Genesis 30:39

30:39 When the sheep mated ¹  in front of the branches, they ²  gave birth to young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.

Genesis 30:42

30:42 But if the animals were weaker, he did not set the branches there. ³  So the weaker animals ended up belonging to Laban ⁴  and the stronger animals to Jacob.

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¹ tn The Hebrew verb used here can mean “to be in heat” (see v. 38) or “to mate; to conceive; to become pregnant.” The latter nuance makes better sense in this verse, for the next clause describes them giving birth.

² tn Heb “the sheep.” The noun has been replaced by the pronoun (“they”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.

³ tn Heb “he did not put [them] in.” The referent of the [understood] direct object, “them,” has been specified as “the branches” in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn Heb “were for Laban.”