Genesis 30:24

30:24 She named him Joseph, ¹  saying, “May the Lord give me yet another son.”

Genesis 30:1

30:1 When Rachel saw that she could not give Jacob children, she ²  became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children ³  or I’ll die!”

Genesis 4:19-21

4:19 Lamech took two wives for himself; the name of the first was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 4:20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the first ⁴  of those who live in tents and keep ⁵  livestock. 4:21 The name of his brother was Jubal; he was the first of all who play the harp and the flute.

[30:24]  ¹ sn The name Joseph (יוֹסֵף, yoseph) means “may he add.” The name expresses Rachel’s desire to have an additional son. In Hebrew the name sounds like the verb (אָסַף,’asasf) translated “taken away” in the earlier statement made in v. 23. So the name, while reflecting Rachel’s hope, was also a reminder that God had removed her shame.

[30:1]  ² tn Heb “Rachel.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“she”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[30:1]  ³ tn Heb “sons.”

[4:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “father.” In this passage the word “father” means “founder,” referring to the first to establish such lifestyles and occupations.

[4:20]  ⁵ tn The word “keep” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation. Other words that might be supplied instead are “tend,” “raise” (NIV), or “have” (NRSV).