King James Version

What Does Genesis 30:16 Mean?

Genesis 30:16 in the King James Version says “And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for ...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 30 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.”

Genesis 30:16 · KJV

Context

14

And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.

15

And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.

16

And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

17

And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

18

And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar. Issachar: that is, An hire

Read Genesis 30 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must c... This passage belongs to the Jacob narratives which demonstrate God's sovereign election overriding human merit and the transformation of a deceiver into Israel, the father of the twelve tribes. The Jacob cycle shows how divine purposes advance through flawed individuals whom God graciously transforms.

Key themes include God's sovereign choice ("the older shall serve the younger"), the consequences of deception and family dysfunction, exile and return patterns, wrestling with God leading to blessing, and covenant renewal across generations. Jacob's character development from manipulative deceiver to mature patriarch demonstrates sanctification's lifelong process.

Theologically significant aspects include: (1) divine election based on grace not merit (Romans 9:10-13); (2) God's faithfulness to covenant promises despite human unfaithfulness; (3) discipline as evidence of divine love and means of transformation; (4) generational patterns of sin requiring divine intervention to break; (5) prayer and wrestling with God as legitimate expressions of faith. Jacob's limp after wrestling God symbolizes how divine encounters leave permanent marks, transforming our approach to life and dependence on God rather than our own cunning.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse contribute to the biblical doctrine of creation, fall, or redemption?
  2. How should this truth about Jacob's Prosperity shape our daily decisions and priorities?
  3. In what ways does this narrative foreshadow or typify aspects of Christ's redemptive work?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
תָּב֔וֹא1 of 20

“Thou must come in”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב2 of 20

“And Jacob”

H3290

jaakob, the israelitish patriarch

מִן3 of 20
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הַשָּׂדֶה֮4 of 20

“out of the field”

H7704

a field (as flat)

בָּעֶרֶב֒5 of 20

“in the evening”

H6153

dusk

וַתֵּצֵ֨א6 of 20

“went out”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

לֵאָ֜ה7 of 20

“and Leah”

H3812

leah, a wife of jacob

לִקְרָאת֗וֹ8 of 20

“to meet”

H7125

an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite)

וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙9 of 20

“him and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֵלַ֣י10 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

תָּב֔וֹא11 of 20

“Thou must come in”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

כִּ֚י12 of 20
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

שְׂכַרְתִּ֔יךָ13 of 20

“I have hired”

H7936

to hire

שְׂכַרְתִּ֔יךָ14 of 20

“I have hired”

H7936

to hire

בְּדֽוּדָאֵ֖י15 of 20

“mandrakes”

H1736

a boiler or basket; also the mandrake (as an aphrodisiac)

בְּנִ֑י16 of 20

“thee with my son's”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב17 of 20

“And he lay”

H7901

to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)

עִמָּ֖הּ18 of 20
H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

בַּלַּ֥יְלָה19 of 20

“with her that night”

H3915

properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity

הֽוּא׃20 of 20
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 30:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

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