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Genesis 30:39 — Word Study

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WLCוַיֶּחֱמ֥וּ הַצֹּ֖אן אֶל־ הַמַּקְל֑וֹת וַתֵּלַ֣דְןָ הַצֹּ֔אן עֲקֻדִּ֥ים נְקֻדִּ֖ים וּטְלֻאִֽים׃

BSAtheytsôʼn matedyâcham [in the presence of, before] in front ofʼêl the branchesmaqqêl [rods, staffs] And they boreyâlad young [that were]tsôʼn [gave birth, brought forth] streakedʻâqôd [ring-streaked, striped] or specklednâqôd [with spots, spotted] or spottedṭâlâʼ [with diverse colors, patched]

Word
Listen & take awayGenesis 30
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 39 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (u.te.lu.'Im) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Genesis 30:39quick helps
In a sentenceJacob used branches to influence the breeding of his flock.
Who is speakingThe narrator recounts Jacob's actions regarding his livestock.
Where we areThis passage describes Jacob's method of breeding sheep.
The hard wordעֲקֻדִּ֥ים
Take awayThe breeding process resulted in young with distinct markings.
5 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause verbיָחַם The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Genesis 30:39

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Jacob Breeds His Flockgenerated

38Then he set the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of the flocks coming in to drink. So when the flocks were in heat and came to drink,
39they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.
40Jacob set apart the young, but made the rest face the streaked dark-colored sheep in Laban’s flocks. Then he set his own stock apart and did not put them with Laban’s animals.
41Whenever the stronger females of the flock were in heat, Jacob would place the branches in the troughs, in full view of the animals, so that they would breed in front of the branches.

Genesis 30:39 describes how Jacob devised a method to influence the breeding of his sheep by placing peeled branches in front of them as they drank. This was part of his strategy to separate his livestock from Laban's and ensure that the offspring would have specific markings, as outlined in earlier verses. The narrative illustrates Jacob's cleverness in managing his flocks and securing his wealth.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Genesis 31:9–12Thus God has taken away your father’s livestock and given them to me.
2Exodus 12:35–36Furthermore, the Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word יָחַם, vai.ye.che.Mugenerated

The verb יָחַם (yacham) means to conceive or become hot, often used in the context of animals mating. It appears in the Qal form, indicating a simple action performed by the subject, which in this case refers to the flock. The word's usage in this verse emphasizes the mating process, highlighting Jacob's manipulation of the breeding environment.

This term also carries a figurative sense, as it can describe intense emotions like anger. However, in this context, it is specifically focused on the physical act of mating among the sheep.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יָחַם governs the first clause, indicating the action of mating, while the second verb יָלַד governs the second clause, indicating the action of giving birth. The structure reflects a sequence of actions: first the mating, then the bearing of young.

The sentence is built around these two verbs, with the subject being the flock and the prepositional phrase אֶל־ הַמַּקְל֑וֹת providing context for where the mating took place.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יָחַם as ἐγκισσήσωσιν, which suggests a more active interpretation of the mating process. This choice indicates a focus on the act of breeding rather than simply the state of being in heat.

The translation of הַצֹּ֖אן as πρόβατα aligns with the common Greek term for sheep, indicating consistency in the identification of the livestock.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Genesis 30:39 describes how Jacob placed peeled branches in front of his sheep to influence their breeding. The sheep mated in front of these branches, resulting in young that were streaked, speckled, or spotted. This method was part of Jacob's strategy to ensure that the offspring would have specific markings, which was important for his dealings with Laban.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean that the sheep mated in front of the branches?

This phrase indicates that Jacob used the branches as a visual cue to influence the mating process, ensuring that the offspring would have the desired markings.

Why is the specific type of offspring mentioned?

The specific markings of the offspring were significant for Jacob's breeding strategy, as he wanted to distinguish his flocks from Laban's.

How does this passage reflect Jacob's character?

This passage showcases Jacob's cleverness and resourcefulness in managing his livestock and securing his wealth.

What can we learn from Jacob's breeding method?

Jacob's method teaches us about the importance of strategy and planning in achieving our goals.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. What strategies do I use in my life to achieve my goals?
  2. How can I be more resourceful in my daily decisions?
  3. What can I learn from Jacob's approach to managing his flock?
  4. In what ways can I apply Jacob's cleverness to my own challenges?

Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Genesis 30:39 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the flocks conceived before the rods,.... At them, and in sight of them; which had such influence upon them through thee force of imagination, and a divine power and providence so directing and

Read John Gill on Genesis 30 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted. And the flocks conceived - literally, were in heat.

Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 30 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The flocks conceived; Heb. were heated, i.e. inflamed or excited, and disposed to conceive, and this in a more than ordinary manner by the Divine disposal. The event hath some foundation in nature, because of the great power of imagination; and there are divers instances in many authors, both of women and of beasts, who either by the strong fancying, or by the actual and frequent contemplation, of some certain objects, have brought forth young ones exactly of the same colour and complexion, as one did an Ethiopian, &c. But the providence of God was the principal cause of this effect, without which the productions of that kind would neither have been so many nor so certain. This policy of…

Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 30 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Genesis 30:39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.Ver. 39. Ring-straked.] With a round streak, or ring, about their legs, as if they were gartered.

Read John Trapp on Genesis 30 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

25–43 (J, E). Jacob’s Wages In this passage and in the following chapter Laban is depicted in the Israelite narrative as the typical Aramaean, a crafty, selfish, grasping man of business. Jacob, however, in spite of Laban’s duplicity, prospers exceedingly. By greater cunning he outwits Laban himself, and God gives him protection and prosperity.

Read Cambridge on Genesis 30 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks produced streaked, speckled, and spotted.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.

NETBNew English Translation2006

When the sheep mated in front of the branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

And the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth ringstreaked, speckled, and spotted.

RVARevised Version, American1894

And the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ring-streaked, speckled, and spotted.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

And the sheepe were in heate before the rods, and afterward brought forth yong of partie colour, and with small and great spots.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

And the flock was ardent before the rods; and the flock brought forth ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

and the flocks conceive at the rods, and the flock beareth ring-streaked, speckled, and spotted ones.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

and the flocks conceive at the rods, and the flock bears striped, speckled, and spotted ones.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth ring-streaked, speckled, and spotted.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The flocks bred in front of the sticks; and the flocks produced striped, speckled, and spotted young.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And it came to pass that in the very heat of coition, the sheep beheld the rods, and brought forth spotted, and of divers colours, and speckled.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The flocks mated in front of the sticks and gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And because of this, the flock gave birth to young which were marked with bands of colour.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וַandclauseverbיֶּחֱמ֥וּthey.were.in.heatnoun phrase · subjectהַtheצֹּ֖אןflockprepositional phrase · prepositionalאֶלtonoun phraseהַtheמַּקְל֑וֹתbranchesוַandclauseverbתֵּלַ֣דְןָthey.borenoun phrase · subjectהַtheצֹּ֔אןflocknoun phrase · objectעֲקֻדִּ֥יםstriped.[ones]נְקֻדִּ֖יםspeckled.[ones]וּandטְלֻאִֽיםspotted.[ones]

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all nine words matched. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch shows five differences from the Masoretic Text, including variations in the verbs and the terms used for the offspring.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וַיֶּחֱמ֥וּ הַצֹּ֖אן אֶל־ הַמַּקְל֑וֹת וַתֵּלַ֣דְןָ הַצֹּ֔אן עֲקֻדִּ֥ים נְקֻדִּ֖ים וּטְלֻאִֽים׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וַיֶּחֱמ֥וּἐγκισσήσωσινהַצֹּ֖אןπρόβαταאֶל־εἰςהַמַּקְל֑וֹתῥάβδουςוַתֵּלַ֣דְןָἔτικτονהַצֹּ֔אןπρόβαταעֲקֻדִּ֥יםδιάλευκαנְקֻדִּ֖יםποικίλαוּטְלֻאִֽים׃καὶ

9 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Samaritan Pentateuchthe Torah as the Samaritan community kept it

ויחמנה הצאן על המקלות ותלדנה הצאן עקודים נקודים וטלאים

5 words differ from the Masoretic Text: יחמנה (be hot), על (upon), תלדנה (bear), עקודים (twisted), נקודים (speckled)

