Genesis 30:1
And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
2 And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.
- KJV
- And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
- WEB
- When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I will die.”
- ASV
- And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and she said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
- DARBY
- And when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
- BLB
- And Rachel saw that she was not bearing [children] to Jacob, and Rachel was envious of her sister and she said to Jacob, “Give to me sons, and if not, I will die.”
- ÅB
- Da Rakel så at hun og Jakob ikke fikk barn, ble hun misunnelig på sin søster og sa til Jakob: La meg få barn! Ellers dør jeg.
- OTB
- Da Rakel så at hun ikke fødte barn til Jakob, ble hun misunnelig på sin søster og sa til Jakob: "Gi meg barn, ellers dør jeg!"
- B1930
- Da Rakel så at hun og Jakob ikke fikk barn, blev hun misunnelig på sin søster og sa til Jakob: La mig få barn! Ellers dør jeg.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Job 5:2
For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
Read in contextGenesis 29:31
And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
Read in contextGenesis 37:11
And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
Read in contextProverbs 14:30
A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Read in context1 Corinthians 3:3
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Read in context2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Read in contextJames 3:14
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Read in contextJames 4:5
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Read in context