27
Labanלָבָןsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“If,אִםplease,נָאI have foundמָצָאתִיfavorחֵןin your eyes—בְּעֵינֶיךָI have learned by divinationנִחַשְׁתִּיthat YHWHיְהוָהhas blessed meוַיְבָרֲכֵנִיbecause of you.”בִּגְלָלֶךָ
Genesis 30:27
Study it in the app“Laban said to him, “If, please, I have found favor in your eyes— I have learned by divination that YHWH has blessed me because of you.””
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 30:27, word by word
- Labanלָבָןlavan
Laban
Laban, brother of Rebekah and father of Leah and Rachel, Jacob's father-in-law, who lived in Haran. Also a place in the wilderness.
Where else “lavan” appears- saidיֹּאמֶרyomer
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appears- I have foundמָצָאתִיmatsati
find favor
To find favor: to be well regarded by someone with power to give.
Where else “matsati” appears- favorחֵןchen
favor
Someone's goodwill toward another: looking on them kindly.
Where else “chen” appears- in your eyes—עֵינֶיene
sight
"In the eyes of" someone: in their view.
Where else “ene” appears- I have learned by divinationנִחַשְׁתִּיnichashti
divine
Practice divination: look for omens to learn hidden things.
Where else “nichashti” appears- that YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- has blessed meיְבָרֲכֵyevarache
bless
God gives good things: life, children, harvests.
Where else “yevarache” appears- because of youגְלָלֶgelale
because of
Because of, on account of.
Where else “gelale” appears
Translation note
Laban says he learned it by divination, a practice of his culture that God’s law would later forbid to Israel (Deuteronomy 18:10). The text only reports it.
The context
26Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served you, and let me go, for you know my service with which I have served you.”
27 · This verse (above)
28And he said, “Name your wages to me, and I will give it.”
To study Genesis 30 in a group
1. What it says
How did Jacob prosper with Laban’s flocks (vv. 37-43)?
2. What it means
What does the rivalry between Rachel and Leah over having children show (vv. 1, 14-15)?
3. How I live it
How can you rejoice in what others receive instead of comparing yourself with them?