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Genesis 30:39יָחַםand they maand they matedיָחַםצֹאןthe flockthe flockצֹאןאֶלtotoאֶלמַקֵּלthe branchethe branchesמַקֵּליָלַדand they boand they boreיָלַדצֹאןthe flockthe flockצֹאןעָקֹדstriped [onstriped [ones]עָקֹדנָקֹדspeckled [ospeckled [ones]נָקֹדטָלָאand spottedand spotted [onטָלָאעָקַדto bindto bindעָקַדבָּקַרcattlecattleבָּקַרבֵּית־עֵ֫קֶדHouse of SHouse of Shepheבֵּית־עֵ֫קֶדבָּרֹדspottedspottedבָּרֹדנָקֹדspeckledspeckledנָקֹדמַקֵּלrodrodמַקֵּלצֹאןSheep (GatSheep (Gate)צֹאןפָּלַלto prayto prayפָּלַליִרְמְיָ֫הJeremiahJeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫הרַ֫הַטtroughtroughרַ֫הַטנֹ֫עַםpleasantnepleasantnessנֹ֫עַםשֶׁ֫לַחShelahShelahשֶׁ֫לַחהָרָהto conceivto conceiveהָרָהטָלָאto spotto spotטָלָאחוּםdarkeneddarkenedחוּם
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Genesis 30:39

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and they mated the flock to the branches and they bore the flock striped [ones] speckled [ones] and spotted [ones]
וַיֶּחֱמ֥וּvai.ye.che.Mu and they mated H3179 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
6× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to conceive or become hot, often used to describe animals mating or people feeling angry. It appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing the natural world and human emotions. This word is also used to describe God's anger.
Amplified meaning
in the presence of, before
Tyndale gloss
to conceive
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יָחַם (yacham) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be hot or to conceive. It has a range of meanings including becoming hot, mating (especially in animals), and figuratively, it can refer to anger. The Piel form specifically denotes sexual conception or being in heat.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[יָחַם] vb. be hot, Pi. conceive

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3179 [יָחַם] be hot, Pi. conceive

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3179 yacham yaw-kham'

a primitive root; probably to be hot; figuratively, to

conceive:--get heat, be hot, conceive, be warm.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָחַם (ya.cham) — to conceive.

1) to be hot, conceive

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be hot, become hot

1a2) to mate (of animals)

1a3) to be or become hot (fig. of anger)

1b) (Piel)

1b1) to conceive (sexually)

1b2) to be in heat (of animals)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine plural
Hc/Vqw3mp
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
and they mated the flock to the branches and they bore the flock striped [ones] speckled [ones] and spotted [ones]
הַצֹּ֖אןha.Tzon the flock H6629 Particle · noun common both singular absolute
274× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a flock of sheep or goats, and is sometimes used to describe people in a figurative sense. It is also associated with the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, a significant location in biblical times.
Tyndale gloss
Sheep (Gate)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צֹאן (tso'n) refers to small cattle, specifically sheep and goats, and is used to denote a flock or flocks. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a multitude. The term appears in contexts such as Psalm 144:13, where it emphasizes the collective nature of these animals.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צֹאן 273 n.coll.f. small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6629 צֹאן small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6629 tso'n tsone

or tsaown (Psalm 144:13) {tseh-one'}; from an unused root

meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or

goats); also figuratively (of men):--(small) cattle, flock

(+ -s), lamb (+ -s), sheep((-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds)).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צֹאן (tson) — flock.

1) small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks

1a) small cattle (usually of sheep and goats)

1b) of multitude (simile)

1c) of multitude (metaphor)

צֹאן (tson) — Sheep (Gate).

This name means sheep and goats

Also named: probatikos (προβατικός "Sheep Gate" G4262)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common both singular absolute
HTd/Ncbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See CATTLE.

and they mated the flock to the branches and they bore the flock striped [ones] speckled [ones] and spotted [ones]
אֶל־'el- to H413 Preposition
5,518× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Tyndale gloss
to(wards)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),

prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place

Where the limit is actually entered, into

Of direction towards anything

Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

Of rule or standard according to (rare)

Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place

. Where the limit is actually entered, into

. Of direction towards anything

. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against

. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to

. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of

. Of rule or standard according to (rare)

. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion

. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

413 'el ale

(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});

a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but

occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or

among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,

against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,

by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,

over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,

with(-in).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֶל (el) — to(wards).

