Genesis 30:42

42 but if the animals were weak, he would not place them there. So the weak animals went to Laban and the strong ones to Jacob.

Genesis 30:42 in Other Translations

42 But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.

42 but for the feebler of the flock he would not lay them there. So the feebler would be Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.

42 But he didn’t do this with the weaker ones, so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob’s.

42 But he wouldn't set up the branches before the feebler animals. That way the feeble animals went to Laban and the sturdy ones to Jacob.

42 As for the weaklings of the flocks, he did not put out the branches. So it turned out that the weak sheep belonged to Laban and the stronger ones to Jacob.

Genesis 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.

Genesis 30:42 In-Context

40 Jacob set apart the young of the flock by themselves, but made the rest face the streaked and dark-colored animals that belonged to Laban. Thus he made separate flocks for himself and did not put them with Laban’s animals.

41 Whenever the stronger females were in heat, Jacob would place the branches in the troughs in front of the animals so they would mate near the branches,

42 but if the animals were weak, he would not place them there. So the weak animals went to Laban and the strong ones to Jacob.

43 In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

Cross References

• 1. Ge 31:1,9,16,43