‹ Chapter 29Genesis 30 of 50Chapter 31

Genesis 30:1

וַתֵּ֣רֶא
râʼâh
and — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
רָחֵ֗ל
Râchêl
Rachel, a wife of Jacob
כִּ֣י
kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֹ֤א
lôʼ
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָֽלְדָה֙
yâlad
to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב
Yaʻăqôb
to/for — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
וַתְּקַנֵּ֥א
qânâʼ
and — to be (causatively, make) zealous, i.e. (in a bad sense) jealous or envious
רָחֵ֖ל
Râchêl
Rachel, a wife of Jacob
בַּאֲחֹתָ֑הּ
ʼâchôwth
in/with/by — a sister (used very widely [like 251number 250, corrected to 251], literally and figuratively)
וַתֹּ֤אמֶר
ʼâmar
and — to say (used with great latitude)
אֶֽל
ʼêl
near, with or among; often in general, to
יַעֲקֹב֙
Yaʻăqôb
Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
הָֽבָה
yâhab
to give (whether literal or figurative); generally, to put; imperatively (reflexive) come
לִּ֣י
le-
to/for me/my
בָנִ֔ים
bên
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
וְאִם
ʼim
and — used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
אַ֖יִן
ʼayin
a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle
מֵתָ֥ה
mûwth
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
אָנֹֽכִי
ʼânôkîy
I
Genesis 30:1 · Masoretic Text (WLC)
AMPLIFIED · 1 of 3
When Rachel saw that she conceived no children for Jacob, she envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I will die.”
Rabbi's unlock
Genesis 30:1New

Rachel's jealousy over her sister's fertility, followed by giving her servant Bilhah to Jacob "so I can be built up from her," repeats Sarah's exact scheme with Hagar almost word for word (16:1-2) — same verbs for "saw," being "built up," and a husband who "listens to the voice" of his wife. The family that's supposed to be undoing Eden's failures keeps replaying its neighbors' failures instead, one generation after another, right down to the specific vocabulary.

that's everything Rabbi's current library has flagged for this passage — new sources are added every week
Today's memory verse · from this session
When Rachel saw that she conceived no children for Jacob, she envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I will die.”
Genesis 30:1
Ask Rabbi about this chapter