1
Ἰδοῦσα δὲ Ραχηλ ὅτι οὐ τέτοκεν τῷ Ιακωβ, ἐζήλωσεν Ραχηλ τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτῆς καὶ εἶπεν τῷ Ιακωβ Δός μοι τέκνα· εἰ δὲ μή, τελευτήσω ἐγώ.
And Rachel, seeing that she had borne nothing to Jacob, was jealous of her sister and said to Jacob, 'Give me children; for if not, I shall die.'
The chapter opens in medias res with Rachel's perception (Ἰδοῦσα, aorist participle) as the causal trigger for the entire birth-contest. The adversative δέ contrasts implicitly with Leah's fertility in chapter 29. The emotional main verb ἐζήλωσεν ('was jealous of') is followed immediately by Rachel's despairing demand in direct speech — Δός μοι τέκνα εἰ δὲ μή τελευτήσω ἐγώ — that sets the dramatic stakes of the whole chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
ἸδοῦσαseeingAor Act Ptcp Nom Sg Fem · ὁράωcircumstantial participle (causal: 'upon seeing')→ constative aorist (completed act of perception)ὁράω: 'see, perceive'; the aorist participle places Rachel's jealousy as causally consequent on her observation of her own barrenness alongside Leah's fertility — the same verb used of Isaac 'seeing' that the daughters of Canaan were evil (Gen 28:8).
δέand/butnarrative conjunction (mild adversative)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΡαχηλRachelnominative subject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΡαχηλ: LXX transliteration of Hebrew רָחֵל ('ewe'); Jacob's beloved second wife, whose barrenness and eventual motherhood of Joseph and Benjamin is a key arc of the patriarchal narrative.
ὅτιthatsubordinating conjunction (introducing content of perception)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐnotnegation→ participant referenceοὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negation.
τέτοκενshe had bornePerf Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb of ὅτι-clause→ perfect of resultant state (her not-bearing is the persistent, present condition driving the jealousy)τίκτω: 'give birth, bear'; the perfect emphasizes the enduring state of barrenness — she has borne nothing and remains so; this chapter's root-verb for birth and the fertility-contest throughout.
τῷtoDativearticle (with proper noun)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙακωβJacobdative of advantage (indirect object: 'to/for Jacob')→ participant identificationΙακωβ: indeclinable LXX form of Hebrew יַעֲקֹב; the dative marks Jacob as the one to whom a child would be born — the patriarch's genealogical line is the stakes.
ἐζήλωσενwas jealous of / enviedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ζηλόωmain verb (narrative action: emotional response)→ constative aorist (Rachel's jealousy as a completed state of onset)ζηλόω: 'be jealous, envy, be zealous'; here the negative sense — covetous desire — rather than the positive zeal; cf. 1 Cor 13:4 ἡ ἀγάπη οὐ ζηλοῖ. The root ζῆλος can mean divine zeal (John 2:17) or human envy; context here is clearly envy, rendering Hebrew קִנְאָה.
ΡαχηλRachelnominative subject (repeated — Hebraizing pleonasm)→ participant identificationΡαχηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (repeated — Hebraizing pleonasm).
τήνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτήν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφήνsisterAccusativedirect object of ἐζήλωσεν→ object specificationἀδελφή: 'sister'; the sibling relationship intensifies the rivalry — Λεια and Ραχηλ are daughters of the same father Laban (Gen 29:16); the envy is familial as well as marital.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'her sister')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'her sister').
καίandnarrative conjunction (sequential action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
τῷtoDativearticle (with proper noun)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙακωβJacobdative of indirect object→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
ΔόςgiveAor Act Impv 2 Sg · δίδωμιimperative (urgent demand in direct speech)→ ingressive aorist imperative (punctiliar demand: 'give — now')δίδωμι: 'give'; the aorist imperative signals urgency — not a polite request but a despairing command; Rachel conflates Jacob's agency with God's, treating fertility as something he can simply grant.
μοιmeDativedative of indirect object (ethical dative: 'give me')→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (ethical dative: 'give me').
τέκναchildrenAccusativedirect object→ object specificationτέκνον: 'child'; anarthrous plural expresses Rachel's raw desire for offspring of any kind — the absence of the article makes the need feel absolute and generic.
εἰifconditional particle (first-class condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastεἰ: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δέbutadversative conjunction (contrasting the 'if not' from the demand)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μήnotnegation in conditional→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
τελευτήσωI shall dieFut Act Indic 1 Sg · τελευτάωapodosis of condition (threat / hyperbole)→ predictive future (Rachel presents death as the inevitable consequence of barrenness)τελευτάω: 'come to an end, die'; renders Hebrew אָמוּת; Rachel's declaration of impending death from barrenness is the chapter's emotional apex at the outset — barrenness experienced as social and personal annihilation.
ἐγώINominativenominative subject (emphatic pronoun: 'I myself shall die')→ participant referenceἐγώ: meaning 'I'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as nominative subject (emphatic pronoun: 'I myself shall die').
2
θυμωθεὶς δὲ Ιακωβ τῇ Ραχηλ εἶπεν Μὴ ἀντὶ θεοῦ ἐγώ εἰμι, ὃς ἐστέρησέν σε καρπὸν κοιλίας;
And Jacob was angry with Rachel and said, 'Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?'
Jacob's participial response (θυμωθεὶς) makes his anger the framing emotion for his theological rebuttal. The rhetorical question expecting a negative answer (μή …;) deflects Rachel's demand by asserting God's exclusive sovereignty over the womb; Jacob refuses the role of divine proxy. The relative clause (ὃς ἐστέρησέν σε) surprisingly assigns the withholding to God — an unusual directness in the ancestral narrative.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
θυμωθείςbeing angeredAor Pass Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · θυμόομαιcircumstantial participle (manner/attendant emotion)→ ingressive aorist (onset of Jacob's anger)θυμόομαι: 'be angry, be wrathful'; the cognate noun θυμός denotes passionate indignation; deponent passive form; Jacob's anger is his only direct emotional response to Rachel in this scene.
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙακωβJacobnominative subject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable proper noun).
τῇwithDativearticle (with proper noun, in dative of person at whom anger is directed)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΡαχηλRacheldative of disadvantage (person against whom anger is directed)→ participant identificationΡαχηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of disadvantage (person against whom anger is directed).
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
Μήsurely notinterrogative negative particle (rhetorical question expecting 'no' answer)→ discourse linkage or contrastμή in questions: signals that a negative answer is expected — 'Surely I am not in the place of God?' Jacob uses the rhetorical form to deny divine prerogative.
ἀντίinstead of / in place ofpreposition + genitive (substitution: 'in the place of')→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'instead of, in place of'; the theological force is decisive — Jacob refuses to be treated as a substitute for θεός in granting fertility; the preposition alone carries the theological argument.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive (object of ἀντί: 'in place of God')→ relational specificationθεός: anarthrous — 'God' as a category/role rather than a specific named deity; Jacob implicitly acknowledges God's exclusive sovereignty over the womb.
ἐγώINominativepredicate nominative (emphatic: 'I myself')→ participant referenceἐγώ: meaning 'I'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as predicate nominative (emphatic: 'I myself').
εἰμιamPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb (in rhetorical question)→ gnomic present (stating a general truth about Jacob's role)εἰμί: 'be'; ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος renders אֲנִי יהוה.
ὅςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (nominative, referring to θεός — introducing causal relative clause)→ participant referenceὅς: meaning 'who'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (nominative, referring to θεός — introducing causal relative clause).
ἐστέρησένhas withheld / deprivedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · στερέωmain verb of relative clause (double accusative construction)→ constative aorist (God's withholding as a completed act)στερέω: 'deprive, withhold'; takes double accusative (person deprived + thing withheld): σε (you) and καρπόν (fruit); God is the explicit agent of Rachel's barrenness — Jacob's word is theologically blunt.
σεyouAccusativeaccusative of person deprived (first object of στερέω)→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative of person deprived (first object of στερέω).
καρπόνfruitAccusativeaccusative of thing withheld (second object of στερέω)→ object specificationκαρπός: 'fruit, produce'; καρπὸς κοιλίας = 'fruit of the womb,' the standard LXX expression for offspring; cf. Luke 1:42 ὁ καρπὸς τῆς κοιλίας σου (Elizabeth to Mary) — a NT echo of this very idiom.
κοιλίαςof the wombGenitivegenitive (partitive / fixed phrase: 'fruit of the womb')→ relational specificationκοιλίας: meaning 'of the womb'; it serves as genitive (partitive / fixed phrase: 'fruit of the womb').
3
εἶπεν δὲ Ραχηλ τῷ Ιακωβ Ἰδοὺ ἡ παιδίσκη μου Βαλλα· εἴσελθε πρὸς αὐτήν, καὶ τέξεται ἐπὶ τῶν γονάτων μου, καὶ τεκνοποιήσομαι κἀγὼ ἐξ αὐτῆς.
And Rachel said to Jacob, 'See, my maidservant Bilhah — go in to her, and she shall bear upon my knees, and I too shall be made a mother through her.'
Rachel's solution to Jacob's theological rebuttal is the ancient surrogate-birth institution: the maid bears on the mistress's knees and the child is legally reckoned to the mistress. The formula τέξεται ἐπὶ τῶν γονάτων μου is the adoption idiom (cf. Gen 48:12; 50:23). The emphatic κἀγώ ('I too') asserts Rachel's legal maternity through the surrogate.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΡαχηλRachelnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΡαχηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
τῷtoDativearticle (with proper noun)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙακωβJacobdative of indirect object→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
Ἰδούsee / beholdpresentative particle (introducing the proposed solution)→ discourse linkage or contrastἰδού: presentative particle rendering Hebrew הִנֵּה; introduces a new actor or development, here the maid Βαλλα as Rachel's proposed remedy; a standard LXX discourse marker.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίσκηmaidservantNominativesubject of noun clause after ἰδού→ participant prominenceπαιδίσκη: 'young female slave, maidservant'; the social institution of surrogate birth through a slave-wife has its closest Genesis parallel in Sarah giving Hagar to Abraham (Gen 16:2), explicitly recalled as precedent; the LXX uses παιδίσκη consistently for this role.
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
ΒαλλαBilhahnominative appositive (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΒαλλα: LXX form of Hebrew בִּלְהָה; Rachel's maidservant; her two sons Δαν and Νεφθαλι will be legally reckoned to Rachel in the tribal roll of Israel.
εἴσελθεgo in toAor Act Impv 2 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιimperative (direct command: first step of the surrogacy arrangement)→ ingressive aorist imperativeεἰσέρχομαι πρός: 'go in to' — the standard LXX euphemism for sexual union (cf. Gen 16:2; 29:21); the same idiom recurs in v.4 (εἰσῆλθεν δὲ Ιακωβ πρὸς αὐτήν).
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (goal: completing the idiom εἴσελθε πρός)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal: completing the idiom εἴσελθε πρός).
αὐτήνherAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.
καίandcoordinate conjunction (result clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τέξεταιshe shall bearFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain clause (predicted result of the union)→ predictive future (confident expectation of birth)τίκτω: 'give birth'; the future middle (deponent) predicts the outcome Rachel counts on; the verb is the chapter's birth-word used throughout.
ἐπίuponpreposition + genitive (locative: 'upon my knees')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (locative: 'upon my knees').
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γονάτωνkneesGenitivegenitive (object of ἐπί: locative of the adoption ceremony)→ relational specificationγόνατα: 'knees'; τέξεται ἐπὶ τῶν γονάτων μου is the ancient adoption formula: the child born while placed on the adopting parent's knees is legally reckoned as hers (cf. Gen 48:12; 50:23); Rachel's legal motherhood depends on this ritual.
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τεκνοποιήσομαιI shall acquire children / be made a motherFut Mid Indic 1 Sg · τεκνοποιέωmain clause (Rachel's goal through the surrogate)→ predictive future (confident expectation)τεκνοποιέω: 'acquire/have children'; compound of τέκνον + ποιέω; middle voice emphasizes Rachel's personal acquisition of children through the proxy arrangement — the verb encodes the legal fiction at the heart of surrogate birth.
κἀγώI too / I alsoNominativeadverbial nominative (emphatic: 'even I')→ participant prominenceκἀγώ: crasis of καὶ ἐγώ; the emphatic pronoun asserts Rachel's claim to be a mother despite Βαλλα's physical role — the κἀγώ is the hinge of Rachel's legal argument.
ἐξfrom / throughpreposition + genitive (source/means: 'through her')→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (source/means: 'through her').
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive (object of ἐκ: 'through her' = through Bilhah)→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (object of ἐκ: 'through her' = through Bilhah).
4
καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ Βαλλαν τὴν παιδίσκην αὐτῆς αὐτῷ γυναῖκα· εἰσῆλθεν δὲ Ιακωβ πρὸς αὐτήν.
And she gave him Bilhah her maidservant to him as a wife; and Jacob went in to her.
The two main verbs (ἔδωκεν, εἰσῆλθεν) execute Rachel's plan in rapid, formulaic sequence: the legal transfer of Βαλλα as wife, then the consummation. The double αὐτῷ is a Hebraizing pleonasm in the LXX, reproducing the Hebrew syntax without smoothing. The narrative moves from speech to action in a single brief verse.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
καίandnarrative conjunction (sequential action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (formal transfer of the maid)→ constative aorist (single completed legal act)δίδωμι: 'give'; the formal act of transferring Βαλλα to Jacob as a secondary wife; the same verb used when Laban gave Λεια (Gen 29:23) and Ραχηλ (29:28) to Jacob.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'to him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
ΒαλλανBilhahaccusative direct object (indeclinable proper noun in object slot)→ participant identificationΒαλλαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative direct object (indeclinable proper noun in object slot).
τήνtheAccusativearticle (with παιδίσκην — marking Βαλλα as already known)→ noun-phrase markingτήν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίσκηνmaidservantAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Βαλλαν→ object specificationπαιδίσκη: 'maidservant'; the article marks Βαλλα as the particular maid mentioned in v.3 — no ambiguity about which servant is transferred.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'her maidservant')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'her maidservant').
αὐτῷto himDativedative of indirect object (Hebraizing pleonasm — resumed pronoun)→ participant reference or interestThe double αὐτῷ (first and second positions) reflects a Hebraizing resumptive syntax common in LXX narrative; the Greek does not smooth the redundancy of the Hebrew source.
γυναῖκαas wifeAccusativepredicate accusative ('as a wife' — legal status being conferred)→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife, woman'; the predicate accusative after δίδωμι marks the legal status — Βαλλα is given as a secondary wife (concubine-wife), not merely a surrogate; the arrangement has formal marital structure.
εἰσῆλθενwent in toAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain verb (second clause: consummation)→ constative aorist (completed act)εἰσέρχομαι: 'go in, enter'; εἰσέρχομαι πρός = the Hebraizing idiom for sexual union (cf. v.3; Gen 16:2; 29:21); the narrator reports the consummation in the briefest possible terms.
δέandnarrative conjunction (sequential)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙακωβJacobnominative subject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable proper noun).
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (goal: completing the idiom εἰσῆλθεν πρός)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal: completing the idiom εἰσῆλθεν πρός).
αὐτήνherAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (referent: Βαλλα)→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (referent: Βαλλα).
5
καὶ συνέλαβεν Βαλλα ἡ παιδίσκη Ραχηλ καὶ ἔτεκεν τῷ Ιακωβ υἱόν.
And Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant, conceived and bore Jacob a son.
The verse is formulaic and brief — the narrator records the bare biological outcome without elaboration, reserving interpretation for Rachel's speech in v.6. The two main verbs (συνέλαβεν, ἔτεκεν) execute the plan of vv.3–4 without commentary.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καίandnarrative conjunction (sequential result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνέλαβενconceivedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλαμβάνωmain verb (conception: first stage of surrogate birth)→ constative aorist (completed act of conception)συλλαμβάνω: 'conceive, take hold of'; in reproductive contexts = 'conceive' (lit. 'take together' — womb and seed); the chapter's primary verb for conception, recurrent at vv.5, 7, 17, 19, 23; in v.8 Rachel will use its cognate form συνελάβετό of God's help.
ΒαλλαBilhahnominative subject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΒαλλα: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable proper noun).
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίσκηmaidservantNominativenominative in apposition to Βαλλα (identifying description)→ participant prominenceπαιδίσκη: meaning 'maidservant'; it serves as nominative in apposition to Βαλλα (identifying description).
ΡαχηλRachelgenitive (possessive: 'of Rachel' — indeclinable proper noun in genitive slot)→ participant identificationΡαχηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'of Rachel' — indeclinable proper noun in genitive slot).
καίandnarrative conjunction (consecutive action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (birth: second stage)→ constative aorist (completed birth)τίκτω: 'give birth, bear'; the chapter's birth-verb; cf. vv.1 (τέτοκεν), 3 (τέξεται), 7 (ἔτεκεν), 10, 12, 17, 19, 21, 23, 39.
τῷtoDativearticle (with proper noun)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙακωβJacobdative of advantage ('to/for Jacob')→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of advantage ('to/for Jacob').
υἱόνa sonAccusativedirect object→ object specificationυἱός: 'son'; anarthrous — an unspecified son, not yet named; the name and etymology follow in v.6.
6
καὶ εἶπεν Ραχηλ Ἔκρινέν μοι ὁ θεὸς καὶ ἐπήκουσεν τῆς φωνῆς μου καὶ ἔδωκέν μοι υἱόν· διὰ τοῦτο ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Δαν.
And Rachel said, 'God has judged for me and has heard my voice and given me a son'; therefore she called his name Dan.
Rachel's three-verb declaration — ἔκρινέν, ἐπήκουσεν, ἔδωκεν — compresses the theological logic: God judged (vindicated), heard, and gave. The name Δαν is explicitly rooted in κρίνω ('judge'): God's judgment is Rachel's vindication against her sister's fertility. The naming formula διὰ τοῦτο ἐκάλεσεν closes the birth-unit.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΡαχηλRachelnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΡαχηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
Ἔκρινένhas judgedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κρίνωmain verb of direct speech (first of three parallel verbs)→ constative aorist (God's completed act of vindication)κρίνω: 'judge, decide, vindicate'; here in the forensic sense of ruling in someone's favour — God has adjudicated Rachel's case and decided for her. The name Δαν (דָּן) is directly derived from this root (Hebrew דִּין/'judge'); Rachel's etymology is linguistically exact.
μοιfor meDativedative of advantage ('judged in my favour')→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'for me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage ('judged in my favour').
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceθεός: articular here (ὁ θεός) — the specific God of the covenant, not a generic deity; Rachel addresses the same God Jacob referenced in v.2 but now as divine judge ruling in her favour.
καίandcoordinate conjunction (linking parallel verbs)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπήκουσενheard / listened toAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπακούωsecond main verb of direct speech (God's response to prayer)→ constative aoristἐπακούω: 'hear, give ear to'; the compound ἐπι- intensifies the hearing ('listen carefully to'); a standard LXX verb for God's answer to prayer (Ps 3:5; 17:7 LXX; 1 Sam 1:27); here the hearing precedes the gift.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive (object of ἐπακούω: 'heard my voice')→ relational specificationφωνή: 'voice, sound'; ἐπήκουσεν τῆς φωνῆς μου is a standard petition-response formula in the LXX: God hears the cry of the afflicted (cf. Gen 21:17 ἐπήκουσεν ὁ θεὸς τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ παιδίου, of Ishmael).
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκένgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιthird main verb of direct speech (the gift of the son)→ constative aoristδίδωμι (aor. ἔδωκεν): 'give'; the LORD 'gave' the petition — the divine answer; the give/ask vocabulary frames the whole chapter (cf. δώσω v.11; δῴη v.17; κιχρῶ v.28).
μοιmeDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
υἱόνa sonAccusativedirect object→ object specificationυἱόν: meaning 'a son'; it serves as direct object.
διάtherefore / because of thispreposition + accusative (causal: διὰ τοῦτο = 'for this reason')→ spatial or relational framingδιὰ τοῦτο: the standard LXX naming-formula connector — 'therefore she called'; the demonstrative τοῦτο refers to the divine action just declared, making the name an encoded memory of God's vindication.
τοῦτοthisAccusativeaccusative object of διά→ participant referenceτοῦτο: meaning 'this'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of διά.
ἐκάλεσενshe calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming formula)→ constative aorist (naming as completed speech-act)καλέω: 'call, name'; the naming formula ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Χ is the standard LXX pattern throughout this chapter (vv.6, 8, 11, 13, 18, 20, 21, 24).
τόtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτό: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativedirect object (naming formula: 'called the name of him')→ object specificationὄνομα: 'name'; in the OT/LXX tradition a name encodes the character or circumstances of a birth; the name-giving is a theological act of memorial.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'his name')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'his name').
ΔανDanpredicate accusative (the name given — indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔαν: LXX transliteration of Hebrew דָּן; the name derives from the root דִּין ('judge'), directly parallel to Rachel's ἔκρινέν μοι ὁ θεός; ancestor of the tribe of Dan, later associated with judgment (Gen 49:16 LXX: Δαν κρινεῖ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ).
7
καὶ συνέλαβεν ἔτι καὶ ἔτεκεν Βαλλα ἡ παιδίσκη Ραχηλ υἱὸν δεύτερον τῷ Ιακωβ.
And Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant, conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.
The verse is a briefer variant of v.5, adding ἔτι ('again') and δεύτερον ('second') to mark this as the completion of Rachel's two-son surrogate sequence. The word order (subject after verbs) mirrors v.5, creating a formulaic pair.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνέλαβενconceivedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλαμβάνωmain verb (conception: second surrogate pregnancy)→ constative aoristσυλλαμβάνω (aor. συνέλαβεν): 'conceive / become pregnant' (lit. 'take together'); renders הָרָה; the immediate result of the LORD's remembering.
ἔτιagain / stilladverb (iterative: marking a second event in the same sequence)→ clausal contributionἔτι: 'still, yet, again'; here iterative — 'conceived once more'; the adverb marks the second surrogate birth as a continuation of the first, not a separate episode.
καίandnarrative conjunction (consecutive)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (birth)→ constative aoristτίκτω (aor. ἔτεκεν): 'bear / give birth'; renders יָלַד; the long-awaited birth that resolves the chapter's central crisis.
ΒαλλαBilhahnominative subject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΒαλλα: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable proper noun).
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίσκηmaidservantNominativenominative in apposition to Βαλλα→ participant prominenceπαιδίσκη: meaning 'maidservant'; it serves as nominative in apposition to Βαλλα.
ΡαχηλRachelgenitive (possessive — indeclinable proper noun in genitive slot)→ participant identificationΡαχηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive (possessive — indeclinable proper noun in genitive slot).
υἱόνa sonAccusativedirect object→ object specificationυἱόν: meaning 'a son'; it serves as direct object.
δεύτερονsecondAccusativeaccusative adjective (attributive: 'a second son')→ object specificationδεύτερος: ordinal numeral 'second'; marks this birth as completing Rachel's two-son surrogate sequence, which will be named Νεφθαλι in v.8.
τῷtoDativearticle (with proper noun)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙακωβJacobdative of advantage→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of advantage.
8
καὶ εἶπεν Ραχηλ Συνελάβετό μοι ὁ θεός, καὶ συνανεστράφην τῇ ἀδελφῇ μου καὶ ἠδυνάσθην· καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Νεφθαλι.
And Rachel said, 'God has helped me, and I have striven with my sister and prevailed'; and she called his name Naphtali.
Rachel's naming-speech for the second son renders the Hebrew MT's 'wrestlings of God' (נַפְתּוּלֵי אֱלֹהִים) through two verbs: συνελάβετό μοι ὁ θεός ('God helped/co-laboured with me') and συνανεστράφην ('I strove with / engaged with my sister'). The LXX replaces the MT's explicit wrestling metaphor with the language of divine assistance and personal struggle, softening the athletic image but retaining the competitive context. The name Νεφθαλι preserves the Hebrew root.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΡαχηλRachelnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΡαχηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
Συνελάβετόhelped / co-laboured withAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · συλλαμβάνωmain verb of direct speech (divine action on Rachel's behalf)→ constative aorist (completed act of divine help)συλλαμβάνω: here in the sense 'help, take hold together with' (middle voice emphasizing co-participation); renders the Hebrew נַפְתּוּלֵי אֱלֹהִים ('wrestlings of God') — the LXX substitutes the idea of divine co-labour for the MT's wrestling metaphor, anchoring the etymology in assistance rather than combat.
μοιmeDativedative of advantage ('helped me')→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage ('helped me').
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceθεός: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative subject.
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνανεστράφηνI strove with / contended withAor Pass Indic 1 Sg · συναναστρέφωmain verb of direct speech (Rachel's competitive striving)→ constative aorist (completed engagement)συναναστρέφω: 'to be turned around with, to engage with, to strive alongside'; a rare verb; renders Hebrew נִפְתַּלְתִּי ('I wrestled'); the LXX replaces the explicit wrestling metaphor with a verb of mutual engagement, softening the athletic image while preserving the competitive sense.
τῇwith theDativearticle (with ἀδελφῇ)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῇsisterDativedative of association ('with my sister')→ sphere or referenceἀδελφή: 'sister'; the rivalry with Λεια is the chapter's narrative engine; Rachel names it explicitly in her naming-speech, making the competition between sisters a matter of divine record in the child's name.
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἠδυνάσθηνI prevailed / was empoweredAor Pass Indic 1 Sg · δύναμαιmain verb of direct speech (declaration of victory)→ constative aorist (completed act of prevailing)δύναμαι: 'be able, prevail, have power'; the passive ἠδυνάσθην = 'I was empowered / I prevailed'; Rachel's declaration of competitive victory over Leah — she now has two sons through Βαλλα to Leah's four biological ones.
καίandnarrative conjunction (returning to narrator's voice)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενshe calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming formula)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon'; David calls one of his retinue to carry out the sentence.
τόtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτό: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativedirect object (naming formula)→ object specificationὄνομα: meaning 'name'; it serves as direct object (naming formula).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
ΝεφθαλιNaphtalipredicate accusative (the name given — indeclinable)→ participant identificationΝεφθαλι: LXX transliteration of Hebrew נַפְתָּלִי; the name relates to the root נָפַל/נָפְתַּל ('to wrestle, to contend'); ancestor of the tribe of Naphtali; Rachel's etymology — God helped me and I prevailed with my sister — is the LXX's reinterpretation of the wrestling-of-God imagery.
9
Ἰδοῦσα δὲ Λεια ὅτι ἔστη τοῦ τίκτειν, ἔλαβεν Ζελφαν τὴν παιδίσκην αὐτῆς καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὴν τῷ Ιακωβ γυναῖκα.
And Leah, seeing that she had ceased to bear, took Zilpah her maidservant and gave her to Jacob as a wife.
The verse deliberately echoes vv.1 and 3: Leah sees (Ἰδοῦσα) her changed situation and responds with the same surrogate strategy Rachel used. The phrase ἔστη τοῦ τίκτειν ('she stopped bearing') marks the transition from Leah's own fertility to the surrogate phase. The structure mirrors Rachel's action in v.3 (εἴσελθε … ἔδωκεν), creating a narrative symmetry between the two wives.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ἸδοῦσαseeingAor Act Ptcp Nom Sg Fem · ὁράωcircumstantial participle (causal: echoing v.1 Ἰδοῦσα δὲ Ραχηλ)→ constative aorist (completed act of observation)ὁράω: 'see'; the same opening participle as v.1 — the parallelism is structural: Rachel saw she had borne nothing (v.1), Leah sees she has stopped bearing; both respond identically with the surrogate strategy.
δέandnarrative conjunction (introducing Leah's counter-move)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΛειαLeahnominative subject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΛεια: LXX transliteration of Hebrew לֵאָה; Jacob's first wife, mother of six sons and one daughter; she has been the fertile wife through chapters 29–30, but her fertility now pauses (ἔστη τοῦ τίκτειν).
ὅτιthatsubordinating conjunction (content of Leah's observation)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστηshe had stoppedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb of ὅτι-clause→ constative aorist (completed cessation)ἵστημι (intransitive second aorist): 'stop, stand still, come to a halt'; ἔστη τοῦ τίκτειν = 'stopped bearing' (+ genitive of articular infinitive indicating what stopped); a Hebraizing idiom.
τοῦfromGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive: genitive of cessation after ἔστη)→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τίκτεινbearing / giving birthPres Act Inf · τίκτωarticular infinitive (genitive: completing ἔστη — 'stopped bearing')→ durative / progressive (the ongoing activity that has now ceased)τίκτω: 'give birth'; the articular genitive infinitive τοῦ τίκτειν specifies what Leah has stopped doing; a Hebraizing construction rendering Hebrew לָלֶדֶת.
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (narrative action: Leah takes the maid)→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take, receive'; Leah's initiative parallels Rachel's εἶπεν … Ἰδοὺ ἡ παιδίσκη of v.3; both wives are active agents in the surrogate arrangement.
ΖελφανZilpahaccusative direct object (indeclinable proper noun in object slot)→ participant identificationΖελφα: LXX form of Hebrew זִלְפָּה; Leah's maidservant; her two sons Γαδ and Ασηρ are reckoned to Leah.
τήνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτήν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίσκηνmaidservantAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Ζελφαν→ object specificationπαιδίσκην: meaning 'maidservant'; it serves as accusative in apposition to Ζελφαν.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'her maidservant')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'her maidservant').
καίandnarrative conjunction (sequential action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (formal transfer as wife)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; in the idiom ἔδωκεν ἐν χειρί ('gave into the hand of') it denotes the formal transfer of command authority to Abishai.
αὐτήνherAccusativedirect object→ participant referenceαὐτήν: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object.
τῷtoDativearticle (with proper noun)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙακωβJacobdative of indirect object→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
γυναῖκαas wifeAccusativepredicate accusative (legal status conferred)→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife'; the same predicate accusative structure as v.4 (ἔδωκεν … γυναῖκα), marking the legal formality of the transfer — Ζελφα becomes a secondary wife.
10
καὶ ἔτεκεν Ζελφα ἡ παιδίσκη Λειας τῷ Ιακωβ υἱόν.
And Zilpah, Leah's maidservant, bore Jacob a son.
The verse is a formulaic birth notice parallel to v.5. Naming and interpretation follow in v.11. The narrative symmetry between unit A (Βαλλα bears: vv.5–6, 7–8) and unit B (Ζελφα bears: vv.10–11, 12–13) is complete.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (birth)→ constative aoristτίκτω (aor. ἔτεκεν): 'bear / give birth'; renders יָלַד; the long-awaited birth that resolves the chapter's central crisis.
ΖελφαZilpahnominative subject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΖελφα: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable proper noun).
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίσκηmaidservantNominativenominative in apposition to Ζελφα→ participant prominenceπαιδίσκη: meaning 'maidservant'; it serves as nominative in apposition to Ζελφα.
ΛειαςLeah'sgenitive (possessive — indeclinable proper noun in genitive slot)→ participant identificationΛειας: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive (possessive — indeclinable proper noun in genitive slot).
τῷtoDativearticle (with proper noun)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙακωβJacobdative of advantage→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of advantage.
υἱόνa sonAccusativedirect object→ object specificationυἱόν: meaning 'a son'; it serves as direct object.
11
καὶ εἶπεν Λεια Ἐν τύχῃ· καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Γαδ.
And Leah said, 'In fortune!'; and she called his name Gad.
The verse is the chapter's most remarkable theological crux. Where the Hebrew MT reads בְּגָד (or בְּגַד/Gad, the fortune-deity or 'a troop'), the LXX renders Ἐν τύχῃ — using τύχη, the proper name of the Hellenistic goddess Fortuna/Tyche, the personification of fortune or luck. This is not a neutral gloss: the translator domesticates a Hebrew semi-divine name into its exact Greek theological equivalent, making explicit what Hebrew עָד / גָּד euphemizes. The name Γαδ encodes this divine-fortune reference. See Cruxes.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΛειαLeahnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΛεια: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
Ἐνin / withpreposition + dative (exclamatory: 'In fortune!')→ spatial or relational framingἐν τύχῃ: 'in fortune, with luck' — the Greek equivalent of Hebrew בְּגָד; the preposition ἐν marks the sphere or instrument of fortune. The phrase is Leah's exclamation at the birth; the word τύχη, however, is the proper name of the Greek goddess of fortune (Tyche/Fortuna), and the LXX's choice introduces a divine-name reference that the MT treats more obliquely.
τύχῃfortune / FortuneDativedative (object of ἐν: 'in/with fortune')→ sphere or referenceτύχη: 'fortune, chance, luck'; and also the proper name of the Greek goddess Fortuna/Tyche — one of the Hellenistic world's most popular deities, depicted with cornucopia and wheel. The LXX renders Hebrew גָּד (the fortune-deity of Isa 65:11, where Israel is condemned for setting a table for גַּד and filling cups for מְנִי) with τύχη — making the theological domestication of a divine name explicit. This is one of the LXX's most theologically loaded translation choices.
καίandnarrative conjunction (returning to narrator's voice)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενshe calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming formula)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon'; David calls one of his retinue to carry out the sentence.
τόtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτό: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativedirect object (naming formula)→ object specificationὄνομα: meaning 'name'; it serves as direct object (naming formula).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
ΓαδGadpredicate accusative (the name — indeclinable)→ participant identificationΓαδ: LXX transliteration of Hebrew גָּד; the name of the Israelite tribe and, in the background, the name of the Semitic fortune-deity (cf. Isa 65:11 LXX where γάδ is transliterated alongside μαναί as pagan cult objects). Leah's exclamation Ἐν τύχῃ ('in fortune/by Fortune!') encodes the name's divine-fortune etymology.
12
καὶ ἔτεκεν Ζελφα ἡ παιδίσκη Λειας υἱὸν δεύτερον τῷ Ιακωβ.
And Zilpah, Leah's maidservant, bore Jacob a second son.
Parallel to v.7 in the surrogate-birth sequence: a brief birth notice with δεύτερον marking the completion of the two-son surrogate pair. The naming and interpretation follow in v.13.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (birth)→ constative aoristτίκτω (aor. ἔτεκεν): 'bear / give birth'; renders יָלַד; the long-awaited birth that resolves the chapter's central crisis.
ΖελφαZilpahnominative subject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΖελφα: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable proper noun).
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίσκηmaidservantNominativenominative in apposition to Ζελφα→ participant prominenceπαιδίσκη: meaning 'maidservant'; it serves as nominative in apposition to Ζελφα.
ΛειαςLeah'sgenitive (possessive — indeclinable in genitive slot)→ participant identificationΛειας: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive (possessive — indeclinable in genitive slot).
υἱόνa sonAccusativedirect object→ object specificationυἱόν: meaning 'a son'; it serves as direct object.
δεύτερονsecondAccusativeaccusative adjective (attributive: 'a second son')→ object specificationδεύτερος: ordinal numeral; marks the completion of Leah's two-son surrogate sequence through Ζελφα.
τῷtoDativearticle (with proper noun)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙακωβJacobdative of advantage→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of advantage.
13
καὶ εἶπεν Λεια Μακαρία ἐγώ, ὅτι μακαρίζουσίν με αἱ γυναῖκες· καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ασηρ.
And Leah said, 'Blessed am I, for the women call me blessed'; and she called his name Asher.
Leah's exclamation μακαρία ἐγώ ('blessed am I') uses the μακαρ- root that will become the signature vocabulary of the Beatitudes (Matt 5:3–11 μακάριοι …; Luke 1:48 μακαριοῦσίν με πᾶσαι αἱ γενεαί). The causal ὅτι clause introduces the social confirmation: women declare her blessed, a public honour in the ancient world. The name Ασηρ ('happy, blessed, fortunate') encodes this μακαρισμός etymology.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΛειαLeahnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΛεια: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
Μακαρίαblessed / happyNominativepredicate adjective (exclamatory nominative: 'Blessed am I!')→ participant prominenceμακάριος: 'blessed, happy, favoured'; the μακαρ- root is the signature vocabulary of the OT happiness-declaration (Ps 1:1; 32:1 LXX μακάριος ὁ ἄνθρωπος) and the NT Beatitudes (Matt 5:3–11; Luke 6:20–22); at Luke 1:48 Mary uses the cognate μακαριοῦσίν με of herself in language directly echoing this verse.
ἐγώINominativenominative subject (emphatic: 'I am the one who is blessed')→ participant referenceἐγώ: meaning 'I'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as nominative subject (emphatic: 'I am the one who is blessed').
ὅτιfor / becausesubordinating conjunction (causal: giving the reason for the blessing)→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'for'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μακαρίζουσίνcall blessed / pronounce happyPres Act Indic 3 Pl · μακαρίζωmain verb of ὅτι-clause (the public declaration of Leah's blessedness)→ gnomic / iterative present (the women habitually declare her blessed)μακαρίζω: 'pronounce blessed, congratulate, call happy'; the denominative verb from μακάριος; the paronomasia (μακαρία … μακαρίζουσίν) encodes the etymology of Ασηρ: the name IS the word for being pronounced blessed. Luke 1:48 uses the identical form μακαριοῦσίν of Mary.
μεmeAccusativeaccusative direct object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative direct object.
αἱtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingαἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκεςwomenNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceγυνή: 'woman, wife'; the plural refers to the women of the community who observe Leah's fertility and pronounce her blessed — public social affirmation of a mother in the ancient Near East.
καίandnarrative conjunction (returning to narrator's voice)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενshe calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming formula)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon'; David calls one of his retinue to carry out the sentence.
τόtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτό: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativedirect object (naming formula)→ object specificationὄνομα: meaning 'name'; it serves as direct object (naming formula).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
ΑσηρAsherpredicate accusative (the name — indeclinable)→ participant identificationΑσηρ: LXX form of Hebrew אָשֵׁר ('happy, blessed, fortunate'); the name is directly derived from the μακαρ-/אָשַׁר root; ancestor of the tribe of Asher, whose territory in the north produced abundant grain and oil (Deut 33:24 LXX Ασηρ ηὐλογημένος).
14
ἐπορεύθη δὲ Ρουβην ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θερισμοῦ πυροῦ καὶ εὗρεν μανδραγόρας ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ καὶ ἤνεγκεν αὐτοὺς πρὸς Λειαν τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ. εἶπεν δὲ Ραχηλ τῇ Λειᾳ Δός μοι τῶν μανδραγορῶν τοῦ υἱοῦ σου.
And Reuben went in the day of the wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to Leah his mother. And Rachel said to Leah, 'Give me some of your son's mandrakes.'
The mandrake episode (vv.14–16) is the chapter's comedic and ironic hinge. Reuben's chance discovery of mandrakes (μανδραγόρας) — the classical love-plant of antiquity, believed to aid conception — gives Rachel an opportunity to obtain a folk-remedy for her barrenness. She immediately petitions Leah (Δός μοι), using the same imperative she used to Jacob in v.1. The irony: Rachel, desperate for children, trades the resource of conjugal rights for a plant; Leah, who needs conjugal time to continue bearing, trades the plant for that night.
Word-by-word analysis· 33 words
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (narrative action: new episode introduced)→ constative aorist (completed journey to the field)πορεύομαι: 'go, travel'; deponent passive; introduces a new character, Reuben (Ρουβην), and a new narrative thread — the mandrake episode that will determine the production of Ισσαχαρ.
δέandnarrative conjunction (new episode marker)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΡουβηνReubennominative subject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΡουβην: LXX form of Hebrew רְאוּבֵן; Jacob's firstborn son by Leah (Gen 29:32); his appearance here in a domestic scene — finding love-plants and bringing them to his mother — is his most sympathetic narrative moment.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time (temporal: 'in the day of')→ sphere or referenceἡμέρᾳ: meaning 'day'; it serves as dative of time (temporal: 'in the day of').
θερισμοῦof harvestGenitivegenitive (partitive/attributive: 'harvest day')→ relational specificationθερισμός: 'harvest, reaping'; the wheat harvest (πυροῦ) is the season of late spring, fitting the botanical timing of mandrake fruiting.
πυροῦof wheatGenitivegenitive (objective: 'wheat-harvest')→ relational specificationπυρός: 'wheat'; the wheat harvest was late spring (after barley harvest); mandrakes (Mandragora officinarum) ripen in May–June in the Levant, fitting the temporal detail precisely.
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὗρενfoundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb (discovery)→ constative aoristεὑρίσκω: 'find, discover'; the discovery of the mandrakes is the plot-trigger for the entire episode; the verb is value-neutral but the find will have large narrative consequences.
μανδραγόραςmandrakesAccusativedirect object (the plant found)→ object specificationμανδραγόρας: 'mandrakes' (Mandragora officinarum); transliterating Hebrew דּוּדָאִים (love-plants); the mandrake was prized throughout antiquity for its supposed aphrodisiac and fertility-enhancing properties; its forked root resembles a human body, and its fragrant yellow fruit ripens in early summer. The LXX transliteration preserves the exotic character of the plant for Greek readers.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (locative)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (locative).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀγρῷfieldDativedative of place (locative: 'in the field')→ sphere or referenceἀγρός: 'field, open country'; the pastoral setting is the recurring locus of Jacob's labor (v.16 ἐξ ἀγροῦ; v.36 ἐν ἀγρῷ).
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἤνεγκενbroughtAor Act Indic 3 Sg · φέρωmain verb (narrative action: the gift to his mother)→ constative aoristφέρω: 'bring, carry'; Reuben's bringing the mandrakes to his mother is an act of filial loyalty that inadvertently sets the stage for the Leah–Rachel bargain.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object (the mandrakes)→ participant referenceαὐτούς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the mandrakes).
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
ΛειανLeahaccusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun in accusative slot)→ participant identificationΛειαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative object of πρός (indeclinable proper noun in accusative slot).
τήνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτήν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μητέραmotherAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Λειαν (identifying relationship)→ object specificationμήτηρ: 'mother'; the title underscores Reuben's filial action — he brings the fertility-plant to his own mother.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'his mother')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'his mother').
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (second scene: Rachel's request)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δέandnarrative conjunction (scene-shift to Rachel's request)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΡαχηλRachelnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΡαχηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
τῇtoDativearticle (with proper noun)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛειᾳLeahdative of indirect object (indeclinable proper noun in dative slot)→ participant identificationΛειᾳ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of indirect object (indeclinable proper noun in dative slot).