1) to, toward, unto (of motion)

2) into (limit is actually entered)

2a) in among

3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)

4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)

5) in addition to, to

6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of

7) according to (rule or standard)

8) at, by, against (of one's presence)

9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Preposition
HR
and they mated the flock to the branches and they bore the flock striped [ones] speckled [ones] and spotted [ones]
הַמַּקְל֑וֹתha.mak.Lot the branches H4731 Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
18× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
A rod or staff, like a walking stick, is used for support or guidance in the Bible, as seen in Exodus with Moses' staff. It can also be a symbol of authority. The word appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
rods, staffs
Tyndale gloss
rod
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מַקֵּל (maqqel) refers to a rod or staff, often associated with travel or divination. It can denote a stick or branch, as well as a tool used by Jacob in breeding his flocks. The word is derived from an unused root that suggests the idea of germination, indicating a connection to growth.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מַקֵּל n.m. rod, staff

branch of tree as rod, stick, used by Jacob in breeding his flocks

staff, used in journeying

wand of diviner

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4731 מַקֵּל rod, staff . branch of tree as rod, stick, used by Jacob in breeding his flocks

. staff, used in journeying

. wand of diviner

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4731 maqqel mak-kale;

or (feminine) maqqlah {mak-kel-aw'}; from an unused root

meaning apparently to germinate; a shoot, i.e. stick (with

leaves on, or for walking, striking, guiding,

divining):--rod, ((hand- ))staff.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מַקֵּל (maq.qel) — rod.

1) rod, staff

1a) rod, stick

1b) staff (in travel)

1c) wand (of diviner)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common feminine plural absolute
HTd/Ncfpa
and they mated the flock to the branches and they bore the flock striped [ones] speckled [ones] and spotted [ones]
וַתֵּלַ֣דְןָva.te.Lad.na and they bore H3205 Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine plural
496× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to give birth or beget a child, like when Eve gave birth to Cain in Genesis 4:1. It can also mean to help someone give birth, like a midwife. This word is used in many KJV translations, including Genesis and Isaiah.
Tyndale gloss
to beget
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word יָלַד (*yalad*) means to bear, bring forth, or beget, and it encompasses various forms of childbirth and lineage declaration. It can refer to both the act of giving birth and the role of a midwife. The entries also note its use in contexts of distress and wicked behavior, as well as in reference to birthdays.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יָלַד 497 vb. bear, bring forth, beget

Qal

bear, bring forth

less often beget

of both parents

Niph. be born

Pi. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife

Pu. be born

Hiph.

beget (a father a child)

bear

Hoph. day of one's being born = birthday

Hithp. declared their pedigree

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3205 יָלַד bear, bring forth, beget .. bear, bring forth

. less often beget

. of both parents

. be born

. cause (or help) to bring forth, viz., assist or tend as midwife

. be born

. . beget (a father a child)

. bear

. day of one's being born = birthday

. declared their pedigree

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3205 yalad yaw-lad'

a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget;

medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show

lineage:--bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring

forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be

delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch,

labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be

the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יָלַד (ya.lad) — to beget.

1) to bear, bringforth, beget, gender, travail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to bear, bring forth

1a1a) of child birth

1a1b) of distress (simile)

1a1c) of wicked (behaviour)

1a2) to beget

1b) (Niphal) to be born

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to cause or help to bring forth

1c2) to assist or tend as a midwife

1c3) midwife (participle)

1d) (Pual) to be born

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to beget (a child)

1e2) to bear (fig. -of wicked bringing forth iniquity)

1f) (Hophal) day of birth, birthday (infinitive)

1g) (Hithpael) to declare one's birth (pedigree)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine plural
Hc/Vqw3fp
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bor: According to the Book of the Covenant (Ex 20:20-23:33) a slave whom his master had purchased was to be released after six years. Should he choose to remain in his master's service a religious ceremony was necessary to ratify his decision. "Then his master shall bring him unto God" (better than "unto the judges" of the King James Version), "and shall bring him to the door, or unto the doorpost; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl" (Ex 21:6). It is highly improbable that "unto God" means "to a sanctuary"; for there was no special reason for performing this ceremony near the door of a sanctuary. On the other hand the entrance to a private house was a sacred spot. According to primitive thinking near the door dwelt the household gods whose function it was to…

and they mated the flock to the branches and they bore the flock striped [ones] speckled [ones] and spotted [ones]
הַצֹּ֔אןha.Tzon the flock H6629 Particle · noun common both singular absolute
274× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to a flock of sheep or goats, and is sometimes used to describe people in a figurative sense. It is also associated with the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, a significant location in biblical times.
Amplified meaning
gave birth, brought forth
Tyndale gloss
Sheep (Gate)
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צֹאן (tso'n) refers to small cattle, specifically sheep and goats, and is used to denote a flock or flocks. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a multitude. The term appears in contexts such as Psalm 144:13, where it emphasizes the collective nature of these animals.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צֹאן 273 n.coll.f. small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6629 צֹאן small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6629 tso'n tsone

or tsaown (Psalm 144:13) {tseh-one'}; from an unused root

meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or

goats); also figuratively (of men):--(small) cattle, flock

(+ -s), lamb (+ -s), sheep((-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds)).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צֹאן (tson) — flock.

