Laban had observed and owned, ( Genesis 30:27 ) ; and now, when shall I provide for mine own house?
suggesting it was his duty to do it, and it was high time he did it, since he had a large family to provide for; see ( 1 Timothy 5:8 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F13 (Urpy) "erupit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius.
F14 (ylgrl) "ad pedem meum", Montanus, Piscator, Drusius, Schmidt.

Genesis 30:30 In-Context

28 Name your wages," he said; "I will pay them."

29 Ya'akov replied, "You know how faithfully I have served you and how your livestock have prospered under my care.

30 The few you had before I came have increased substantially; ADONAI has blessed you wherever I went. But now, when will I provide for my own household?"

31 Lavan said, "What should I give you?""Nothing," answered Ya'akov, "just do this one thing for me: once more I will pasture your flock and take care of it.

32 I will also go through the flock and pick out every speckled, spotted or brown sheep, and every speckled or spotted goat; these and their offspring will be my wages.