ΔόςgiveAor Act Impv 2 Sg · δίδωμιimperative (direct request — same form as Rachel's demand in v.1)→ ingressive aorist imperativeδίδωμι: the same aorist imperative Rachel used to Jacob in v.1 (Δός μοι τέκνα); the irony is palpable — the woman who demanded children now demands a fertility-plant instead; the parallel is structural.
μοιmeDativedative of indirect object (ethical dative)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (ethical dative).
τῶνsome ofGenitivearticle (partitive genitive: 'some of the mandrakes')→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μανδραγορῶνmandrakesGenitivepartitive genitive (direct object: 'some of the mandrakes')→ relational specificationμανδραγόρας: genitive plural of μανδραγόρας; Rachel's request is a partitive one — 'give me some of them' — not all.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'your son's mandrakes')→ relational specificationυἱοῦ: meaning 'son'; it serves as genitive (possessive: 'your son's mandrakes').
σουyourGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'your [son's]')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'your [son's]').
15
εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῇ Λεια Οὐχ ἱκανόν σοι ὅτι ἔλαβες τὸν ἄνδρα μου; μὴ καὶ τοὺς μανδραγόρας τοῦ υἱοῦ μου λήμψῃ; εἶπεν δὲ Ραχηλ Οὐχ οὕτως· κοιμηθήτω μετὰ σοῦ τὴν νύκτα ταύτην ἀντὶ τῶν μανδραγορῶν τοῦ υἱοῦ σου.
And Leah said to her, 'Is it not enough that you took my husband? Will you also take my son's mandrakes?' And Rachel said, 'Very well — let him sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son's mandrakes.'
Leah's two rhetorical questions articulate the sisters' competition at its sharpest: Rachel has taken both Leah's intended husband and now her son's fertility-plants. The first question (Οὐχ ἱκανόν σοι;) echoes the social complaint; the second (μὴ … λήμψῃ;) extends it. Rachel's counter-offer is the chapter's ironic pivot: she barters Jacob's conjugal time for the mandrakes, effectively trading the resource of a pregnant night (which produces Ισσαχαρ) for a folk-remedy that gives her Joseph only after God's direct intervention in v.22.
Word-by-word analysis· 37 words
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῇherDativedative of indirect object (addressee)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῇ: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (addressee).
ΛειαLeahnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΛεια: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
Οὐχis it notinterrogative negative (rhetorical question expecting affirmative answer: 'is it not enough?')→ clausal qualification or emphasisΟὐχ: meaning 'is it not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἱκανόνenough / sufficientNominativepredicate adjective in rhetorical question→ participant prominenceἱκανός: 'sufficient, adequate, worthy'; Οὐχ ἱκανόν σοι = 'Is it not enough for you?' — the rhetorical question encodes Leah's grievance: taking her husband was already an injustice; taking the mandrakes compounds it.
σοιfor youDativedative of reference ('enough for you')→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'for you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of reference ('enough for you').
ὅτιthatsubordinating conjunction (content of the question: 'that you took …')→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλαβεςyou tookAor Act Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb of ὅτι-clause→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take'; Leah characterizes Jacob's marriage to Rachel as something Rachel 'took' — from Leah's perspective, Rachel seized the man who was rightfully hers (Gen 29:16–30).
τόνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτόν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνδραhusbandAccusativedirect object→ object specificationἀνήρ: 'man, husband'; Leah calls Jacob 'my husband' (τὸν ἄνδρα μου) — asserting her prior marital claim over Rachel's.
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
μήwill you alsointerrogative negative (second rhetorical question expecting 'no' answer)→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: meaning 'will you also'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
καίalsoadverbial (adding force: 'also, even')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'also'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τούςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτούς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μανδραγόραςmandrakesAccusativedirect object of λήμψῃ→ object specificationμανδραγόρας: meaning 'mandrakes'; it serves as direct object of λήμψῃ.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationυἱοῦ: meaning 'son'; it serves as genitive (possessive).
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
λήμψῃwill you takeFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb of second rhetorical question→ predictive future (challenging Rachel's intended action)λαμβάνω: future middle form; the second ἔλαβες / λήμψῃ pair (both from λαμβάνω) forms a pointed chiasm: 'you took my husband — will you [also] take my son's mandrakes?'
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Rachel's counter-offer: second speech-unit)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΡαχηλRachelnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΡαχηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
Οὐχnotnegation (introducing Rachel's counter-offer: 'Not so — rather …')→ clausal qualification or emphasisΟὐχ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
οὕτωςso / like thatadverb (modal: 'not like that — here is my proposal instead')→ adverbial qualificationοὕτως: 'thus, so'; Οὐχ οὕτως = 'not so' — Rachel's concessive opening concedes Leah's point before proposing the exchange.
κοιμηθήτωlet him sleepAor Pass Impv 3 Sg · κοιμάωimperative (third-person hortatory: Rachel's proposal)→ ingressive aorist imperative (single night's arrangement)κοιμάομαι: 'lie down, sleep'; the deponent passive; κοιμηθήτω μετά σου is the LXX's standard idiom for sexual union; Rachel effectively auctions Jacob's company for the night — the chapter's most ironic transaction.
μετάwithpreposition + genitive (association: 'with you')→ spatial or relational framingμετά: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (association: 'with you').
σοῦyouGenitivegenitive (object of μετά)→ relational specificationσοῦ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (object of μετά).
τήνtheAccusativearticle (with νύκτα: accusative of extent of time)→ noun-phrase markingτήν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νύκταnightAccusativeaccusative of extent of time ('for this night')→ object specificationνύξ: 'night'; the specific temporal limitation — 'this one night' — is the unit of the barter; what Rachel cedes is precisely what Leah needs.
ταύτηνthisAccusativeaccusative demonstrative adjective (specifying the particular night)→ participant referenceταύτην: meaning 'this'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative demonstrative adjective (specifying the particular night).
ἀντίin exchange forpreposition + genitive (substitution/exchange: 'in return for')→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: 'instead of, in exchange for'; the bargaining preposition — the same ἀντί Jacob uses in v.2 to deny being 'in God's place'; here it marks a transactional exchange: one night for mandrakes.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μανδραγορῶνmandrakesGenitivegenitive (object of ἀντί: the price paid)→ relational specificationμανδραγορῶν: meaning 'mandrakes'; it serves as genitive (object of ἀντί: the price paid).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'your son's mandrakes')→ relational specificationυἱοῦ: meaning 'son'; it serves as genitive (possessive: 'your son's mandrakes').
σουyourGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
16
ἦλθεν δὲ Ιακωβ ἐξ ἀγροῦ ἑσπέρας, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Λεια εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῷ καὶ εἶπεν Πρός με εἰσελεύσῃ· μεμίσθωμαι γάρ σε ἀντὶ τῶν μανδραγορῶν τοῦ υἱοῦ μου. καὶ ἐκοιμήθη μετ' αὐτῆς ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ.
And Jacob came in from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him and said, 'You shall come in to me, for I have hired you with my son's mandrakes.' And he slept with her that night.
Jacob is conspicuously passive — he returns from the field and is immediately met and directed by Leah, who announces the transaction he apparently did not know had been struck. The perfect μεμίσθωμαι ('I have hired you') introduces the μισθόω/μισθός vocabulary that will be the theological key of v.18 (Issachar = 'wages'). Jacob simply complies: ἐκοιμήθη μετ' αὐτῆς.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
ἦλθενcameAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (narrative action: Jacob's return)→ constative aorist (completed journey from the field)ἔρχομαι: 'come, go'; Jacob returns at evening — the timing is essential for the mandrake bargain to take effect that night.
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ΙακωβJacobnominative subject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable proper noun).
ἐξfrompreposition + genitive (ablative: origin of journey)→ spatial or relational framingἐξ: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (ablative: origin of journey).
ἀγροῦthe fieldGenitivegenitive (object of ἐκ: place of origin)→ relational specificationἀγροῦ: meaning 'the field'; it serves as genitive (object of ἐκ: place of origin).
ἑσπέραςin the eveningGenitivegenitive of time (temporal: 'at evening')→ relational specificationἑσπέρα: 'evening'; the genitive of time marks the hour; the evening return is the standard pattern for a day-labourer or shepherd — Jacob has been working since dawn.
καίandnarrative conjunction (consecutive action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐξῆλθενwent outAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (Leah's initiative: she goes to meet Jacob)→ constative aoristἐξέρχομαι: 'go out'; Leah goes OUT to meet Jacob — her initiative is emphatic; she does not wait for him to choose where to go.
ΛειαLeahnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΛεια: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
συνάντησινa meetingAccusativeaccusative (object of εἰς: 'went out to meet him')→ object specificationσυνάντησις: 'meeting, encounter'; εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῷ = 'to meet him' (a set LXX idiom); the encounter is purposeful — Leah intercepts Jacob before he can choose Rachel's tent.
αὐτῷhimDativedative (idiomatic complement of εἰς συνάντησιν: 'to meet him')→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (idiomatic complement of εἰς συνάντησιν: 'to meet him').
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
Πρόςtopreposition + accusative (goal: 'to me you shall come in')→ spatial or relational framingΠρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal: 'to me you shall come in').
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.
εἰσελεύσῃyou shall come inFut Mid Indic 2 Sg · εἰσέρχομαιmain clause of direct speech (Leah's directive: the future with imperative force)→ predictive future (with command force: Leah issues Jacob a directive)εἰσέρχομαι: 'come in, enter'; Πρός με εἰσελεύσῃ = 'you shall come in to me' — the same Hebraizing idiom for conjugal union (πρός + person, cf. vv.3–4); Leah uses the future indicative as a strong directive.
μεμίσθωμαιI have hiredPerf Mid Indic 1 Sg · μισθόομαιcausal verb in direct speech (giving the reason for the directive)→ intensive perfect (the hiring is complete and in force: Leah has already struck the deal)μισθόομαι: 'hire, engage for pay'; the perfect μεμίσθωμαι signals a completed transaction: Leah has already paid the price (the mandrakes) and is now collecting. The μισθ- root ('wages, hire') previews the name Ισσαχαρ (v.18), which the LXX explicitly glosses as μισθός.
γάρforexplanatory conjunction (giving Leah's reason)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: meaning 'for'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σεyouAccusativeaccusative direct object (person hired)→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative direct object (person hired).
ἀντίin exchange forpreposition + genitive (substitution/exchange: the price paid)→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: meaning 'in exchange for'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (substitution/exchange: the price paid).
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μανδραγορῶνmandrakesGenitivegenitive (object of ἀντί: the price Leah paid)→ relational specificationμανδραγορῶν: meaning 'mandrakes'; it serves as genitive (object of ἀντί: the price Leah paid).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'my son's mandrakes')→ relational specificationυἱοῦ: meaning 'son'; it serves as genitive (possessive: 'my son's mandrakes').
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
καίandnarrative conjunction (executing the bargain)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκοιμήθηsleptAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κοιμάωmain verb (narrative: consummation)→ constative aoristκοιμάομαι: 'sleep, lie down'; deponent passive; Jacob's compliance is total and wordless — the narrative records no speech from him; ἐκοιμήθη μετ' αὐτῆς = the LXX idiom for conjugal union.
μετ'withpreposition + genitive (association)→ spatial or relational framingμετ': meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (association).
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive (object of μετά: 'with her')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (object of μετά: 'with her').
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νυκτίnightDativedative of time (temporal: 'in that night')→ sphere or referenceνυκτί: meaning 'night'; it serves as dative of time (temporal: 'in that night').
ἐκείνῃthatDativedative demonstrative adjective (specifying the specific night of the bargain)→ sphere or referenceἐκείνῃ: meaning 'that'; it serves as dative demonstrative adjective (specifying the specific night of the bargain).
17
καὶ ἐπήκουσεν ὁ θεὸς Λειας, καὶ συλλαβοῦσα ἔτεκεν τῷ Ιακωβ υἱὸν πέμπτον.
And God heard Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.
The verse records God's direct hearing of Leah — introduced, as in v.22 for Rachel, by the prayer-response formula ἐπήκουσεν ὁ θεός. The two verbs (συλλαβοῦσα, ἔτεκεν) combine participle and main verb for conception and birth. The ordinal πέμπτον places this within Jacob's growing clan: the fifth son Leah has produced for Jacob (including her two through Ζελφα).
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπήκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπακούωmain verb (divine response to Leah's implied prayer)→ constative aoristἐπακούω: 'hear, give ear to'; the divine hearing-formula marks the moment as a theologically significant response — God grants fertility in answer to Leah's need, exactly as he will for Rachel at v.22; the verb recurs at v.22 (ἐπήκουσεν αὐτῆς ὁ θεός).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceθεός: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative subject.
ΛειαςLeahgenitive (objective: 'heard Leah' — indeclinable proper noun in genitive slot)→ participant identificationΛειας: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive (objective: 'heard Leah' — indeclinable proper noun in genitive slot).
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συλλαβοῦσαhaving conceivedAor Act Ptcp Nom Sg Fem · συλλαμβάνωattendant circumstance participle (antecedent to ἔτεκεν: 'conceiving, she bore')→ constative aorist (completed conception preceding birth)συλλαμβάνω: 'conceive'; the same verb used throughout the chapter for conception (vv.5, 7, 19, 23); the aorist participle marks conception as antecedent to birth.
ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (birth)→ constative aoristτίκτω (aor. ἔτεκεν): 'bear / give birth'; renders יָלַד; the long-awaited birth that resolves the chapter's central crisis.
τῷtoDativearticle (with proper noun)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙακωβJacobdative of advantage→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of advantage.
υἱόνa sonAccusativedirect object→ object specificationυἱόν: meaning 'a son'; it serves as direct object.
πέμπτονfifthAccusativeaccusative adjective (attributive ordinal: 'a fifth son')→ object specificationπέμπτος: ordinal 'fifth'; counting Leah's own sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah) plus her two surrogate sons through Ζελφα (Gad, Asher), this is Leah's fifth son for Jacob — Ισσαχαρ.
18
καὶ εἶπεν Λεια Ἔδωκεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν μισθόν μοι, ἀνθ' οὗ ἔδωκα τὴν παιδίσκην μου τῷ ἀνδρί μου· καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ισσαχαρ, ὅ ἐστιν μισθός.
And Leah said, 'God has given me my reward, because I gave my maidservant to my husband'; and she called his name Issachar, which means 'wages'.
Leah's naming-speech draws the theological connection between her gift of Ζελφα to Jacob and God's granting of Ισσαχαρ: God gave her μισθός ('wages, reward') in return for (ἀνθ' οὗ) her self-denial. The LXX uniquely adds the gloss ὅ ἐστιν μισθός ('which means wages') — making the etymology explicit for Greek readers unfamiliar with Hebrew יִשָּׂשכָר. The μισθ- vocabulary is the connective thread between the mandrake bargain of v.16 (μεμίσθωμαι) and the son's name.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΛειαLeahnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΛεια: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
Ἔδωκενhas givenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb of direct speech (God's granting of the reward)→ constative aorist (God's gift as completed act)δίδωμι: 'give'; the verb recurs within the speech — God ἔδωκεν (gave Leah the wage) because Leah ἔδωκα (gave her maid). The etymological chain from v.16 (μεμίσθωμαι) runs through v.18 (μισθόν) to the child's name (Ισσαχαρ, ὅ ἐστιν μισθός).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceθεός: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative subject.
τόνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτόν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μισθόνreward / wagesAccusativedirect object (the wages God gives Leah)→ object specificationμισθός: 'wages, hire, reward'; the chapter's key economic-theological term: it bridges the mandrake bargain (Leah hired Jacob, μεμίσθωμαι, v.16), the name Ισσαχαρ ('wages'), and Leah's theology of reciprocal divine recompense. In NT use μισθός is the reward of righteousness (Matt 5:12; 6:1–6; Rev 22:12).
μοιmeDativedative of indirect object (the recipient of the wages)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (the recipient of the wages).
ἀνθ'because / in return forpreposition + genitive (causal/exchange: ἀνθ' οὗ = 'because I …')→ spatial or relational framingἀντί: here in the causal idiom ἀνθ' οὗ ('in return for which / because') — God's gift of the son is presented as a divine recompense for Leah's self-giving act of surrendering her maid.
οὗwhichGenitivegenitive (relative pronoun, object of ἀντί in ἀνθ' οὗ idiom)→ relational specificationοὗ: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (relative pronoun, object of ἀντί in ἀνθ' οὗ idiom).
ἔδωκαI gaveAor Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb of ἀνθ' οὗ-clause (Leah's prior act)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; YHWH gave the sacrificial portions as a gift — the point being that the sons turned a gift into plunder (v. 16, λήμψομαι κραταιῶς).
τήνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτήν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίσκηνmaidservantAccusativedirect object (Ζελφα given to Jacob)→ object specificationπαιδίσκην: meaning 'maidservant'; it serves as direct object (Ζελφα given to Jacob).
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
τῷtoDativearticle (with proper noun)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνδρίhusbandDativedative of indirect object→ sphere or referenceἀνδρί: meaning 'husband'; it serves as dative of indirect object.
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενshe calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming formula)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon'; David calls one of his retinue to carry out the sentence.
τόtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτό: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativedirect object→ object specificationὄνομα: meaning 'name'; it serves as direct object.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
ΙσσαχαρIssacharpredicate accusative (the name — indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙσσαχαρ: LXX form of Hebrew יִשָּׂשכָר; the LXX explicitly glosses the name with ὅ ἐστιν μισθός — unusual; the Hebrew name may derive from יֵשׁ + שָׂכָר ('there is reward') or from נָשָׂא + שָׂכָר ('he carries wages'); ancestor of the tribe of Issachar.
ὅwhichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ὅ ἐστιν: LXX's explanatory gloss)→ participant referenceὅ: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as relative pronoun (subject of ὅ ἐστιν: LXX's explanatory gloss).
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb (in glossing clause: 'which is [= means] wages')→ gnomic presentεἰμί: copula.
μισθόςwages / rewardNominativepredicate nominative (the Greek gloss for the Hebrew name)→ participant prominenceμισθός: 'wages, hire, reward'; the LXX translator adds this etymological gloss (ὅ ἐστιν μισθός) to make the name intelligible to Greek readers; the word will recur as a key NT term for divine recompense (Matt 5:12; 6:1; 10:41–42; Rev 22:12).
19
καὶ συνέλαβεν ἔτι Λεια καὶ ἔτεκεν υἱὸν ἕκτον τῷ Ιακωβ.
And Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son.
A brief birth notice parallel to v.7 and v.12; the naming and interpretation follow in v.20. Leah's fertility here returns to her own body (συνέλαβεν ἔτι Λεια) after the surrogate episode.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συνέλαβενconceivedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συλλαμβάνωmain verb (conception)→ constative aoristσυλλαμβάνω: 'conceive'; Leah's own fertility is restored by the mandrake-night arrangement; God heard her (v.17) and her fertility continues.
ἔτιagainadverb (iterative: 'once more')→ clausal contributionἔτι: meaning 'again'; it shapes the local clause or phrase relation in this passage.
ΛειαLeahnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΛεια: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
καίandnarrative conjunction (consecutive)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (birth)→ constative aoristτίκτω (aor. ἔτεκεν): 'bear / give birth'; renders יָלַד; the long-awaited birth that resolves the chapter's central crisis.
υἱόνa sonAccusativedirect object→ object specificationυἱόν: meaning 'a son'; it serves as direct object.
ἕκτονsixthAccusativeaccusative adjective (attributive ordinal)→ object specificationἕκτος: ordinal 'sixth'; Leah's sixth son for Jacob — Ζαβουλων; with six sons Leah has produced the majority of the twelve tribes.
τῷtoDativearticle (with proper noun)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙακωβJacobdative of advantage→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of advantage.
20
καὶ εἶπεν Λεια Δεδώρηταί μοι ὁ θεὸς δῶρον καλόν· ἐν τῷ νῦν καιρῷ αἱρετιεῖ με ὁ ἀνήρ μου, ἔτεκον γὰρ αὐτῷ υἱοὺς ἕξ· καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ζαβουλων.
And Leah said, 'God has given me a good gift; now at this time my husband will prefer me, for I have borne him six sons'; and she called his name Zebulun.
Leah's naming-speech for Zebulun pivots on two ideas: the gift (Δεδώρηταί … δῶρον καλόν, cognate accusative) and Jacob's expected preference (αἱρετιεῖ με). The LXX renders the Hebrew זֵבֶד ('gift') with the cognate dative-accusative Δεδώρηταί … δῶρον — the perfect marks the gift as a present state. The name Ζαβουλων is then linked to the root of 'honour/exalt,' though the LXX's etymology via αἱρέω ('choose, prefer') is approximate.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΛειαLeahnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΛεια: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
Δεδώρηταίhas given as a giftPerf Mid Indic 3 Sg · δωρέομαιmain verb of direct speech (God's gift: perfect of resultant state)→ intensive perfect (the gift is given and stands: Leah now possesses six sons)δωρέομαι: 'give as a gift, bestow'; middle/deponent; the cognate construction Δεδώρηταί … δῶρον ('has gifted a gift') renders Hebrew זֵבַד ('he has endowed / given a dowry'); the paronomasia encodes the name Ζαβουλων from the same root.
