Genesis 30:24

24 And she named him Joseph, for she said, “May the LORD add yet another son to my family.”

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.

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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’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children.

23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. “God has removed my disgrace,” she said.

24 And she named him Joseph, for she said, “May the LORD add yet another son to my family.”

25 Soon after Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Please release me so I can go home to my own country.

26 Let me take my wives and children, for I have earned them by serving you, and let me be on my way. You certainly know how hard I have worked for you.”

Footnotes

• [a]. Joseph means “may he add.”