Genesis 30:25-26

The Flocks of Jacob

30:25 After Rachel had given birth ¹  to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send ²  me on my way so that I can go ³  home to my own country. ⁴  30:26 Let me take my wives and my children whom I have acquired by working for you. ⁵  Then I’ll depart, ⁶  because you know how hard I’ve worked for you.” ⁷ 

[30:25]  ¹ tn The perfect verbal form is translated as a past perfect because Rachel’s giving birth to Joseph preceded Jacob’s conversation with Laban.

[30:25]  ² tn The imperatival form here expresses a request.

[30:25]  ³ tn Following the imperative, the cohortative with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose or result.

[30:25]  ⁴ tn Heb “to my place and to my land.”

[30:26]  ⁵ tn Heb “give my wives and my children, for whom I have served you.” In one sense Laban had already “given” Jacob his two daughters as wives (Gen 29:21, 28). Here Jacob was asking for permission to take his own family along with him on the journey back to Canaan.

[30:26]  ⁶ tn Following the imperative, the cohortative with the prefixed conjunction indicates purpose or result.

[30:26]  ⁷ tn Heb “for you, you know my service [with] which I have served you.”