μοιmeDativedative of indirect object (the recipient of the gift)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (the recipient of the gift).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceθεός: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative subject.
δῶρονgiftAccusativecognate accusative (internal object of Δεδώρηταί: 'gifted a gift')→ object specificationδῶρον: 'gift, present'; the cognate accusative (δωρέομαι + δῶρον) is the LXX's standard rendering of the Hebrew cognate-infinitive construction; it etymologizes the name Ζαβουλων through this root.
καλόνgoodAccusativeaccusative adjective (attributive: 'a good gift')→ object specificationκαλός: 'good, beautiful, excellent'; the adjective intensifies the gift — not merely a gift but a fine/good one; Leah's gratitude is emphatic.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal).
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νῦνnowadverb (temporal: ἐν τῷ νῦν καιρῷ = 'at the present time / now at this juncture')→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: meaning 'now'; it shapes time, manner, location, or discourse flow in the clause.
καιρῷtime / seasonDativedative of time (locative: 'at this time')→ sphere or referenceκαιρός: 'appointed time, season, moment'; ἐν τῷ νῦν καιρῷ = 'at the present moment' — Leah expects her six sons to be the decisive turn in Jacob's affection.
αἱρετιεῖwill prefer / will chooseFut Act Indic 3 Sg · αἱρετίζωmain clause (Leah's expectation of Jacob's preference)→ predictive future (Leah's confident expectation)αἱρετίζω: 'prefer, choose, elect'; from αἱρέω ('take, choose'); Leah expects that six sons will tip Jacob's preference toward her over Rachel; the verb is theologically loaded — the same root (αἱρέω/ἐκλέγω) is used of divine election elsewhere in the LXX.
μεmeAccusativeaccusative direct object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative direct object.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀνήρhusbandNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceἀνήρ: meaning 'husband'; it serves as nominative subject.
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
ἔτεκονI bore / I have borneAor Act Indic 1 Sg · τίκτωexplanatory clause (γάρ-clause: giving the reason for Jacob's expected preference)→ constative aorist (completed births as the basis for Leah's claim)τίκτω: 'give birth'; Leah's final argument — six sons! — is presented as the overwhelming evidence of her value to Jacob's household.
γάρforexplanatory conjunction (giving the reason for αἱρετιεῖ)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: meaning 'for'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷhimDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
υἱούςsonsAccusativedirect object→ object specificationυἱούς: meaning 'sons'; it serves as direct object.
ἕξsixcardinal numeral (adjectival: 'six sons')→ clausal contributionἕξ: cardinal 'six'; Leah's total — six sons she can claim for Jacob; the number resonates forward: Jacob's six Leah-descended tribes will occupy the central lands of Israel.
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενshe calledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming formula)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon'; David calls one of his retinue to carry out the sentence.
τόtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτό: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativedirect object→ object specificationὄνομα: meaning 'name'; it serves as direct object.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
ΖαβουλωνZebulunpredicate accusative (the name — indeclinable)→ participant identificationΖαβουλων: LXX form of Hebrew זְבוּלוּן; the Hebrew name links to the roots זָבַד ('give a gift') and זָבַל ('exalt, honor'); the LXX's rendering δεδώρηταί … δῶρον captures the first root; ancestor of the tribe of Zebulun.
21
μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο ἔτεκεν θυγατέρα καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς Δεινα.
And after this she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah.
The verse briefly records Leah's only daughter in this chapter, Δεινα, without a naming-speech or etymology — a marked contrast to the elaborate speech-acts accompanying each son's naming. The temporal marker μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο ('after this') presents the birth as a coda to Leah's sequence. Dinah's story will not develop until Genesis 34.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
μετάafterpreposition + accusative (temporal: 'after this')→ spatial or relational framingμετά: meaning 'after'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (temporal: 'after this').
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοῦτοthisAccusativeaccusative (object of μετά: 'after this [= after these events]')→ participant referenceτοῦτο: meaning 'this'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative (object of μετά: 'after this [= after these events]').
ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (birth)→ constative aoristτίκτω: 'give birth'; Leah is the implied subject — the subject pronoun is elided after her consistent role as bearer; this is her seventh child and only daughter.
θυγατέραa daughterAccusativedirect object (anarthrous: 'a daughter' — introduced as a new character)→ object specificationθυγάτηρ: 'daughter'; the chapter's only daughter in the record; her birth receives no interpretive speech, in contrast to every son; she will later be the subject of the rape narrative in Gen 34.
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενcalledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon'; David calls one of his retinue to carry out the sentence.
τόtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτό: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativedirect object→ object specificationὄνομα: meaning 'name'; it serves as direct object.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'her name')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'her name').
ΔειναDinahpredicate accusative (the name — indeclinable)→ participant identificationΔεινα: LXX form of Hebrew דִּינָה; the name may relate to the root דִּין ('judge') — a feminine parallel to Δαν (Δαν, 30:6, also from דִּין); no etymology is given in the text. Her narrative role develops in Gen 34.
22
ἐμνήσθη δὲ ὁ θεὸς τῆς Ραχηλ καὶ ἐπήκουσεν αὐτῆς ὁ θεὸς καὶ ἀνέῳξεν αὐτῆς τὴν μήτραν.
And God remembered Rachel, and God heard her and opened her womb.
The verse is the theological pivot of Rachel's story and the most important verse in the unit. Three verbs of divine initiative — ἐμνήσθη, ἐπήκουσεν, ἀνέῳξεν — mark the end of Rachel's barrenness through sovereign divine action, not natural means or folk-remedy. The covenant verb ἐμνήσθη ('God remembered') recurs at Gen 8:1 (Noah), Gen 19:29 (Abraham/Lot), Exod 2:24 (the covenant with Abraham), and 1 Sam 1:19 LXX (Hannah); it signals that God's prior commitment to Rachel has been activated. The double subject (ὁ θεός appears twice) is emphatic.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ἐμνήσθηrememberedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · μιμνήσκωmain verb (divine remembrance: the chapter's theological apex)→ constative aorist (God's remembrance as a completed, decisive act)μιμνήσκω: 'remember, call to mind'; the passive (deponent) ἐμνήσθη is the covenant-remembrance formula — God 'remembering' someone in the LXX is not merely cognitive but executive: it means he acts on his commitment. Cf. Gen 8:1 (ἐμνήσθη δὲ ὁ θεὸς τοῦ Νωε, before the flood recedes); Exod 2:24 (ἐμνήσθη ὁ θεὸς τῆς διαθήκης αὐτοῦ, inaugurating the Exodus). Rachel's barrenness is thus resolved by covenant faithfulness.
δέandnarrative conjunction (turning point marker)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceθεός: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative subject.
τῆςofGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΡαχηλRachelgenitive (objective: 'remembered Rachel' — indeclinable proper noun in genitive slot)→ participant identificationΡαχηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive (objective: 'remembered Rachel' — indeclinable proper noun in genitive slot).
καίandnarrative conjunction (adding the second divine action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπήκουσενheardAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπακούωsecond main verb (divine hearing: God responds to prayer)→ constative aoristἐπακούω: 'hear, listen to'; cf. v.17 (God heard Leah); now God hears Rachel — the same formula balances the two wives' experiences of divine attention; ἐπήκουσεν αὐτῆς = 'heard her,' the genitive of person heard.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive (objective: 'heard her')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (objective: 'heard her').
ὁtheNominativearticle (second occurrence of ὁ θεός: emphatic repetition)→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative subject (repeated for emphasis)→ participant prominenceθεός: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative subject (repeated for emphasis).
καίandnarrative conjunction (third divine action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνέῳξενopenedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνοίγωthird main verb (God opens the womb: direct creative act)→ constative aoristἀνοίγω: 'open'; ἀνέῳξεν τὴν μήτραν = 'opened the womb' — the standard LXX expression for God granting fertility to a previously barren woman (cf. 1 Sam 1:5–6 LXX of Hannah; Luke 1:57 of Elizabeth); the verb implies God's sovereign creative initiative, not human agency.
αὐτῆςherGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'her womb')→ relational specificationαὐτῆς: meaning 'her'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'her womb').
τήνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτήν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μήτρανwombAccusativedirect object (the womb opened by God)→ object specificationμήτρα: 'womb, uterus'; the opening of the womb is the decisive reversal of Rachel's barrenness — ὁ θεὸς ἀνέῳξεν τὴν μήτραν echoes and reverses the sterility that has framed the whole chapter from v.1.
23
καὶ συλλαβοῦσα ἔτεκεν τῷ Ιακωβ υἱόν. εἶπεν δέ Ἀφεῖλεν ὁ θεός μου τὸ ὄνειδος ἀπ' ἐμοῦ.
And she conceived and bore Jacob a son. And she said, 'My God has taken away my reproach from me.'
The verse divides into birth (καὶ συλλαβοῦσα ἔτεκεν) and interpretation (εἶπεν δέ). Rachel's speech focuses not on what God gave but on what he removed: ἀφεῖλεν … τὸ ὄνειδος ('took away the reproach'). The same vocabulary appears at Luke 1:25, where Elizabeth says of her own pregnancy 'the Lord has done this for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people' (ἀφελεῖν ὄνειδόν μου) — a deliberate NT echo of this verse.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
συλλαβοῦσαhaving conceivedAor Act Ptcp Nom Sg Fem · συλλαμβάνωattendant circumstance participle (antecedent to ἔτεκεν)→ constative aoristσυλλαμβάνω: 'conceive'; the same participial form as v.17; it signals the fulfilment of v.22's divine act (ἀνέῳξεν αὐτῆς τὴν μήτραν).
ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb (birth of Joseph)→ constative aoristτίκτω: 'give birth'; the birth of Joseph is the culmination of Rachel's entire narrative arc from v.1; the child is not named here but in v.24.
τῷtoDativearticle (with proper noun)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙακωβJacobdative of advantage→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as dative of advantage.
υἱόνa sonAccusativedirect object→ object specificationυἱόν: meaning 'a son'; it serves as direct object.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (Rachel's interpretive speech)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δέandnarrative conjunction (scene-shift to Rachel's speech)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
Ἀφεῖλενtook away / removedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀφαιρέωmain verb of direct speech (God's removal of Rachel's reproach)→ constative aorist (completed act of removal)ἀφαιρέω: 'take away, remove'; ἀφεῖλεν … τὸ ὄνειδος = 'removed the reproach'; the vocabulary anticipates Luke 1:25, where Elizabeth uses ἀφελεῖν ὄνειδόν μου of God's removal of her own barrenness-shame — the NT consciously echoes Rachel's declaration through Elizabeth, linking the two stories of miraculous conception.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceθεός: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative subject.
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'my God' — Rachel's personal confession)→ relational specificationὁ θεός μου: 'my God' — the personal possessive marks Rachel's direct, personal relationship with the God who has acted for her; the same formula in Ps 22:1 LXX (ὁ θεός μου, ὁ θεός μου) and John 20:28 (ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου).
τόtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτό: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνειδοςreproach / shameAccusativedirect object (the thing removed: Rachel's social stigma of barrenness)→ object specificationὄνειδος: 'reproach, disgrace, shame'; in the ancient world barrenness was a social stigma (cf. Hannah's ὄνειδος in 1 Sam 1:6 LXX); Rachel's ὄνειδος was both personal and public; God's removal of it is the reversal of v.1's despair. Luke 1:25 ἀφελεῖν ὄνειδόν μου directly echoes this verse, applying Rachel's declaration to Elizabeth.
ἀπ'frompreposition + genitive (ablative: separation from the reproach)→ spatial or relational framingἀπ': meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (ablative: separation from the reproach).
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive (object of ἀπό: emphatic pronoun — 'from me')→ relational specificationἐμοῦ: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (object of ἀπό: emphatic pronoun — 'from me').
24
καὶ ἐκάλεσεν τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ιωσηφ λέγουσα Προσθέτω ὁ θεός μοι υἱὸν ἕτερον.
And she called his name Joseph, saying, 'May God add to me another son.'
Rachel names her son with a forward-looking optative/hortatory: Προσθέτω ὁ θεός ('let God add / may God add another son'). The name Ιωσηφ is thus not a memorial of what God has done but a petition for more — encoding in the child's name Rachel's hope for Benjamin, who will not come until Gen 35:17–18. The verb προστίθημι ('add') renders Hebrew יָסַף, from which the name יוֹסֵף derives — the LXX's etymology (Προσθέτω) is linguistically accurate.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐκάλεσενcalledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb (naming formula)→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call / summon'; David calls one of his retinue to carry out the sentence.
τόtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτό: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὄνομαnameAccusativedirect object→ object specificationὄνομα: meaning 'name'; it serves as direct object.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
ΙωσηφJosephpredicate accusative (the name — indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: LXX transliteration of Hebrew יוֹסֵף; the name derives from the root יָסַף ('add'), rendered in the LXX etymology by the verb προστίθημι; the child who is named 'God adds' will become the pivotal figure of Gen 37–50 and, through the LXX, the type of the suffering righteous in wisdom tradition.
λέγουσαsayingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Fem · λέγωattendant circumstance participle (introducing the naming-speech)→ progressive present (the speech accompanies the naming act)λέγω: 'say'; the participial form λέγουσα (feminine nominative) links the speaker to the preceding subject (Rachel implied); an LXX idiom for introducing direct speech that accompanies an action.
Προσθέτωlet … add / may … addAor Act Impv 3 Sg · προστίθημιthird-person imperative (jussive / hortatory: 'let God add')→ ingressive aorist (Rachel's prayer for an additional son — punctiliar future event)προστίθημι: 'add, place beside, give additionally'; Προσθέτω ὁ θεός = 'let God add / may God add'; the third-person imperative renders the Hebrew jussive יֹסֵף ('may he add'); the verb is the etymology of the name Joseph (יוֹסֵף from יָסַף = 'add'). The LXX's translation is a near-perfect etymological calque.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative subject (of the jussive: the subject of Rachel's prayer)→ participant prominenceθεός: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative subject (of the jussive: the subject of Rachel's prayer).
μοιmeDativedative of indirect object (the beneficiary of the addition)→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (the beneficiary of the addition).
υἱόνa sonAccusativedirect object (what God is asked to add)→ object specificationυἱόν: meaning 'a son'; it serves as direct object (what God is asked to add).
ἕτερονanotherAccusativeaccusative adjective (attributive: 'another son')→ object specificationἕτερος: 'another, a different one'; the naming looks beyond Joseph to a second son — Rachel's prayer is answered in Gen 35:17–18, where she bears Benjamin and dies in childbirth. The name Ιωσηφ is thus a prayer embedded in a name.
25
ἐγένετο δὲ ἡνίκα ἔτεκεν Ραχηλ τὸν Ιωσηφ, εἶπεν Ιακωβ τῷ Λαβαν Ἀπόστειλόν με, ἵνα ἀπέλθω εἰς τὸν τόπον μου καὶ εἰς τὴν γῆν μου.
And it came to pass when Rachel bore Joseph that Jacob said to Laban, 'Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my land.'
The temporal formula ἐγένετο … ἡνίκα ('it came to pass when') marks a significant narrative transition: Joseph's birth is the trigger for Jacob's request to leave. The chapter now shifts from the birth-contest to the flock-negotiation. Jacob's double destination — τόπον μου and γῆν μου ('my place and my land') — resonates with the covenant promise of land given to the patriarchs.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιnarrative formula (temporal frame: ἐγένετο … ἡνίκα)→ constative aorist (narrative opening formula)γίνομαι: 'come to pass, happen'; ἐγένετο + temporal clause is the standard LXX formula calquing Hebrew וַיְהִי + ב/כְּ; it marks major narrative transitions (cf. Ruth 1:1; Gen 28:10).
δέandnarrative conjunction (new episode marker)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἡνίκαwhentemporal conjunction (introducing the trigger event)→ discourse linkage or contrastἡνίκα: 'when, at the time when'; a precise temporal marker used in the LXX for consequential moments; here it makes Joseph's birth the explicit narrative cause of Jacob's departure request.
ἔτεκενboreAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίκτωmain verb of temporal clause→ constative aoristτίκτω (aor. ἔτεκεν): 'bear / give birth'; renders יָלַד; the long-awaited birth that resolves the chapter's central crisis.
ΡαχηλRachelnominative subject of temporal clause (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΡαχηλ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject of temporal clause (indeclinable).
τόνtheAccusativearticle (articular: Ιωσηφ now a known person)→ noun-phrase markingτόν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΙωσηφJosephaccusative direct object (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙωσηφ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as accusative direct object (indeclinable proper noun).
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of apodosis (Jacob's speech)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
ΙακωβJacobnominative subject of apodosis (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject of apodosis (indeclinable).
τῷtoDativearticle (with proper noun)→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΛαβανLabandative of indirect object (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΛαβαν: LXX form of Hebrew לָבָן ('white'); Jacob's uncle and father-in-law; the narrative of Gen 29–31 is largely a contest of wits between Jacob (the deceiver) and Laban (the schemer); the irony is that the deceiver is now himself deceived and must bargain carefully to leave.
Ἀπόστειλόνsend away / dismissAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀποστέλλωimperative (Jacob's request: direct speech)→ ingressive aorist imperative (punctiliar: 'release me now')ἀποστέλλω: 'send away, dismiss, release'; the aorist imperative signals Jacob's urgency; he has completed his fourteen years of service and now invokes his right to leave with his family.
μεmeAccusativeaccusative direct object→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative direct object.
ἵναthat / so thatpurpose conjunction (introducing the purpose of the dismissal)→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέλθωI may goAor Act Subj 1 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιsubjunctive in purpose clause (with ἵνα)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (single intended departure)ἀπέρχομαι: 'go away, depart'; the departure verb that Jacob will use for his journey back to Canaan (cf. 31:3 ἀποδίωκε εἰς τὴν γῆν τῶν πατέρων σου).
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal).
τόνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτόν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τόπονplaceAccusativeaccusative (object of εἰς: goal of departure)→ object specificationτόπος: 'place, location'; τόπον μου = 'my own place' — Jacob's homeland in Canaan; the word τόπος is theologically weighted in the patriarchal narratives (Bethel as 'holy place,' Gen 28:11, 16–17, 19).
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (second goal)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (second goal).
τήνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτήν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative (object of εἰς: the covenant land)→ object specificationγῆ: 'land, earth'; γῆν μου = 'my land' — the promised land of Canaan; the covenant-land language echoes the divine promises to Abraham and Isaac (Gen 12:1; 26:3), reinforcing Jacob's departure as a return to the covenant framework.
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
26
ἀπόδος τὰς γυναῖκάς μου καὶ τὰ παιδία μου, πρὸς ἃς δεδούλευκά σοι, ἵνα ἀπέλθω· σὺ γὰρ γινώσκεις τὴν δουλείαν μου ὅσην δεδούλευκά σοι.
Give back my wives and my children, for whom I served you, that I may go; for you know my service, how much I served you.
Jacob's demand pivots on the word δεδούλευκά ('I have served') — used twice in emphatic repetition with ὅσην ('how much'). The perfect δεδούλευκα marks the completion of his term of service: fourteen years for the two wives. The appeal to Laban's own knowledge (σὺ γὰρ γινώσκεις) is a rhetorical strategy — Laban cannot deny the years of labor.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
ἀπόδοςgive back / returnAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀποδίδωμιimperative (Jacob's legal demand: 'give back what is mine')→ ingressive aorist imperativeἀποδίδωμι: 'give back, render, return'; the compound ἀπο- carries the sense of returning what is rightfully owed; Jacob frames his request as a legal claim (his wives and children are his to take) rather than a favor.
τάςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτάς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γυναῖκάςwivesAccusativedirect object (primary claim: the wives)→ object specificationγυνή: 'wife, woman'; Jacob has two legal wives (Λεια and Ραχηλ) and two secondary wife-maids (Βαλλα and Ζελφα); all are included in the claim.
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τάtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παιδίαchildrenAccusativedirect object (secondary claim: the children)→ object specificationπαιδίον: 'little child'; Jacob claims all his children born during the service period; the children are legally his, not Laban's.
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
πρόςfor whom / on account of whompreposition + accusative (causal relative clause antecedent: 'in return for whom I served')→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'for whom'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (causal relative clause antecedent: 'in return for whom I served').
ἅςwhomAccusativeaccusative relative pronoun (referring to γυναῖκάς: 'for whom I served')→ participant referenceἅς: meaning 'whom'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative relative pronoun (referring to γυναῖκάς: 'for whom I served').
δεδούλευκάI have servedPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · δουλεύωmain verb of relative clause (completed service as legal basis for the claim)→ intensive perfect (the service is complete: Jacob has fully discharged his obligation)δουλεύω: 'serve as a slave, be in servitude'; the perfect δεδούλευκα = 'I have served and my service is done'; Jacob uses the same root (δουλεία/δουλεύω) three times in vv.26–29, emphasizing the legal completeness of his fourteen-year term.
σοιyouDativedative of indirect object (person served)→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (person served).