1) small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks

1a) small cattle (usually of sheep and goats)

1b) of multitude (simile)

1c) of multitude (metaphor)

צֹאן (tson) — Sheep (Gate).

This name means sheep and goats

Also named: probatikos (προβατικός "Sheep Gate" G4262)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Art | N-cs — Particle · noun common both singular absolute
HTd/Ncbsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See CATTLE.

and they mated the flock to the branches and they bore the flock striped [ones] speckled [ones] and spotted [ones]
עֲקֻדִּ֥ים'a.ku.Dim striped [ones] H6124 Adj
7× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Something that is striped has marks or bands on it, like a streaked or striped animal, often used in the Bible to describe physical characteristics. This concept is seen in the book of Genesis, describing the appearance of certain animals. It can also be used to describe patterns or designs.
Amplified meaning
ring-streaked, striped
Tyndale gloss
striped
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עָקֹד (aqod) means 'striped' or 'streaked.' It is derived from the root word represented by Strong's H6123. The entries consistently describe it as having stripes or bands.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עָקֹד adj. striped, streaked

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6124 עָקֹד striped, streaked

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6124 `aqod aw-kode'

from 6123; striped (with bands):--ring straked.

see HEBREW for 06123

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עָקֹד (a.qod) — striped.

streaked, striped

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampa
and they mated the flock to the branches and they bore the flock striped [ones] speckled [ones] and spotted [ones]
נְקֻדִּ֖יםne.ku.Dim speckled [ones] H5348 Adj
9× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this word means speckled, often used to describe sheep and goats with spots. It appears in Genesis 30:32, where Jacob and Laban make a deal about spotted animals. This term is used to identify specific livestock.
Amplified meaning
with spots, spotted
Tyndale gloss
speckled
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word נָקֹד (*naqod*) means 'speckled' and specifically refers to sheep and goats. It is derived from an unused root that implies marking by puncturing or branding. The entries consistently emphasize its application to livestock.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָקֹד adj. speckled;—only sheep and goats

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5348 נָקֹד speckled;—only sheep and goats

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5348 naqod naw-kode'

from an unused root meaning to mark (by puncturing or

branding); spotted:--speckled.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָקֹד (na.qod) — speckled.

1) speckled, marked with points

1a) of sheep and goats

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adj — Adj
HAampa
and they mated the flock to the branches and they bore the flock striped [ones] speckled [ones] and spotted [ones]
וּטְלֻאִֽים׃u.te.lu.'Im and spotted [ones] H2921 Conjunction · verb qal participle (passive) masculine plural
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to spot or patch something, like a tapestry with many colors. It can also describe something that is multicolored or variegated, and is used in the Bible to describe clothing and other objects.
Amplified meaning
with diverse colors, patched
Tyndale gloss
to spot
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

טָלָא (tala') means to patch or spot, often referring to variegated or spotted patterns, particularly in sheep and goats. It can also describe colorful shrines or patched sandals. The word is built from a primitive root implying coverage with pieces, highlighting its connection to diversity in color and pattern.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[טָלָא] vb. patch, spot

Qal chiefly of spotted, variegated sheep and goats; of high places, variegated (gaily-coloured shrines)

Pu. patched, of sandals

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2921 [טָלָא] patch, spot

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2921 tala' taw-law'

a primitive root; properly, to cover with pieces; i.e. (by

implication) to spot or variegate (as tapestry):--clouted,

with divers colours, spotted.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

טָלָא (ta.la) — to spot.

1) to patch, spot, be spotted, be coloured

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to spot

1a2) spotted (participle)

1b) (Pual) to be patched

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Inf-c — Conjunction · verb qal participle (passive) masculine plural
HC/Vqsmpa
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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