Genesis 30:2
1 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.
Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”
3 Then she said, “Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Sleep with her, that she may bear children for me, so that through her I too can build a family.”
4 So Rachel gave Jacob her servant Bilhah as a wife, and he slept with 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
- Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”
- KJV
- 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?
- WEB
- Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in God’s place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
- ASV
- 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?
- DARBY
- And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel, and he said, Am I in God's stead, who has withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?
- BLB
- And the anger of Jacob burned against Rachel, and he said, “[Am] I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
- ÅB
- Da ble Jakobs vrede tent opp mot Rakel, og han sa: Er jeg i Guds sted, som har nektet deg livsfrukt?
- OTB
- Jakob ble sint på Rakel og sa: "Er jeg i Guds sted, han som har holdt tilbake velsignelsen av barn fra deg?"
- B1930
- Da optendtes Jakobs vrede mot Rakel, og han sa: Er jeg i Guds sted, som har nektet dig livsfrukt?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 16:2
So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
Read in contextPsalms 127:3
Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
Read in context2 Kings 5:7
When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a leper? Surely you can see that he is seeking a quarrel with me!”
Read in contextGenesis 50:19
But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
Read in context1 Samuel 1:5
But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb.
Read in contextGenesis 31:36
Then Jacob became incensed and challenged Laban. “What is my crime?” he said. “For what sin of mine have you so hotly pursued me?
Read in contextPsalms 113:9
He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!
Read in context1 Samuel 2:5–6
The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away.
Read in context