ἵναthatpurpose conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: meaning 'that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέλθωI may goAor Act Subj 1 Sg · ἀπέρχομαιsubjunctive in purpose clause→ ingressive aorist subjunctiveἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; the moment Obadiah leaves Elijah to fetch Ahab.
σύyouNominativenominative subject (emphatic pronoun: 'you yourself know')→ participant referenceσύ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as nominative subject (emphatic pronoun: 'you yourself know').
γάρforexplanatory conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: meaning 'for'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
γινώσκειςyou knowPres Act Indic 2 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (appeal to Laban's own testimony)→ gnomic present (Laban's knowledge as an established fact)γινώσκω: 'know, recognize'; Jacob appeals to Laban's own direct witness — the rhetorical strategy of making the counterparty admit the facts before making the claim.
τήνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτήν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δουλείανservice / slaveryAccusativedirect object (what Laban knows)→ object specificationδουλεία: 'servitude, service, slavery'; the noun from δουλεύω; Jacob's years of service are framed with the full weight of slave-labor — the root is the same Paul will use in Gal 4:24–25 for covenantal servitude.
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'my service')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'my service').
ὅσηνhow much / how greatAccusativeaccusative relative adjective (extent: 'the service, how much [= the full extent of] I served you')→ object specificationὅσος: correlative adjective of quantity 'as much as, how much'; ὅσην δεδούλευκά σοι = 'how much I served you' — the relative quantifier insists on the full measure of Jacob's labor.
δεδούλευκάI have servedPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · δουλεύωmain verb (repeated perfect: emphatic confirmation of completed service)→ intensive perfect (second instance: redundant for rhetorical force)δουλεύω: the repeated perfect (third occurrence in the chapter via δουλεία) is rhetorically emphatic — Jacob presses the point of his completed service as the basis for the demand.
σοιyouDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
27
εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ Λαβαν Εἰ εὗρον χάριν ἐναντίον σου, οἰωνισάμην ἄν· εὐλόγηκεν γάρ με ὁ θεὸς τῇ σῇ εἰσόδῳ.
And Laban said to him, 'If I have found favor in your sight, I take it as a good omen — for God has blessed me at your entry.'
Laban's response is diplomatically clever: he flatters Jacob ('if I have found favor in your sight'), claims to have divined Jacob's value from omens (οἰωνισάμην ἄν), and then makes the theological admission that God has blessed him through Jacob's presence (τῇ σῇ εἰσόδῳ). The admission of divine blessing is both genuine and self-serving — Laban uses it to delay Jacob's departure and open wage negotiations.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷhimDativedative of indirect object (addressee: Jacob)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (addressee: Jacob).
ΛαβανLabannominative subject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΛαβαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable proper noun).
Εἰifconditional particle (first-class condition: real / assumed true)→ discourse linkage or contrastΕἰ: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὗρονI have foundAor Act Indic 1 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb of conditional protasis→ constative aoristεὑρίσκω: 'find'; εἰ εὗρον χάριν ἐναντίον σου = 'if I have found favor in your sight' — a standard Near Eastern idiom of diplomatic deference (cf. Gen 18:3; 19:19; 32:5 LXX), here used by Laban to soften Jacob's demand.
χάρινfavor / graceAccusativedirect object (εὗρον χάριν: 'find favor')→ object specificationχάρις: 'favor, grace, good will'; εὑρεῖν χάριν ἐναντίον/ἐνώπιον = 'to find favor before' — the standard LXX idiom for seeking someone's goodwill (Hebrew מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי).
ἐναντίονbefore / in the sight ofpreposition + genitive (standard idiom: 'before/in the eyes of')→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: meaning 'before'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (standard idiom: 'before/in the eyes of').
σουyouGenitivegenitive (object of ἐναντίον: 'in your sight')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (object of ἐναντίον: 'in your sight').
οἰωνισάμηνI have divined / I observe by omenAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · οἰωνίζομαιapodosis of conditional (Laban's claim about his divination)→ constative aorist (completed act of divining/observing)οἰωνίζομαι: 'observe omens, divine by birds/signs'; from οἰωνός ('a bird of omen, omen'); Laban the Aramean is portrayed as an omen-reader or diviner (cf. Gen 44:5 Rahlfs where divination is attributed to Joseph's cup); his admission of divination is candid — he has observed that Jacob is his good-luck charm.
ἄνindeedmodal particle (with indicative: marking the conclusion as established)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: modal particle; with the aorist indicative here it gives the apodosis a modal/potential flavor — 'I have indeed observed / I would have observed'; the particle acknowledges Laban's confident inference from his observation.
εὐλόγηκενhas blessedPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐλογέωmain verb of γάρ-clause (the theological reason for Laban's desire to keep Jacob)→ intensive perfect (the blessing is ongoing: God's blessing of Laban through Jacob is a present state)εὐλογέω: 'bless, speak well of'; the perfect εὐλόγηκεν = 'has blessed [and continues to bless]'; Laban acknowledges the real source of his prosperity — the God of Jacob — while instrumentalizing it for his own purposes.
γάρforexplanatory conjunction (giving the reason for Laban's divination)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: meaning 'for'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μεmeAccusativeaccusative direct object (recipient of God's blessing)→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative direct object (recipient of God's blessing).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεόςGodNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceθεός: meaning 'God'; it serves as nominative subject.
τῇat / byDativearticle (with εἰσόδῳ: dative of means/occasion)→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σῇyourDativedative possessive adjective (attributive: 'your entry')→ sphere or referenceσῇ: meaning 'your'; it serves as dative possessive adjective (attributive: 'your entry').
εἰσόδῳentry / comingDativedative of occasion (instrumental: 'at your entry / because of your coming')→ sphere or referenceεἴσοδος: 'entry, arrival, coming'; τῇ σῇ εἰσόδῳ = 'at your arrival / because of your coming in'; Laban acknowledges that Jacob's twenty-year presence has been the channel of divine blessing — the Abrahamic promise (those who bless you will be blessed, Gen 12:3) operating through Jacob in Laban's household.
28
διαστεῖλον τὸν μισθόν σου πρός με, καὶ δώσω.
Specify your wages to me, and I will give them.
Laban's brief invitation opens the second negotiation of the chapter: the first concerned Jacob's wives (fourteen years' service), now Jacob is invited to name his price for continuing to manage the flocks. The short verse is structurally a pivot: Laban's concession to name a wage sets up Jacob's counter-proposal in vv.29–33. The word μισθός ('wages') is the chapter's central economic term, connecting vv.16, 18, 28, 32, 33.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
διαστεῖλονspecify / determine / nameAor Act Impv 2 Sg · διαστέλλωimperative (Laban's invitation: 'name your wages')→ ingressive aorist imperative (punctiliar: 'state it now')διαστέλλω: 'define clearly, specify, separate out, determine'; Laban invites Jacob to name a precise wage — the compound διά- adds the force of 'draw the line, lay it out clearly'; the same verb is used for distinguishing/separating animals in vv.35, 40.
τόνtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτόν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μισθόνwagesAccusativedirect object (the wage to be specified)→ object specificationμισθός: 'wages, hire, reward'; the chapter's keyword, linking mandrake-hire (v.16), Issachar-wages (v.18), and now the formal wage-negotiation for the flocks; cf. v.32 ἔσται μοι μισθός and v.33 ὁ μισθός μου.
σουyourGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'your wages')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'your wages').
πρόςtopreposition + accusative (recipient / direction: 'to me')→ spatial or relational framingπρός: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (recipient / direction: 'to me').
μεmeAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ participant referenceμε: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative object of πρός.
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
δώσωI will giveFut Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain clause (Laban's promise: future indicative as commitment)→ predictive future (Laban's binding commitment to pay the named wage)δίδωμι: 'give'; Laban's future δώσω is a binding promise — but the narrative will show that he immediately manipulates the terms once Jacob names them (v.35–36).
29
εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ Ιακωβ Σὺ γινώσκεις ἃ δεδούλευκά σοι καὶ ὅσα ἦν τὰ κτήνη σου μετ' ἐμοῦ·
And Jacob said to him, 'You know what I have served you and how your livestock fared with me —'
Jacob's response to Laban's wage-offer begins with a rhetorical preamble: you know (σὺ γινώσκεις) — Jacob again appeals to Laban's own direct knowledge. The verse is syntactically incomplete (the sentence runs into v.30), the colon marking continuation. Jacob's argument will be: I have served you, your livestock has flourished, now it is time I provided for my own house.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷhimDativedative of indirect object (addressee: Laban)→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object (addressee: Laban).
ΙακωβJacobnominative subject (indeclinable proper noun)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable proper noun).
ΣύyouNominativenominative subject (emphatic: 'you yourself know')→ participant referenceΣύ: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as nominative subject (emphatic: 'you yourself know').
γινώσκειςknowPres Act Indic 2 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (appeal to Laban's personal testimony — repeated from v.26)→ gnomic present (Laban's knowledge as an ongoing, established state)γινώσκω: 'know, recognize'; the verb recurs from v.26 (σὺ γὰρ γινώσκεις); Jacob's rhetorical strategy consistently appeals to what Laban already knows as witness, forestalling denial.
ἅwhatAccusativeaccusative relative pronoun (introducing first object clause: 'what I served you')→ participant referenceἅ: meaning 'what'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative relative pronoun (introducing first object clause: 'what I served you').
δεδούλευκάI have servedPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · δουλεύωmain verb of relative clause (the completed service)→ intensive perfectδουλεύω: 'serve'; the fourth occurrence of the δουλ- root in vv.26–29, hammering home the point of Jacob's completed service.
σοιyouDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
καίandcoordinate conjunction (adding second object clause)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὅσαhow much / how greatNominativenominative relative adjective (subject of ἦν: 'how many your livestock were')→ participant prominenceὅσος: 'as much/many as, how much'; introduces the second clause of Laban's knowledge — both what Jacob did AND how the livestock fared.
ἦνwere / faredImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (imperfect: ongoing state of the livestock during Jacob's service)→ progressive imperfect (continuous state of livestock prosperity)εἰμί: 'be, exist'; the imperfect ἦν here expresses the ongoing condition of the livestock during Jacob's care — not a punctiliar event but a sustained state of prosperity.
τάtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κτήνηlivestock / cattleNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceκτῆνος: 'beast, domestic animal, livestock'; plural τὰ κτήνη = 'the livestock/herd'; the word covers cattle, sheep, goats, and camels in LXX usage; Jacob's management of Laban's κτήνη is the chapter's economic subject in vv.29–43.
σουyourGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'your livestock')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'your livestock').
μετ'withpreposition + genitive (association: 'under my care')→ spatial or relational framingμετ': meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (association: 'under my care').
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive (object of μετά: emphatic personal pronoun)→ relational specificationἐμοῦ: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (object of μετά: emphatic personal pronoun).
30
μικρὰ γὰρ ἦν ὅσα σοι ἦν πρὸ ἐμοῦ, καὶ ηὐξήθη εἰς πλῆθος, καὶ εὐλόγησέν σε κύριος ἐπὶ τῷ ποδί μου· νῦν οὖν πότε ποιήσω καὶ ἐγὼ ἐμαυτῷ οἶκον;
For what you had before me was little, and it increased to a multitude, and the LORD blessed you at my coming; and now when shall I also provide for my own house?
The verse completes the preamble of v.29 and forms Jacob's core argument: before Jacob, little; after Jacob's arrival, abundance; and the agent is identified as κύριος ('the LORD'). The Hebraism ἐπὶ τῷ ποδί μου ('at my foot / at my presence') renders לְרַגְלִי. The rhetorical question νῦν οὖν πότε ποιήσω … οἶκον ('when shall I also provide for my own house?') is the pivot that turns the argument toward Jacob's own claim.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
μικράlittle / smallNominativepredicate adjective (in existential clause: 'it was little')→ participant prominenceμικρός: 'small, little, insignificant'; Laban's wealth before Jacob was modest — Jacob's claim is that the increase is directly attributable to his management and divine blessing through him.
γάρforexplanatory conjunction (giving the evidence for Jacob's claim)→ discourse linkage or contrastγάρ: meaning 'for'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential: 'it was little')→ progressive imperfect (describing the prior state)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): the copula of the name-gloss.
ὅσαwhat / all thatNominativenominative relative pronoun (subject: 'all that you had')→ participant referenceὅσα: meaning 'what'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as nominative relative pronoun (subject: 'all that you had').
σοιyouDativedative of possession ('what belonged to you')→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of possession ('what belonged to you').
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the relative clause→ progressive imperfectεἰμί (impf. ἦν): the copula of the name-gloss.
πρόbeforepreposition + genitive (temporal: 'before me')→ spatial or relational framingπρό: meaning 'before'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (temporal: 'before me').
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive (object of πρό: 'before my arrival')→ relational specificationἐμοῦ: meaning 'me'; it serves as genitive (object of πρό: 'before my arrival').
καίandnarrative conjunction (sequential: 'and then it increased')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ηὐξήθηincreased / grewAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · αὐξάνωmain verb (the growth of Laban's wealth under Jacob)→ constative aorist (completed growth as an established fact)αὐξάνω: 'grow, increase, multiply'; the passive ηὐξήθη is a divine passive — the growth is God's doing (confirmed by the next clause); Jacob diplomatically lets the passive form carry the implication of divine agency.
εἰςto / intopreposition + accusative (goal/result: 'to a multitude')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal/result: 'to a multitude').
πλῆθοςa multitude / abundanceAccusativeaccusative (object of εἰς: the result of the growth)→ object specificationπλῆθος: 'multitude, great number, crowd'; εἰς πλῆθος = 'to a great number / in abundance'; the word carries the resonance of the Abrahamic promise (πλῆθος ἐθνῶν, Gen 17:4–5), subtly suggesting that Jacob's presence has been the medium of covenant blessing.
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
εὐλόγησένblessedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐλογέωmain verb (explicit attribution to the LORD)→ constative aoristεὐλογέω: 'bless'; Jacob now names the agent of the increase explicitly: κύριος ('the LORD'); this confirms what Laban confessed obliquely in v.27 (εὐλόγηκεν γάρ με ὁ θεὸς τῇ σῇ εἰσόδῳ); now Jacob states it as the keystone of his argument.
σεyouAccusativeaccusative direct object (recipient of the blessing)→ participant referenceσε: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative direct object (recipient of the blessing).
κύριοςthe LORDNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceκύριος: 'LORD'; the LXX's standard rendering of the divine name יהוה (YHWH); here Jacob uses κύριος rather than θεός, perhaps reflecting Laban's familiarity with YHWH as the God of Jacob's family (cf. Gen 24:50; 31:49).
ἐπίat / uponpreposition + dative (Hebraism: ἐπὶ τῷ ποδί μου = 'at my foot/coming')→ spatial or relational framingἐπὶ τῷ ποδί: 'at my foot' — a Hebraism rendering לְרַגְלִי ('at my heels/following'); the idiom means 'on account of my presence / since my arrival'; the LXX preserves the Hebrew body-idiom without translating it into Greek idiom.
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποδίfootDativedative of place/Hebraism (body-idiom: 'at my foot / in my footsteps')→ sphere or referenceποδί: meaning 'foot'; it serves as dative of place/Hebraism (body-idiom: 'at my foot / in my footsteps').
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
νῦνnowadverb (temporal: pivot from evidence to Jacob's own claim)→ adverbial qualificationνῦν: meaning 'now'; it shapes time, manner, location, or discourse flow in the clause.
οὖνtherefore / theninferential conjunction (drawing the conclusion: 'now then …')→ discourse linkage or contrastοὖν: 'therefore, then'; the logical connector between the evidence (you were blessed through me) and Jacob's claim (I deserve to provide for my own house); the inference is implicit — Jacob stops short of stating it outright.
πότεwheninterrogative adverb (rhetorical question: 'when shall I …?')→ clausal contributionπότε: 'when?' — the rhetorical question implies 'it is time now'; Jacob does not demand but asks, which softens the claim while making the point.
ποιήσωshall I make / provideFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of rhetorical question (Jacob's claim to provide for himself)→ predictive/deliberative future (Jacob's claim: 'when shall I also act for my own house?')ποιέω: 'do, make, provide'; ποιήσω … οἶκον = 'I shall establish/provide a household for myself'; the idiom echoes the covenant promise of house-building (cf. 2 Sam 7:11 LXX).
καίalsoadverbial (additive: 'I too, I also')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'also'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγώINominativenominative subject (emphatic: 'I myself')→ participant referenceἐγώ: meaning 'I'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as nominative subject (emphatic: 'I myself').
ἐμαυτῷmyselfDativedative reflexive (advantage: 'for myself / my own household')→ sphere or referenceἐμαυτῷ: meaning 'myself'; it serves as dative reflexive (advantage: 'for myself / my own household').
οἶκονhousehold / houseAccusativedirect object (what Jacob aims to establish)→ object specificationοἶκος: 'house, household, family'; ποιήσω … οἶκον = 'provide/build a household'; the word carries both the domestic (physical dwelling) and dynastic (genealogical line/family) senses; Jacob's goal is a self-sustaining patriarchal household independent of Laban.
31
εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ Λαβαν Τί σοι δώσω; εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ Ιακωβ Οὐ δώσεις μοι οὐθέν· ἐὰν ποιήσῃς μοι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο, πάλιν ποιμανῶ τὰ πρόβατά σου καὶ φυλάξω.
And Laban said to him, 'What shall I give you?' And Jacob said to him, 'You shall give me nothing; if you will do this thing for me, I will again shepherd your flocks and keep them.'
Laban's question Τί σοι δώσω is formally open, but structurally a trap — he is hoping Jacob will name a cash wage he can control. Jacob instead refuses a direct cash gift (οὐ δώσεις μοι οὐθέν) and pivots to a non-cash arrangement: an in-kind wage from the flock itself (described in v.32). The conditional ἐὰν ποιήσῃς … establishes Jacob's terms before describing them.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction: Laban's question)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷhimDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
ΛαβανLabannominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΛαβαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
ΤίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (direct object of δώσω: 'what shall I give you?')→ participant referenceΤί: meaning 'what'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as interrogative pronoun (direct object of δώσω: 'what shall I give you?').
σοιyouDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestσοι: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
δώσωshall I giveFut Act Indic 1 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb of Laban's question (deliberative future)→ deliberative future ('what am I to give?')δίδωμι: 'give'; Laban's Τί σοι δώσω restates v.28's invitation — he expects Jacob to name a price; Jacob's refusal to accept a cash wage is strategically shrewd.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction: Jacob's response)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷhimDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
ΙακωβJacobnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
Οὐnotnegation (categorical refusal of a cash wage)→ participant referenceΟὐ: meaning 'not'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as negation (categorical refusal of a cash wage).
δώσειςyou will giveFut Act Indic 2 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (Jacob's categorical refusal of direct payment)→ predictive future (with force of prohibition: 'you need give me nothing')δίδωμι: 'give'; the imperatival future 'you shall give' functions as a command backed by the threat that follows.
μοιmeDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
οὐθένnothingAccusativedirect object (negative indefinite pronoun: 'nothing at all')→ participant referenceοὐθέν: variant of οὐδέν ('nothing'); Hellenistic form with -θ- rather than -δ-; Jacob's categorical refusal — 'you need give me nothing' — is the rhetorical setup for his real proposal in vv.32–33.
ἐάνifconditional conjunction (third-class condition: ἐάν + subjunctive)→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποιήσῃςyou doAor Act Subj 2 Sg · ποιέωprotasis of condition (the one thing Jacob requires from Laban)→ ingressive aorist subjunctiveποιέω: 'do, make'; ἐὰν ποιήσῃς μοι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο = 'if you will do this thing for me' — Jacob makes his entire proposal conditional on Laban's compliance with a single arrangement (to be specified in v.32).
μοιmeDativedative of advantage→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of advantage.
τόtheAccusativearticle (anaphoric: 'this thing' — the proposal about to be described)→ noun-phrase markingτό: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμαthing / wordAccusativedirect object (the arrangement Jacob is about to propose)→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word, thing, matter'; a Hebraism — the LXX often uses ῥῆμα where Hebrew דָּבָר means 'thing, matter, affair' as much as 'word'; here = 'this arrangement / deal.'
τοῦτοthisAccusativeaccusative demonstrative (cataphoric: 'this [thing about to be described]')→ participant referenceτοῦτο: meaning 'this'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative demonstrative (cataphoric: 'this [thing about to be described]').
πάλινagainadverb (iterative: 'I will shepherd again')→ adverbial qualificationπάλιν: 'again, once more'; Jacob commits to continuing (πάλιν) his shepherd-role under the new arrangement — he is not asking to be released from labor but to change the wage-structure.
ποιμανῶI will shepherd / tendFut Act Indic 1 Sg · ποιμαίνωapodosis of condition (Jacob's commitment: continued shepherding)→ predictive future (binding commitment)ποιμαίνω: 'shepherd, tend, rule'; from ποιμήν ('shepherd'); Jacob's role throughout has been as chief shepherd of Laban's flocks; the futuristic commitment implies the arrangement is ongoing.
τάtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβατάflocks / sheepAccusativedirect object→ object specificationπρόβατον: 'sheep, flock'; the chapter's primary livestock term; from vv.31–43 the chapter's focus is on managing the sheep and goats to produce the speckled animals that will be Jacob's wage.
σουyourGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'your flocks')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'your flocks').
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φυλάξωI will keep / guardFut Act Indic 1 Sg · φυλάσσωsecond verb of apodosis (commitment: continued vigilant shepherding)→ predictive futureφυλάσσω: 'guard, keep, protect'; the shepherd's duty includes both feeding (ποιμαίνω) and guarding (φυλάσσω) against predators; Jacob offers full pastoral service in exchange for the in-kind wage of v.32.
32
παρελθέτω πάντα τὰ πρόβατά σου σήμερον, καὶ διαχώρισον ἐκεῖθεν πᾶν πρόβατον φαιὸν ἐν τοῖς ἀρνάσιν καὶ πᾶν διαλευκαῖνον καὶ ποικίλον ἐν ταῖς αἰξίν· ἔσται μοι μισθός.
Let all your flock pass before me today, and separate from them every dark sheep among the lambs and everything speckled and spotted among the goats; that shall be my wages.
Jacob's wage-proposal deploys the chapter's flock-color vocabulary: φαιόν ('dark/dusky') for the lambs, διαλευκαῖνον ('having white patches') and ποικίλον ('variegated/spotted') for the goats. The arrangement appears modest — the majority of a flock is uniform-colored; speckled animals are the minority. Laban's immediate acceptance (v.34) and manipulation (v.35) show he reads Jacob's proposal as advantageous to himself.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
παρελθέτωlet pass / pass throughAor Act Impv 3 Sg · παρέρχομαιimperative (Jacob's first directive: mustering the flock for inspection)→ ingressive aorist imperative (punctiliar: 'let the flock pass now')παρέρχομαι: 'pass by, pass through'; the third-person imperative: 'let all your flock pass' — Jacob is directing a formal inspection of the entire flock to identify his claimed animals.
πάνταallNominativenominative adjective (subject of παρελθέτω: 'all the flock')→ participant prominenceπάντα: meaning 'all'; it serves as nominative adjective (subject of παρελθέτω: 'all the flock').
τάtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβατάflocks / sheepNominativenominative subject of παρελθέτω→ participant prominenceπρόβατά: meaning 'flocks'; it serves as nominative subject of παρελθέτω.
σουyourGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
σήμερονtodayadverb (temporal: 'today — the inspection is immediate')→ clausal contributionσήμερον: meaning 'today'; it shapes the local clause or phrase relation in this passage.
καίandnarrative conjunction (introducing Jacob's second directive)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διαχώρισονseparate out / removeAor Act Impv 2 Sg · διαχωρίζωimperative (Jacob's second directive: the separation of his animals)→ ingressive aorist imperativeδιαχωρίζω: 'separate, divide out'; the compound διά- adds force — 'thoroughly separate'; Jacob is proposing that Laban himself do the initial separation, which ironically Laban then exploits in v.35.
ἐκεῖθενfrom there / from themadverb (from the passing flock: 'separate from them')→ clausal contributionἐκεῖθεν: meaning 'from there'; it shapes the local clause or phrase relation in this passage.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeaccusative adjective (universal: 'every [animal of the described type]')→ object specificationπᾶν: meaning 'every'; it serves as accusative adjective (universal: 'every [animal of the described type]').
πρόβατονsheep / animalAccusativedirect object of διαχώρισον→ object specificationπρόβατον: meaning 'sheep'; it serves as direct object of διαχώρισον.
φαιόνdark / dusky / swarthyAccusativeaccusative adjective (attributive: specifying the color of the claimed animals)→ object specificationφαιός: 'dark, dusky, grey-brown'; the flock-color term for dark or swarthy sheep; renders Hebrew חוּם ('dark, brownish'); one of four technical color-terms in the chapter's flock vocabulary; the LXX's φαιός is its standard rendering of the dark/non-white wool color.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (partitive: 'among the lambs')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (partitive: 'among the lambs').
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρνάσινlambsDativedative of place/partitive (the flock-category: male lambs/rams)→ sphere or referenceἀρήν / ἀρνάς: 'lamb'; dative plural; the male sheep/lambs; the claim is for φαιόν (dark) lambs among the flock of ἀρνάσιν.
καίandcoordinate conjunction (extending the claim to goats)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶνeveryAccusativeaccusative adjective (universal: second category of claimed animals)→ object specificationπᾶν: meaning 'every'; it serves as accusative adjective (universal: second category of claimed animals).
διαλευκαῖνονhaving white patches / speckled whitePres Act Ptcp Acc Sg Neut · διαλευκαίνωparticipial adjective (attributive: describing the second claimed color-type)→ progressive present participle (the ongoing feature of having white patches)διαλευκαίνω: 'be whitened in patches, have white markings'; a compound of διά- ('through/across') + λευκαίνω ('whiten'); the term describes animals with white patches or streaks across an otherwise colored coat — the second of the four technical flock-color terms.
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποικίλονvariegated / spotted / dappledAccusativeaccusative adjective (attributive: third claimed color-type)→ object specificationποικίλος: 'variegated, many-colored, spotted, dappled'; from ποικίλλω ('variegate, embroider'); the third flock-color term; renders Hebrew נָקֹד ('spotted, speckled'); ποικίλος is also used of Joseph's multi-colored coat (Gen 37:3 χιτῶνα ποικίλον), creating a thematic link.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (partitive: 'among the goats')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (partitive: 'among the goats').
ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰξίνgoatsDativedative of place/partitive (the flock-category: goats)→ sphere or referenceαἴξ: 'goat'; dative plural αἰξίν; the chapter distinguishes between ἀρνάσιν (lambs/sheep) and αἰξίν (goats) in assigning the color-patterns to each species.
ἔσταιshall be / will beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain clause (Jacob's declaration of his wage)→ predictive future (binding declaration: 'this shall be my wages')εἰμί: 'be'; ἔσται μοι μισθός = 'it shall be my wages' — the legal declaration closing Jacob's wage-proposal; the future indicative has contractual force.
μοιmeDativedative of possession ('mine as wages')→ participant reference or interestμοι: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of possession ('mine as wages').
μισθόςwagesNominativepredicate nominative (the declared wage-type)→ participant prominenceμισθός: 'wages, hire, reward'; ἔσται μοι μισθός closes Jacob's wage-proposal with the chapter's key economic term; cf. vv.16, 18, 28, 33.
33
καὶ ἐπακούσεταί μου ἡ δικαιοσύνη ἐν ἡμέρᾳ αὔριον, ὅτι ἐστίν ὁ μισθός μου ἐνώπιόν σου· πᾶν ὃ ἐὰν μὴ ᾖ ῥαντὸν καὶ διαλευκαῖνον ἐν ταῖς αἰξίν καὶ φαιὸν ἐν τοῖς ἀρνάσιν, κεκλεμμένον ἔσται παρ' ἐμοί.
And my integrity will answer for me tomorrow, because my wages are before you: everything that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and dark among the lambs shall be reckoned stolen with me.
Jacob's wage-definition is sealed with a self-imprecatory clause: his δικαιοσύνη ('righteousness/integrity') will 'answer for him' (ἐπακούσεταί μου) on the day of accounting. Any non-speckled animal found in his possession will be treated as κεκλεμμένον ('stolen') — Jacob pre-commits to his own culpability if he takes anything beyond what the agreement specifies. The LXX renders the idiom as a personification of Jacob's δικαιοσύνη acting as his moral witness.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπακούσεταίwill answer / will testifyFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐπακούωmain verb (personification: Jacob's righteousness will 'answer' for him)→ predictive future (binding self-commitment)ἐπακούω: 'hear, heed, respond, answer'; here used of δικαιοσύνη as a witness that will 'respond' — Jacob's integrity is personified as a legal witness that will testify on the day of reckoning.
μουme / for meGenitivegenitive (advantage: 'answer for me')→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (advantage: 'answer for me').
ἡtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δικαιοσύνηrighteousness / integrityNominativenominative subject (personified: 'my righteousness will answer')→ participant prominenceδικαιοσύνη: 'righteousness, justice, integrity'; ἡ δικαιοσύνη μου personified as a legal witness — a striking formulation connecting Jacob's moral standing to later biblical δικαιοσύνη theology.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal: 'on the day of …')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal: 'on the day of …').
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceἡμέρᾳ: meaning 'day'; it serves as dative of time.
αὔριονtomorrowadverb (temporal: 'on tomorrow's day' — Hebraism for 'in the future / at the day of reckoning')→ clausal contributionαὔριον: 'tomorrow'; ἐν ἡμέρᾳ αὔριον = Hebraism (מָחָר) meaning 'in the future / when the time comes.'
ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastὅτι: meaning 'because'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐστίνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (existential: 'the wages are before you')→ stative presentεἰμί: copula.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
μισθόςwagesNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceμισθός: meaning 'wages'; it serves as nominative subject.
μουmyGenitivegenitive (possessive)→ relational specificationμου: meaning 'my'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive).
ἐνώπιόνbeforepreposition + genitive (presence: 'before you')→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιόν: meaning 'before'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (presence: 'before you').
σουyouGenitivegenitive (object of ἐνώπιόν)→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'you'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (object of ἐνώπιόν).
πᾶνeverythingNominativenominative subject (indefinite universal)→ participant prominenceπᾶν: meaning 'everything'; it serves as nominative subject (indefinite universal).
ὅthat / whichNominativenominative relative pronoun→ participant referenceὅ: meaning 'that'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as nominative relative pronoun.
ἐάνifconditional particle (ὃ ἐὰν μή = 'whatever is not')→ discourse linkage or contrastἐάν: meaning 'if'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
μήnotnegation→ clausal qualification or emphasisμή: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ᾖbe / isPres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (indefinite: 'whatever may not be speckled')→ iterative/habitual subjunctiveεἰμί (subj.): 'is not (lower).'
ῥαντόνspeckled / spottedNominativepredicate adjective (first required color-pattern)→ participant prominenceῥαντός: 'sprinkled, speckled'; from ῥαίνω ('sprinkle'); renders Hebrew טָלוּא ('spotted'); the primary flock-color term in vv.32–39.
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διαλευκαῖνονhaving white patchesPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Neut · διαλευκαίνωparticipial adjective (second required color-pattern)→ progressive presentδιαλευκαίνω: meaning 'having white patches'; it contributes descriptive or attendant verbal force; here it functions as participial adjective (second required color-pattern).
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (partitive: among the goats)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (partitive: among the goats).
ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἰξίνgoatsDativedative of place/partitive→ sphere or referenceαἰξίν: meaning 'goats'; it serves as dative of place/partitive.
καίandcoordinate conjunction (extending to the lambs)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
φαιόνdark / duskyNominativepredicate adjective (third required color-pattern: dark lambs)→ participant prominenceφαιόν: meaning 'dark'; it serves as predicate adjective (third required color-pattern: dark lambs).
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (partitive: among the lambs)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (partitive: among the lambs).
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρνάσινlambsDativedative of place/partitive→ sphere or referenceἀρνάσιν: meaning 'lambs'; it serves as dative of place/partitive.
κεκλεμμένονstolenPerf Pass Ptcp Nom Sg Neut · κλέπτωpredicate participle (periphrastic with ἔσται: 'will be reckoned stolen')→ intensive perfect participle (completed theft as permanent status)κλέπτω: 'steal'; κεκλεμμένον ἔσται παρ' ἐμοί = 'shall be reckoned stolen with me'; Jacob's self-imprecatory clause pre-commits him to his own culpability if he takes anything outside the agreed categories.
ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίperiphrastic future (with κεκλεμμένον: 'will be reckoned stolen')→ predictive future (self-imprecatory declaration)εἰμί (fut.): copula.
παρ'with / atpreposition + dative (association: 'in my possession')→ spatial or relational framingπαρ': meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (association: 'in my possession').
ἐμοίmeDativedative (object of παρά: 'with/by me' = in my custody)→ participant reference or interestἐμοί: meaning 'me'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (object of παρά: 'with/by me' = in my custody).
34
εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ Λαβαν Ἔστω κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου.
And Laban said to him, 'Let it be according to your word.'
Laban's terse acceptance — Ἔστω κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου — is the shortest speech in the chapter. His brevity masks rapid calculation: the arrangement appears to favor Laban (solid-colored animals are the majority; speckled are a minority), and he immediately acts to skew the odds further in v.35 by pre-removing all speckled animals from the common flock. The permissive imperative ἔστω ('let it be') functions as a contractual formula.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristεἶπεν: verbal form rendered 'said' here; its aspect and clause role are specified by the parse and syntax fields.
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
αὐτῷhimDativedative of indirect object→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of indirect object.
ΛαβανLabannominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΛαβαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
Ἔστωlet it be / so be itPres Act Impv 3 Sg · εἰμίimperative (Laban's formal acceptance of Jacob's terms)→ permissive imperative ('let it be' = ratification)εἰμί: 'be'; ἔστω = third-person imperative used as agreement-formula; κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου ('according to your word') is a standard ancient acceptance-formula, binding the speaker to the stated terms.
κατάaccording topreposition + accusative (norm: 'according to your word')→ spatial or relational framingκατά: meaning 'according to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (norm: 'according to your word').
τόtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτό: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥῆμάword / arrangementAccusativeaccusative (object of κατά: the binding term of the agreement)→ object specificationῥῆμα: 'word, matter, thing' (Hebraism for Hebrew דָּבָר); κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου signals formal contractual acceptance.
σουyourGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'your word/terms')→ relational specificationσου: meaning 'your'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'your word/terms').
35
καὶ διέστειλεν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τοὺς τράγους τοὺς ῥαντοὺς καὶ τοὺς διαλευκαίνοντας καὶ πάσας τὰς αἶγας τὰς ῥαντὰς καὶ τὰς διαλευκαινούσας, καὶ πᾶν ὃ ἦν λευκὸν ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ πᾶν φαιὸν ἐν τοῖς ἀρνάσιν, καὶ ἔδωκεν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ.
And on that day he separated the speckled and white-patched male-goats and all the speckled and white-patched she-goats, and everything that was white among them, and every dark animal among the lambs, and put them in the charge of his sons.
Laban acts immediately (ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ = 'on that very day') to gut Jacob's potential wage-pool. He removes all currently existing speckled/spotted animals — handing them to his sons, who will drive them to a three-day distance (v.36). This leaves Jacob with only solid-colored animals, from which new speckled offspring must be born for Jacob to receive any wage at all. Laban's manipulation sets up Jacob's rod-breeding scheme (vv.37–43) as an act of divine ingenuity against human treachery.
Word-by-word analysis· 43 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διέστειλενseparated / set apartAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαστέλλωmain verb (Laban's action: immediate separation of the agreed animals)→ ingressive aoristδιαστέλλω: 'separate, set apart, distinguish'; the verb recurs from v.32 (διαχώρισον); Laban performs the separation Jacob proposed — but does so in a way that strips Jacob's future wage-base as completely as possible.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (temporal: 'on that very day')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'on'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal: 'on that very day').
τῇtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedative of time→ sphere or referenceἡμέρᾳ: meaning 'day'; it serves as dative of time.
ἐκείνῃthatDativedative demonstrative (emphatic: 'on that very day — immediately')→ sphere or referenceἐκείνῃ: meaning 'that'; it serves as dative demonstrative (emphatic: 'on that very day — immediately').
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τράγουςmale-goats / he-goatsAccusativedirect object (first category removed: speckled he-goats)→ object specificationτράγος: 'male goat, he-goat'; Laban removes the male breeders as well as the females, maximizing his manipulation of the gene-pool.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥαντούςspeckledAccusativeaccusative adjective (color category: speckled he-goats)→ object specificationῥαντούς: meaning 'speckled'; it serves as accusative adjective (color category: speckled he-goats).
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαλευκαίνονταςhaving white patchesPres Act Ptcp Acc Pl Masc · διαλευκαίνωparticipial adjective (second color category: white-patched he-goats)→ progressive presentδιαλευκαίνω: meaning 'having white patches'; it contributes descriptive or attendant verbal force; here it functions as participial adjective (second color category: white-patched he-goats).
καίandcoordinate conjunction (extending to she-goats)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πάσαςallAccusativeaccusative adjective (universal: 'all the she-goats')→ object specificationπάσας: meaning 'all'; it serves as accusative adjective (universal: 'all the she-goats').
τάςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτάς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
αἶγαςshe-goatsAccusativedirect object (the female goat herd)→ object specificationαἴξ: 'goat'; the full female goat herd of the spotted/white-patched type is removed — eliminating the gene-pool for future spotted offspring.
τάςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτάς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥαντάςspeckledAccusativeaccusative adjective (color: speckled she-goats)→ object specificationῥαντάς: meaning 'speckled'; it serves as accusative adjective (color: speckled she-goats).
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τάςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτάς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διαλευκαινούσαςhaving white patchesPres Act Ptcp Acc Pl Fem · διαλευκαίνωparticipial adjective (second color-type of she-goats removed)→ progressive presentδιαλευκαίνω: meaning 'having white patches'; it contributes descriptive or attendant verbal force; here it functions as participial adjective (second color-type of she-goats removed).
καίandcoordinate conjunction (extending to anything white)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶνeverythingNominativenominative subject (indefinite universal: 'everything white among them')→ participant prominenceπᾶν: meaning 'everything'; it serves as nominative subject (indefinite universal: 'everything white among them').
ὅthatNominativenominative relative pronoun→ participant referenceὅ: meaning 'that'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as nominative relative pronoun.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of relative clause→ progressive imperfectεἰμί (impf. ἦν): the copula of the name-gloss.
λευκόνwhiteNominativepredicate adjective (fourth color removed: all-white animals)→ participant prominenceλευκός: 'white, bright'; the removal of all-white animals leaves Jacob with only the uniformly dark or tawny flock, from which Jacob's rod-breeding scheme must work.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (partitive)→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (partitive).
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative (the flock group being subdivided)→ participant reference or interestαὐτοῖς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative (the flock group being subdivided).
καίandcoordinate conjunction (extending to the dark lambs)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶνeveryNominativenominative (universal: 'every dark lamb')→ participant prominenceπᾶν: meaning 'every'; it serves as nominative (universal: 'every dark lamb').
φαιόνdark / duskyNominativepredicate adjective (color: dark lambs)→ participant prominenceφαιόν: meaning 'dark'; it serves as predicate adjective (color: dark lambs).
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (partitive: 'among the lambs')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (partitive: 'among the lambs').
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρνάσινlambsDativedative of place/partitive→ sphere or referenceἀρνάσιν: meaning 'lambs'; it serves as dative of place/partitive.
καίandnarrative conjunction (completing the action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔδωκενgave / putAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (completing Laban's action: consigning to his sons)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give, hand over'; ἔδωκεν εἰς τὰς χεῖρας = 'gave into the hands of' — a Hebraism (נָתַן בְּיַד); Laban entrusts the removed animals to his sons.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (εἰς τὰς χεῖρας = Hebraism: 'into the hands / into the charge')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'into'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (εἰς τὰς χεῖρας = Hebraism: 'into the hands / into the charge').
τάςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτάς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χεῖραςhandsAccusativeaccusative (object of εἰς: ἐν/εἰς χεῖρας τινός = Hebraism for 'in the charge of')→ object specificationχεῖρας: meaning 'hands'; it serves as accusative (object of εἰς: ἐν/εἰς χεῖρας τινός = Hebraism for 'in the charge of').
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'his sons')→ relational specificationυἱῶν: meaning 'sons'; it serves as genitive (possessive: 'his sons').
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'Laban's sons')→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'his'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (possessive: 'Laban's sons').
36
καὶ ἀπέστησεν ὁδὸν τριῶν ἡμερῶν ἀνὰ μέσον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον Ιακωβ· Ιακωβ δὲ ἐποίμαινεν τὰ πρόβατα Λαβαν τὰ ὑπολελειμμένα.
And he put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob; and Jacob pastured the remaining flock of Laban.
ὁδὸν τριῶν ἡμερῶν ('a three-day journey') as the distance between the two flocks prevents intermingling of gene-pools. Jacob is left with τὰ ὑπολελειμμένα ('the remaining/left-behind' flock) — the perfect passive participle stressing the residual, depleted character of what Jacob has to work with. This sets the stage for the rod-breeding scheme of vv.37–43.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀπέστησενremoved / set at a distanceAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀφίστημιmain verb (Laban's action: creating a physical distance barrier)→ constative aoristἀφίστημι: 'stand away, withdraw, remove'; causative ἀπέστησεν = 'caused to stand away / removed at a distance'; Laban creates a geographic buffer to prevent Jacob's flock from intermingling with the separated animals.
ὁδόνa journey / distanceAccusativeaccusative of extent (measure of distance: 'a journey of three days')→ object specificationὁδός: 'road, journey, way'; ὁδὸν τριῶν ἡμερῶν = 'a three-day journey' — the same expression used for the distance to Sinai (Exod 3:18; 8:27).
τριῶνthreeGenitivegenitive (measure: 'of three days')→ relational specificationτριῶν: meaning 'three'; it serves as genitive (measure: 'of three days').
ἡμερῶνdaysGenitivegenitive of time (measure of duration)→ relational specificationἡμερῶν: meaning 'days'; it serves as genitive of time (measure of duration).
