JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

January 1988

Dear Friend:

Thank you for your question about Genesis 30:37-43.

This account is somewhat vague in the King James Version because the translators did not fully understand what Jacob did. Verses 41 and 42, however, indicate clearly that Jacob was practicing selective breeding.

Evidently, Jacob built pens or corrals around the watering troughs using rods made by peeling poplar, hazel, and chestnut limbs. Instead of driving the animals together, he just waited until they came to drink and then penned them in. Verse 38 is poorly translated and does not mean Jacob put the rods in the watering troughs.

Jacob separated the weaker males from the breeding flock, leaving the stronger ones to produce offspring. God then miraculously intervened on Jacob's behalf and caused the offspring to have the coloring Laban had promised to Jacob. In other words, Jacob did his part by seeing to it that the stronger males bred the herds and flocks in order to produce strong offspring. God rewarded Jacob by causing the newborn animals to have the proper coloring.

We hope you will let us know whenever we may assist you further with your study of the Bible. It is our pleasure to serve you.

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT