Bible Strands
Genesis 30:15
But Leah replied, “Is it not enough that you have taken away my husband? Now you want to take my son’s mandrakes as well?” “Very well,” said Rachel, “he may sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Leah confronts Rachel regarding the mandrakes Reuben brought, accusing her of monopolizing Jacob before Rachel proposes trading a night with him for the plants.
The words — הַמְעַט (ha-ma‘at) literally means “is it not little” or “is it not enough,” paired with קַחְתