Genesis 30:14

It was the right time of the year to get all the food seeds out of the paddocks. The men were collecting the seeds and putting them in sheds. One day, Reuben, Jacob's oldest son went out into the paddocks and found some plants called Mandrakes growing there. He picked them and took them to his mother Leah. But Rachel saw the plants and said to Leah, “Please give me some of those Mandrakes so that I can eat them and have a baby for myself.” In those days, people thought that Mandrakes had special powers and that if you ate them, you would have a baby.

Barkly (portions)

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

13Then Leah said, “I am really happy. Other women will see me and say, ‘Look at her, she is really happy now!’” Leah named the baby, Asher.

15Leah was angry and said, “You have already stopped me sleeping with my husband. Do you have to take my son's Mandrakes as well?” Rachel answered and said, “I tell you what, if you give me those plants, I will let you sleep with Jacob tonight.”

Read all of Genesis 30

Matthew Henry on Genesis 30:2-14

Increase of Jacob's Family. ( b. c. 1745.) 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. 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. 5 And… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Genesis 30:14