ἀνάbetweenpreposition + accusative (ἀνὰ μέσον = 'between')→ spatial or relational framingἀνὰ μέσον: 'between, in the middle of'; a Hebraism translating בֵּין … וּבֵין ('between … and'); the doubled ἀνὰ μέσον … καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον mirrors the Hebrew construction.
μέσονmiddleAccusativeaccusative (part of the ἀνὰ μέσον idiom)→ object specificationμέσον: meaning 'middle'; it serves as accusative (part of the ἀνὰ μέσον idiom).
αὐτοῦhim / himselfGenitivegenitive (Laban: the first party of the distance)→ relational specificationαὐτοῦ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as genitive (Laban: the first party of the distance).
καίandcoordinate conjunction (linking the two parties of the idiom)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀνάbetweenpreposition (second element of the Hebraism)→ spatial or relational framingἀνά: meaning 'between'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition (second element of the Hebraism).
μέσονmiddleAccusativeaccusative (part of the idiom)→ object specificationμέσον: meaning 'middle'; it serves as accusative (part of the idiom).
ΙακωβJacobgenitive (indeclinable: second party of the distance)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive (indeclinable: second party of the distance).
ΙακωβJacobnominative subject (indeclinable; resuming Jacob as the narrative subject)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable; resuming Jacob as the narrative subject).
δέand / butcontrastive conjunction (shifting focus back to Jacob)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐποίμαινενwas pasturing / kept shepherdingImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιμαίνωmain verb (imperfect: Jacob's ongoing shepherding of the diminished flock)→ progressive imperfect (continuous faithful tending contrasted with Laban's completed manipulation)ποιμαίνω: 'shepherd, tend, pasture'; the imperfect ἐποίμαινεν contrasts with Laban's aorists — Laban acted swiftly and finished (constative aor.); Jacob continues faithfully.
τάtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβαταflocksAccusativedirect object→ object specificationπρόβατα: meaning 'flocks'; it serves as direct object.
ΛαβανLabangenitive (indeclinable possessive: 'Laban's flocks')→ participant identificationΛαβαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive (indeclinable possessive: 'Laban's flocks').
τάtheAccusativearticle (anaphoric: specifying which of Laban's flock)→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὑπολελειμμέναremaining / left behindPerf Pass Ptcp Acc Pl Neut · ὑπολείπωparticipial adjective (attributive: 'the remaining/residual flock')→ intensive perfect participle (the permanent state of being left over — the depleted remnant)ὑπολείπω: 'leave behind, leave remaining'; perfect passive ὑπολελειμμένα = 'having been left behind / the remaining ones'; the compound (ὑπό- + λείπω) stresses the residual, stripped character of what Jacob now tends. Jacob's ingenuity must work with what Laban's manipulation left him.
37
ἔλαβεν δὲ ἑαυτῷ Ιακωβ ῥάβδον στυρακίνην χλωράν, καὶ καρυΐνην, καὶ πλατάνου, καὶ ἐλέπισεν αὐτὰς Ιακωβ λεπίσματα λευκά, περισύρων τὸ χλωρόν, ἐμφανίζων τὸ λευκόν, ὃ ἦν ἐπὶ ταῖς ῥάβδοις.
And Jacob took for himself a rod of fresh storax-wood, and of hazel, and of plane-tree, and Jacob peeled them in white strips, stripping away the green and revealing the white that was upon the rods.
The chapter's final section (vv.37–43) describes Jacob's rod-breeding scheme in richly specific technical vocabulary. ῥάβδος ('rod, staff') is the chapter's key word in this section — connected to the word-play on Laban's manipulation and Jacob's counter-ingenuity. The three tree-species named — στυράξ (storax), καρύα (hazel), πλάτανος (plane-tree) — each produce rods with distinctive coloring when stripped. Jacob exploits ancient understanding of gestational impression (prenatal influence of visual stimuli on the flock) to produce speckled offspring. In canonical perspective the scheme works not by sympathetic magic but because God overrules the biological outcome (cf. Gen 31:10–12).
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
ἔλαβενtookAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαμβάνωmain verb (Jacob's initiating act: taking the rods)→ ingressive aoristλαμβάνω: 'take, seize, receive'; the ingressive aorist marks the opening of Jacob's scheme — a deliberate, purposive act contrasted with Laban's previous maneuvering.
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἑαυτῷhimselfDativedative reflexive (advantage: 'for himself')→ sphere or referenceἑαυτῷ: meaning 'himself'; it serves as dative reflexive (advantage: 'for himself').
ΙακωβJacobnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
ῥάβδονrod / staff / wandAccusativedirect object (the first rod taken)→ object specificationῥάβδος: 'rod, staff, wand, sceptre'; the section's key word — ῥάβδοι appear five times in vv.37–41; the word carries associations of authority (sceptre) and miracle (Moses' rod, Aaron's rod); Jacob's ῥάβδοι are the instrument of a God-superintended outcome.
στυρακίνηνof storax / storax-woodAccusativeaccusative adjective (material: 'a rod of storax')→ object specificationστυράκινος: 'of storax-wood'; from στύραξ / στύρακος (the storax tree, Styrax officinalis), an aromatic shrub native to the Near East whose bark is pale beneath a grey-green outer layer — peeling reveals dramatic white/cream wood, ideal for Jacob's scheme.
χλωράνgreen / freshAccusativeaccusative adjective (condition: 'fresh/green' — a young, sap-filled rod)→ object specificationχλωρός: 'green, fresh, pale-green'; a fresh (not dried) rod has more moisture and is easier to peel, producing the clean white/green contrast Jacob needs; the word also denotes new growth and vitality.
καίandcoordinate conjunction (second rod)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
καρυΐνηνof hazel / of nut-woodAccusativeaccusative adjective (material: 'a hazel rod')→ object specificationκαρύινος: 'of the nut-tree / hazelwood'; from καρύα (nut-tree, hazel); the second species, which also has a pale interior beneath a dark bark — peeling produces white stripes.
καίandcoordinate conjunction (third rod)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πλατάνουof plane-treeGenitivegenitive of material (implied ῥάβδον: 'a rod of plane-tree')→ relational specificationπλάτανος: 'plane-tree' (Platanus orientalis), a large deciduous tree with distinctive mottled bark that naturally peels in patches revealing white and pale-green — inherently 'speckled'; the LXX (and Philo) found theological symbolism in the plane-tree's self-revealing variegated bark.
καίandnarrative conjunction (Jacob's second action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐλέπισενpeeled / strippedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λεπίζωmain verb (Jacob's second action: peeling the rods)→ constative aoristλεπίζω: 'peel, strip, remove the bark'; from λέπος ('scale, husk, bark'); the compound λεπίσματα λευκά ('white strips/peelings') indicates Jacob strips the bark in longitudinal strips, leaving alternating bared-white and unstripped-green sections.
αὐτάςthemAccusativedirect object (the three rods)→ participant referenceαὐτάς: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (the three rods).
ΙακωβJacobnominative subject (indeclinable; repeated for clarity after the object)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable; repeated for clarity after the object).
λεπίσματαstrips / peelingsAccusativeaccusative cognate / manner object (manner: 'in [white] strips')→ object specificationλέπισμα: 'peeling, strip, flake'; cognate of λεπίζω; the accusative λεπίσματα λευκά describes the mode of peeling — in white strips, longitudinally, creating a striped/speckled pattern on the rod.
λευκάwhiteAccusativeaccusative adjective (attributive: 'white strips')→ object specificationλευκός: 'white'; the white inner wood of each rod is exposed in strips — creating a visual pattern of alternating white and green on the rod's surface.
περισύρωνstripping away / peeling aroundPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · περισύρωcircumstantial participle (manner: describing the peeling action)→ progressive present (the ongoing action of peeling)περισύρω: 'strip around, peel off around'; compound of περί- ('around') + σύρω ('drag, draw off'); describes the circular stripping of bark from the rod, removing the outer green layer.
τόtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτό: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χλωρόνgreen / the green partAccusativeaccusative direct object of περισύρων (the green bark being removed)→ object specificationχλωρός: 'green'; τὸ χλωρόν = 'the green [bark]'; the outer bark (green) is stripped to reveal the inner wood (white) — the visual contrast is what Jacob needs.
ἐμφανίζωνrevealing / making visiblePres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · ἐμφανίζωcircumstantial participle (purpose/result: 'thereby revealing the white')→ progressive presentἐμφανίζω: 'reveal, make visible, make manifest'; the theological resonance is not lost — ἐμφανίζω frequently means 'reveal, disclose' in LXX epiphany contexts (cf. Exod 33:13, 18); here used literally but with potential symbolic overtone.
τόtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτό: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λευκόνwhite / the whiteAccusativedirect object of ἐμφανίζων (what is revealed: the white inner wood)→ object specificationλευκόν: meaning 'white'; it serves as direct object of ἐμφανίζων (what is revealed: the white inner wood).
ὅthat / whichNominativenominative relative pronoun (subject of ἦν: 'the white that was on the rods')→ participant referenceὅ: meaning 'that'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as nominative relative pronoun (subject of ἦν: 'the white that was on the rods').
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of relative clause→ progressive imperfect (the white, now exposed, had always been there beneath the bark)εἰμί (impf. ἦν): the copula of the name-gloss.
ἐπίupon / onpreposition + dative (location: 'on the rods')→ spatial or relational framingἐπί: meaning 'upon'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location: 'on the rods').
ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥάβδοιςrodsDativedative of place (the rods Jacob has peeled)→ sphere or referenceῥάβδοις: meaning 'rods'; it serves as dative of place (the rods Jacob has peeled).
38
καὶ παρέθηκεν τὰς ῥάβδους ἃς ἐλέπισεν ἐν ταῖς ληνοῖς τῶν ποτιστηρίων τοῦ ὕδατος, ἵνα ὡς ἂν ἔλθωσιν τὰ πρόβατα πιεῖν, ἐνώπιον τῶν ῥάβδων ἐλθόντα εἰς τὸ πιεῖν, συλλάβωσιν τὰ πρόβατα.
And he set the rods he had peeled in the troughs of the watering places of the water, so that whenever the flocks came to drink, before the rods, they would conceive as they came to drink.
παρέθηκεν ('placed beside') the peeled rods in the drinking troughs — so that the flocks would see them at the moment of watering/mating. The ancient theory of prenatal impression (that what a pregnant animal sees at conception shapes the offspring's appearance) underlies the scheme. The purpose clause ἵνα … συλλάβωσιν ('so that they might conceive') uses συλλαμβάνω — the same verb that described Bilhah's conception in v.5 (συνέλαβεν) and Leah's prayer in v.8 (συνελάβετό). The verb thus links the human birth-contest earlier in the chapter to the animal breeding scheme now.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παρέθηκενplaced / set besideAor Act Indic 3 Sg · παρατίθημιmain verb (Jacob's positioning of the rods in the troughs)→ constative aoristπαρατίθημι: 'set beside, place alongside, present'; from παρά + τίθημι; Jacob places (παρ-) the rods beside the troughs — the positioning is deliberate and tactical.
τάςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτάς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥάβδουςrodsAccusativedirect object (the peeled rods placed in the troughs)→ object specificationῥάβδους: meaning 'rods'; it serves as direct object (the peeled rods placed in the troughs).
ἅςwhichAccusativeaccusative relative pronoun (referring to the rods: 'which he had peeled')→ participant referenceἅς: meaning 'which'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative relative pronoun (referring to the rods: 'which he had peeled').
ἐλέπισενhe peeledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λεπίζωverb of relative clause (recalling the action of v.37)→ constative aoristλεπίζω: meaning 'he peeled'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as verb of relative clause (recalling the action of v.37).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location: 'in the troughs')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location: 'in the troughs').
ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ληνοῖςtroughs / vatsDativedative of place (the troughs where the rods are placed)→ sphere or referenceληνός: 'wine-press vat, trough, basin'; used here of the stone or wooden watering troughs beside the wells; the word usually refers to a wine-press vat (cf. LXX Isa 63:2–3) — a possible ironic resonance: the 'winepress' where new life is pressed into being.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ποτιστηρίωνwatering-troughs / watering-placesGenitivegenitive (attributive: 'the troughs of the watering-place')→ relational specificationποτιστήριον: 'watering-place, drinking-trough'; from ποτίζω ('give to drink, water'); the place where flocks are regularly watered — the ideal location for Jacob's scheme since the animals congregate there at regular intervals.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὕδατοςwaterGenitivegenitive (objective: 'troughs of the water / for watering')→ relational specificationὕδατος: meaning 'water'; it serves as genitive (objective: 'troughs of the water / for watering').
ἵναso that / in order thatpurpose conjunction (introducing Jacob's intended result)→ discourse linkage or contrastἵνα: meaning 'so that'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὡςwhen / whenevertemporal conjunction (ὡς ἄν + subjunctive = 'whenever')→ discourse linkage or contrastὡς: meaning 'when'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄνwhenever (particle)modal particle (with ὡς and subjunctive: general temporal)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: meaning 'whenever (particle)'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔλθωσινthey comeAor Act Subj 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιverb of temporal clause (indefinite: 'whenever the flocks came')→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (each arrival at the trough)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the aorist subjunctive after μή expresses the dreaded possibility that the uncircumcised will come upon him alive.
τάtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβαταflocksNominativenominative subject of ἔλθωσιν→ participant prominenceπρόβατα: meaning 'flocks'; it serves as nominative subject of ἔλθωσιν.
πιεῖνto drinkAor Act Inf · πίνωinfinitive of purpose (the flocks come 'to drink')→ aorist infinitive (the act of drinking)πίνω (aor. inf. πιεῖν): 'drink'; renders שָׁתָה; the second pleasure refused — ironic, since David will in fact make Uriah drunk in v. 13.
ἐνώπιονbefore / in front ofpreposition + genitive (location: 'before the rods')→ spatial or relational framingἐνώπιον: meaning 'before'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (location: 'before the rods').
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥάβδωνrodsGenitivegenitive (object of ἐνώπιον: 'in front of the rods')→ relational specificationῥάβδων: meaning 'rods'; it serves as genitive (object of ἐνώπιον: 'in front of the rods').
ἐλθόνταhaving come / comingAor Act Ptcp Acc Pl Neut · ἔρχομαιcircumstantial participle (temporal: 'as they came to drink')→ aorist participle (antecedent action: having arrived at the troughs)ἔρχομαι: meaning 'having come'; it contributes descriptive or attendant verbal force; here it functions as circumstantial participle (temporal: 'as they came to drink').
εἰςto / forpreposition + infinitive (purpose: εἰς τὸ πιεῖν = 'in order to drink')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + infinitive (purpose: εἰς τὸ πιεῖν = 'in order to drink').
τόtheAccusativearticle (articular infinitive)→ noun-phrase markingτό: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πιεῖνto drinkAor Act Inf · πίνωarticular infinitive (purpose: εἰς τὸ πιεῖν = 'to drink')→ aorist infinitive (the act of drinking)πίνω (aor. inf. πιεῖν): 'drink'; renders שָׁתָה; the second pleasure refused — ironic, since David will in fact make Uriah drunk in v. 13.
συλλάβωσινthey might conceiveAor Act Subj 3 Pl · συλλαμβάνωmain verb of purpose clause (the intended result: conception)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (the moment of conception)συλλαμβάνω: 'take together, conceive, arrest'; here = 'conceive'; the same root as συνέλαβεν (Bilhah's conception, v.5) and συνελάβετό (Naphtali's name, v.8) — connecting the animal breeding scheme to the chapter's human birth-contest by a subtle verbal echo.
τάtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβαταflocksNominativenominative subject of συλλάβωσιν→ participant prominenceπρόβατα: meaning 'flocks'; it serves as nominative subject of συλλάβωσιν.
39
εἰσεπορεύοντο δὲ τὰ πρόβατα εἰς τὰς ῥάβδους, καὶ ἔτεκον τὰ πρόβατα ῥαντὰ καὶ ποικίλα καὶ σποδοειδῆ.
And the flocks went in to the rods, and the flocks bore speckled and variegated and ash-colored young.
The verse reports the outcome of Jacob's scheme in a single terse sentence: ἔτεκον τὰ πρόβατα ('the flocks bore') three types of speckled offspring. The four color-terms of the chapter's flock vocabulary are now completed: ῥαντά (speckled), ποικίλα (variegated), σποδοειδῆ (ash-colored) — with φαιόν (dark) having appeared earlier. σποδοειδῆ ('ash-colored / ashen') is the chapter's fourth and final technical flock-color term, and the only NT hapax connection — σποδός ('ashes') is used in Heb 9:13 of the purifying ashes of the red heifer.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
εἰσεπορεύοντοwere going in / enteredImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · εἰσπορεύομαιmain verb (imperfect: repeated action of the flocks entering before the rods)→ iterative imperfect (the flocks repeatedly came to the rods)εἰσπορεύομαι: 'go in, enter, come in'; the imperfect marks repeated visits — the scheme was applied consistently over time, not just once; εἰς τὰς ῥάβδους ('in to the rods') = approaching/mating in sight of the rods.
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τάtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβαταflocksNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceπρόβατα: meaning 'flocks'; it serves as nominative subject.
εἰςin to / towardpreposition + accusative (direction: 'in to the rods')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'in to'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction: 'in to the rods').
τάςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτάς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥάβδουςrodsAccusativeaccusative (object of εἰς: the rods the flocks approach)→ object specificationῥάβδους: meaning 'rods'; it serves as accusative (object of εἰς: the rods the flocks approach).
καίandnarrative conjunction (the result)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔτεκονbore / gave birthAor Act Indic 3 Pl · τίκτωmain verb (the result: the flocks bore speckled young)→ constative aorist (the totality of the births over the period)τίκτω: 'bear, give birth, produce'; the verb links the animal births of vv.37–43 to the human births of vv.1–24; the same verb used of Rachel (v.1 context), Bilhah (v.5), and Leah (vv.17, 19) is now applied to the flock.
τάtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβαταflocksNominativenominative subject→ participant prominenceπρόβατα: meaning 'flocks'; it serves as nominative subject.
ῥαντάspeckledAccusativeaccusative adjective (first color-type born: speckled offspring)→ object specificationῥαντά: meaning 'speckled'; it serves as accusative adjective (first color-type born: speckled offspring).
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ποικίλαvariegated / spottedAccusativeaccusative adjective (second color-type: variegated offspring)→ object specificationποικίλος: 'variegated, many-colored, spotted'; see v.32 note; the connection to Joseph's ποικίλος coat (Gen 37:3) is a foreshadowing: the variegated offspring of Jacob's scheme presage the variegated coat of his son.
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
σποδοειδῆash-colored / ashen / dappled-grayAccusativeaccusative adjective (third color-type: ash-gray offspring)→ object specificationσποδοειδής: 'ash-colored, ashen-grey'; from σποδός ('ash') + εἶδος ('form, appearance'); the chapter's fourth and final technical flock-color term; renders Hebrew עֲקֻדִּים ('streaked/ringed'); σποδός ('ash') appears in Heb 9:13 (ashes of the red heifer) — the same root in a purification context.
40
τοὺς δὲ ἀμνοὺς διέστειλεν Ιακωβ, καὶ ἔστησεν ἐναντίον τῶν προβάτων κριὸν ῥαντὸν καὶ πᾶν ποικίλον ἐν τοῖς ἀμνοῖς· καὶ διεχώρισεν ἑαυτῷ ποίμνια καθ' ἑαυτόν, καὶ οὐκ ἔμιξεν αὐτὰ εἰς τὰ πρόβατα Λαβαν.
And Jacob separated the lambs, and set a speckled ram and everything variegated among the lambs in front of the flock; and he separated for himself flocks by themselves, and did not mix them with Laban's flock.
Jacob now further manages the breeding by placing a speckled ram (κριὸν ῥαντόν) and variegated lambs (πᾶν ποικίλον) in front of the solid-colored flock as visual stimuli — reinforcing the rod-method with selective breeding management. The separation (διεχώρισεν) of Jacob's own growing flock (ποίμνια) from Laban's flock (τὰ πρόβατα Λαβαν) ensures his animals cannot be claimed by Laban. Jacob's management is methodical: visual stimulus (rods), selective siring (speckled ram), and flock separation.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
τούςtheAccusativearticle (fronted with ἀμνούς for emphasis)→ noun-phrase markingτούς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἀμνούςlambsAccusativedirect object (fronted: the lambs that Jacob separates)→ object specificationἀμνός: 'lamb'; the word is often used of the paschal lamb in LXX contexts (Exod 12); here it designates the young lambs Jacob separates from the main flock for selective breeding management.
διέστειλενseparatedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαστέλλωmain verb (Jacob's management action)→ constative aoristδιαστέλλω: 'separate, set apart'; same verb as v.35 (Laban's separation) — the ironic repetition: Laban used it to impoverish Jacob; Jacob now uses it to build his own flock.
ΙακωβJacobnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
καίandnarrative conjunction (Jacob's second action in the verse)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔστησενplaced / set upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (Jacob positions the speckled ram as a visual stimulus)→ ingressive aoristἵστημι: 'stand, place, set up'; causative ἔστησεν = 'caused to stand / positioned'; Jacob positions (ἔστησεν ἐναντίον: 'set in front of') speckled animals so the flock would see them during mating.
ἐναντίονin front of / beforepreposition + genitive (position: 'in front of the flock')→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: meaning 'in front of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position: 'in front of the flock').
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προβάτωνflockGenitivegenitive (object of ἐναντίον: the solid-colored flock that will see the speckled animals)→ relational specificationπροβάτων: meaning 'flock'; it serves as genitive (object of ἐναντίον: the solid-colored flock that will see the speckled animals).
κριόνramAccusativedirect object (the speckled breeding ram placed in front)→ object specificationκριός: 'ram, male sheep'; the dominant male of the flock; Jacob places a speckled (ῥαντόν) ram in front to serve as both visual stimulus and actual sire of the speckled offspring.
ῥαντόνspeckledAccusativeaccusative adjective (attributive: the speckled ram)→ object specificationῥαντόν: meaning 'speckled'; it serves as accusative adjective (attributive: the speckled ram).
καίandcoordinate conjunction (second category placed in front)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
πᾶνeverythingAccusativeaccusative (universal: 'every variegated [lamb]')→ object specificationπᾶν: meaning 'everything'; it serves as accusative (universal: 'every variegated [lamb]').
ποικίλονvariegated / spottedAccusativeaccusative adjective (second category positioned as visual stimulus)→ object specificationποικίλον: meaning 'variegated'; it serves as accusative adjective (second category positioned as visual stimulus).
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (partitive: 'among the lambs')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'among'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (partitive: 'among the lambs').
τοῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀμνοῖςlambsDativedative of place/partitive→ sphere or referenceἀμνοῖς: meaning 'lambs'; it serves as dative of place/partitive.
καίandnarrative conjunction (Jacob's third action)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
διεχώρισενseparated out / divided apartAor Act Indic 3 Sg · διαχωρίζωmain verb (Jacob separates his own flock from Laban's)→ constative aoristδιαχωρίζω: 'separate thoroughly, divide apart'; recalling v.32 (Jacob's proposed separation) — now Jacob executes the separation on his own growing flock, keeping his property distinct from Laban's.
ἑαυτῷhimselfDativedative reflexive (advantage: 'for himself')→ sphere or referenceἑαυτῷ: meaning 'himself'; it serves as dative reflexive (advantage: 'for himself').
ποίμνιαflocks / herdsAccusativedirect object (Jacob's own growing flocks)→ object specificationποίμνιον / ποίμνη: 'flock, herd'; the word appears here for the first time in the chapter to describe Jacob's own herds — distinct from πρόβατα (Laban's generic flock); Jacob is building his own ποίμνια.
καθ'by / forpreposition + accusative (manner: καθ' ἑαυτόν = 'by himself / separately')→ spatial or relational framingκαθ': meaning 'by'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (manner: καθ' ἑαυτόν = 'by himself / separately').
ἑαυτόνhimselfAccusativeaccusative reflexive (idiom: καθ' ἑαυτόν = 'by himself, separately, apart')→ object specificationἑαυτόν: meaning 'himself'; it serves as accusative reflexive (idiom: καθ' ἑαυτόν = 'by himself, separately, apart').
καίandnarrative conjunction (completing the separation with a negative: 'not mixing')→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
οὐκnotnegation→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἔμιξενmixedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · μίγνυμιmain verb (the separation confirmed: 'he did not mix them')→ constative aorist (the decisive non-mixing)μίγνυμι: 'mix, mingle'; οὐκ ἔμιξεν = 'he did not mix [them] into Laban's flock'; Jacob's careful separation ensures his speckled animals cannot be reclaimed by Laban as part of the main flock — a legally clean separation.
αὐτάthemAccusativedirect object (Jacob's separated flocks)→ participant referenceαὐτά: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as direct object (Jacob's separated flocks).
εἰςwith / intopreposition + accusative (goal: 'into Laban's flock' = mixing with)→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'with'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (goal: 'into Laban's flock' = mixing with).
τάtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβαταflockAccusativeaccusative (object of εἰς: 'into Laban's flock')→ object specificationπρόβατα: meaning 'flock'; it serves as accusative (object of εἰς: 'into Laban's flock').
ΛαβανLabangenitive (indeclinable possessive: 'Laban's flock')→ participant identificationΛαβαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive (indeclinable possessive: 'Laban's flock').
41
ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ᾧ ἐνεκίσσων τὰ πρόβατα ἐν γαστρί, ἔθηκεν Ιακωβ τὰς ῥάβδους ἐναντίον τῶν προβάτων ἐν ταῖς ληνοῖς τοῦ ἐγκισσῆσαι αὐτὰ εἰς τὰς ῥάβδους·
And it came to pass in the season when the flock was conceiving in the womb, that Jacob placed the rods in front of the flock in the troughs, so that they might conceive from the rods —
Verse 41 (with v.42) describes Jacob's selective application of the rod-method: only to the stronger animals (implied by the contrast with v.42 where 'the weaker ones,' he did not use the method). The verse form ἐγένετο … ᾧ ('it came to pass … when') is the LXX's standard narrative-framing device, here marking a repeated seasonal practice. ἐνεκίσσων ('were in heat / were conceiving') is a technical veterinary term from ἐγκισσάω — appearing only here in the LXX. The articular infinitive τοῦ ἐγκισσῆσαι αὐτά ('so that they might conceive') is a telic genitive of the infinitive — Jacob's deliberate purpose.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
ἐγένετοit came to passAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (LXX framing formula: καὶ/δὲ ἐγένετο)→ constative aorist (narrative framing)γίνομαι: 'become, come to pass'; ἐγένετο δέ = LXX calque of וַיְהִי ('and it came to pass'), a temporal framing marker.
δέandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal: 'in the season when')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (temporal: 'in the season when').
τῷtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καιρῷseason / timeDativedative of time (the breeding season)→ sphere or referenceκαιρός: 'time, season, appointed time'; here = 'the season when' — the word favored for divinely-appointed or seasonally-defined time (vs. χρόνος for duration); the breeding season is a God-determined καιρός.
ᾧwhen / in whichDativedative relative pronoun (temporal: 'in which / when')→ participant reference or interestᾧ: meaning 'when'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative relative pronoun (temporal: 'in which / when').
ἐνεκίσσωνwere conceiving / were in heatImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐγκισσάωmain verb of relative clause (iterative imperfect: 'whenever they were in heat')→ iterative imperfect (the repeatedly occurring breeding season)ἐγκισσάω: 'be in heat, conceive'; a technical veterinary term from κισσός ('longing, craving, the desire of pregnant animals'); appears only here and in v.41 in the LXX; the imperfect marks the repeated seasonal occurrence.
τάtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβαταflocksNominativenominative subject of ἐνεκίσσων→ participant prominenceπρόβατα: meaning 'flocks'; it serves as nominative subject of ἐνεκίσσων.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location: ἐν γαστρί = 'in the womb/belly')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location: ἐν γαστρί = 'in the womb/belly').
γαστρίwomb / bellyDativedative of place (ἐν γαστρί = LXX idiom for conception/pregnancy)→ sphere or referenceγαστήρ: 'belly, womb'; ἐν γαστρί = 'in the womb / with young'; a formulaic pregnancy idiom in LXX (cf. Isa 7:14; Matt 1:23); here applied to the flock's gestation.
ἔθηκενplaced / setAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb of the main clause (Jacob's deliberate action: placing the rods)→ constative aoristτίθημι: 'place, set, put'; ἔθηκεν ἐναντίον = 'placed in front of' — the same placement-action as v.38 (παρέθηκεν), now specified for the breeding season's strong animals.
ΙακωβJacobnominative subject (indeclinable)→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as nominative subject (indeclinable).
τάςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτάς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥάβδουςrodsAccusativedirect object (the peeled rods placed in the troughs)→ object specificationῥάβδους: meaning 'rods'; it serves as direct object (the peeled rods placed in the troughs).
ἐναντίονin front of / beforepreposition + genitive (position: 'in front of the flock')→ spatial or relational framingἐναντίον: meaning 'in front of'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + genitive (position: 'in front of the flock').
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ noun-phrase markingτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προβάτωνflockGenitivegenitive (object of ἐναντίον)→ relational specificationπροβάτων: meaning 'flock'; it serves as genitive (object of ἐναντίον).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location: 'in the troughs')→ spatial or relational framingἐν: meaning 'in'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + dative (location: 'in the troughs').
ταῖςtheDativearticle→ noun-phrase markingταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ληνοῖςtroughsDativedative of place (the watering troughs)→ sphere or referenceληνοῖς: meaning 'troughs'; it serves as dative of place (the watering troughs).
τοῦso that / in order forgenitive article (telic genitive infinitive: τοῦ ἐγκισσῆσαι = 'in order to cause to conceive')→ noun-phrase markingτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐγκισσῆσαιto conceiveAor Act Inf · ἐγκισσάωtelic genitive infinitive (purpose: 'so that they might conceive')→ ingressive aorist infinitive (the moment of conception as the goal)ἐγκισσάω: 'conceive, be in heat'; articular infinitive τοῦ ἐγκισσῆσαι = 'in order to conceive / so as to cause conception'; Jacob's purpose is explicit — the rods are a deliberate breeding tool.
αὐτάthemAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive (the flock animals that are to conceive)→ participant referenceαὐτά: meaning 'them'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as accusative subject of the infinitive (the flock animals that are to conceive).
εἰςfrom / towardpreposition + accusative (direction/agency: 'from the rods / conceiving by the rods')→ spatial or relational framingεἰς: meaning 'from'; here it marks the relation signaled by preposition + accusative (direction/agency: 'from the rods / conceiving by the rods').
τάςtheAccusativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτάς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ῥάβδουςrodsAccusativeaccusative (object of εἰς: the instrumental rods)→ object specificationῥάβδους: meaning 'rods'; it serves as accusative (object of εἰς: the instrumental rods).
42
ἡνίκα δ' ἂν ἔτεκον τὰ πρόβατα, οὐκ ἐτίθει· ἐγένετο δὲ τὰ ἄσημα τοῦ Λαβαν, τὰ δὲ ἐπίσημα τοῦ Ιακωβ.
But whenever the flocks bore young, he did not place them; and the unmarked came to be Laban's, and the marked ones Jacob's.
The contrast with v.41 is sharp: for the strong animals (implied), Jacob used the rods; for the weaker ones, he did not (οὐκ ἐτίθει). The result is stated succinctly: τὰ ἄσημα τοῦ Λαβαν ('the unmarked became Laban's') — the plain, solid-colored offspring went to Laban; τὰ ἐπίσημα τοῦ Ιακωβ ('the marked/distinguished ones, Jacob's') — the speckled, notable offspring accrued to Jacob. The distinction ἄσημα / ἐπίσημα ('unmarked / marked/prominent') is theologically resonant: ἐπίσημα is the word used of the 'notable' apostles (Rom 16:7), of 'remarkable/distinguished' persons, and of coins bearing the royal mark — Jacob's flock bears the 'mark' of God's providential favor.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ἡνίκαwhen / whenevertemporal conjunction (general temporal: 'whenever')→ discourse linkage or contrastἡνίκα: 'when, whenever'; with ἄν and the aorist, ἡνίκα δ' ἄν = 'but whenever' — a general conditional temporal; here describing the (weaker) animals' birthing times, in contrast to the stronger animals' breeding season of v.41.
δ'butadversative conjunction (contrasting with v.41: 'but whenever')→ discourse linkage or contrastδ': meaning 'but'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἄν(modal particle)modal particle (with ἡνίκα and aorist: generalizing the condition)→ discourse linkage or contrastἄν: meaning '(modal particle)'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἔτεκονbore / gave birthAor Act Indic 3 Pl · τίκτωmain verb of temporal clause (the weaker animals' birthing)→ constative aorist (each instance of birthing in the general condition)τίκτω: meaning 'bore'; it carries the action, process, or state of the clause; here it functions as main verb of temporal clause (the weaker animals' birthing).
τάtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πρόβαταflocks / animalsNominativenominative subject (here = the weaker flock-animals)→ participant prominenceπρόβατα: meaning 'flocks'; it serves as nominative subject (here = the weaker flock-animals).
οὐκnotnegation→ clausal qualification or emphasisοὐκ: meaning 'not'; it negates or qualifies the assertion of the clause.
ἐτίθειhe placed / he putImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb (Jacob's deliberate non-action: he did not place the rods)→ iterative imperfect (repeated non-action: 'he kept not placing them')τίθημι: 'place, put'; οὐκ ἐτίθει = 'he did not place [the rods]'; the imperfect marks a habitual non-action — whenever the weaker animals bred, Jacob consistently refrained from using the rod-method, thereby ensuring that plain-colored (weaker) offspring would be born to Laban.
ἐγένετοbecame / came to beAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (the result: the distribution of the flock)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become'; the result-statement uses ἐγένετο to mark the final distribution as an accomplished fact.
δέandnarrative conjunction (introducing the result)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
τάtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄσημαunmarked / plain / undistinguishedNominativenominative subject (the plain, uniform-colored animals → Laban's)→ participant prominenceἄσημος: 'without mark, undistinguished, plain'; from α- (privative) + σῆμα ('sign, mark'); the antonym of ἐπίσημος; the plain, solid-colored offspring — those Laban's rod-removal strategy was designed to produce — become Laban's share.
τοῦLaban'sGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'belonging to Laban')→ relational specificationτοῦ: meaning 'Laban's'; it serves as genitive (possessive: 'belonging to Laban').
ΛαβανLabangenitive (indeclinable possessive: 'Laban's')→ participant identificationΛαβαν: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive (indeclinable possessive: 'Laban's').
τάtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingτά: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
δέand / butcontrastive conjunction (the opposite: the marked ones → Jacob's)→ discourse linkage or contrastδέ: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπίσημαmarked / distinguished / notableNominativenominative subject (the speckled/notable offspring → Jacob's)→ participant prominenceἐπίσημος: 'bearing a mark, notable, distinguished, prominent'; from ἐπί + σῆμα ('mark'); the animals 'bearing the mark' (= the speckled, the distinguished) become Jacob's. The word later describes notable apostles (Rom 16:7 ἐν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις ἐπίσημοί) and 'distinguished' prisoners (Matt 27:16 δέσμιον ἐπίσημον — Barabbas). God's chosen are the ἐπίσημα — those bearing the divine mark.
τοῦJacob'sGenitivegenitive (possessive: 'belonging to Jacob')→ relational specificationτοῦ: meaning 'Jacob's'; it serves as genitive (possessive: 'belonging to Jacob').
ΙακωβJacobgenitive (indeclinable possessive: 'Jacob's')→ participant identificationΙακωβ: transliterated proper name rendered in Greek letters; here it functions as genitive (indeclinable possessive: 'Jacob's').
43
καὶ ἐπλούτησεν ὁ ἄνθρωπος σφόδρα σφόδρα, καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτῷ κτήνη πολλὰ καὶ βόες καὶ παῖδες καὶ παιδίσκαι καὶ κάμηλοι καὶ ὄνοι.
And the man became exceedingly exceedingly rich, and he came to have many livestock and cattle and menservants and maidservants and camels and asses.
The chapter's climax is marked by the emphatic double adverb σφόδρα σφόδρα ('exceedingly exceedingly') — the LXX's way of expressing the superlative of abundance that exceeds ordinary measure. The doubling echoes Laban's σφόδρα of v.27 (implied blessing) and the verb ηὐξήθη ('increased') of v.30, now brought to their logical extreme. The inventory that follows — κτήνη, βόες, παῖδες, παιδίσκαι, κάμηλοι, ὄνοι — recalls the wealth of Abraham (Gen 12:16; 24:35) and Isaac (Gen 26:14), embedding Jacob in the patriarchal prosperity-narrative. The man (ὁ ἄνθρωπος) who began with nothing but his staff (Gen 32:10) now stands as the wealthy patriarch of a great house. The chapter closes where it began — with the contest over birth and blessing — but now resolved: Jacob, who entered Laban's service as a dependent laborer, leaves as an exceedingly wealthy man, and the covenant promise of multiplication is visibly fulfilled.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καίandnarrative conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐπλούτησενbecame rich / grew wealthyAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πλουτέωmain verb (the chapter's climactic declaration: Jacob's wealth)→ constative aorist (the totality of Jacob's enrichment as a completed fact)πλουτέω: 'become rich, grow wealthy'; from πλοῦτος ('wealth, riches'); ἐπλούτησεν is the chapter's culminating financial verb — answering the question of v.30 (νῦν οὖν πότε ποιήσω … οἶκον; 'when shall I provide for my own house?'). The answer: now, through God's providential superintendence of Jacob's scheme.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ noun-phrase markingὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄνθρωποςmanNominativenominative subject (Jacob referred to by the generic 'the man')→ participant prominenceἄνθρωπος: 'man, human being'; the use of ὁ ἄνθρωπος rather than Ιακωβ is notable: Jacob is generalized to 'the man' at the moment of his maximum wealth, perhaps to evoke the universal dimension — this is what it looks like when God blesses a man. The same quasi-universal 'the man' appears in the chapter's wealth-comparator Joseph (Gen 39:2: ἦν κύριος μετὰ Ιωσηφ).
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb (intensifier: first of the doubled adverb pair)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα: 'very, exceedingly, greatly'; a common LXX intensifier; doubled as σφόδρα σφόδρα to indicate extreme degree — beyond what a single σφόδρα can express.
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb (intensifier: the doubled form — 'exceedingly exceedingly' = in the extreme)→ clausal contributionσφόδρα σφόδρα: the doubled adverb is the LXX's emphatic superlative construction, functioning as a Hebraism (מְאֹד מְאֹד); the same doubling appears in Gen 17:2, 20 ('exceedingly exceedingly multiply you'); the echo links Jacob's wealth to the Abrahamic multiplication promises, completing the covenant arc of the chapter.
καίandnarrative conjunction (introducing the inventory of Jacob's wealth)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ἐγένετοcame to be / wasAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (existential: 'he came to have' / 'he acquired')→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become, come to be'; ἐγένετο αὐτῷ = 'there came to be for him' = 'he came to possess' — the dative αὐτῷ expresses possession; the formula ἐγένετο + dative + noun = 'he acquired/gained.'
αὐτῷhim / to himDativedative of possession (ἐγένετο αὐτῷ = 'he came to have')→ participant reference or interestαὐτῷ: meaning 'him'; pronoun marking person, possession, or reference within the clause; here it functions as dative of possession (ἐγένετο αὐτῷ = 'he came to have').
κτήνηlivestock / cattleNominativenominative subject of ἐγένετο (the first category of wealth: livestock in general)→ participant prominenceκτῆνος: 'beast, domestic animal, livestock'; the general term covering all the flocks and herds; the same word used in v.29 (τὰ κτήνη σου: 'your livestock'); now it is Jacob's κτήνη that is πολλά ('many').
πολλάmanyNominativepredicate adjective (attributive: 'many livestock')→ participant prominenceπολύς: 'many, great, much'; κτήνη πολλά = 'many livestock' — the beginning of Jacob's wealth-inventory; the number is not given but subsumed under πολλά and σφόδρα σφόδρα.
καίandcoordinate conjunction (chaining the wealth-inventory)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
βόεςoxen / cattleNominativenominative (second category of wealth: cattle/oxen)→ participant prominenceβοῦς: 'ox, bull, cow'; cattle as a distinct category from the sheep/goat flocks; Abraham and Isaac also had βόες among their wealth (Gen 13:2; 26:14); Jacob's inventory echoes the patriarchal wealth pattern.
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παῖδεςmenservants / male servantsNominativenominative (third category: male servants)→ participant prominenceπαῖς: 'child, servant, boy'; here = 'male servants/menservants'; a mark of wealth in the ancient Near East is the size of one's household staff; Jacob's παῖδες signal his transition from dependent laborer to patriarchal head of a great household.
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
παιδίσκαιmaidservants / female servantsNominativenominative (fourth category: female servants)→ participant prominenceπαιδίσκη: 'girl, maidservant, female slave'; diminutive of παῖς; the female servants complement the παῖδες; they include the handmaids Bilhah and Zilpah (named as παιδίσκαι in Gen 29:24, 29) who figure in the chapter's opening births — a circle closed.
καίandcoordinate conjunction→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
κάμηλοιcamelsNominativenominative (fifth category of wealth: camels as transport and prestige animals)→ participant prominenceκάμηλος: 'camel'; a Semitic loanword in Greek (cf. Hebrew גָּמָל); camels are consistently a mark of patriarchal wealth (Gen 12:16 Abraham; 24:10 Rebekah's escort; 32:7 Jacob's gift to Esau includes camels).
καίandcoordinate conjunction (final item in the inventory)→ discourse linkage or contrastκαί: meaning 'and'; conjunction or particle linking this unit with the surrounding discourse.
ὄνοιasses / donkeysNominativenominative (sixth and final category: donkeys as working animals)→ participant prominenceὄνος: 'ass, donkey'; the humble working animal that closes the inventory; the list moves from great (κτήνη, βόες) to personal (servants) to transport (κάμηλοι, ὄνοι) — an intentionally comprehensive catalog. Jacob arrived with nothing (Gen 28:10–11: 'with only my staff I crossed this Jordan') and leaves as exceedingly wealthy; the chapter ends as a testament to divine providential faithfulness, working through Jacob's ingenuity and God's superintendence of the flock.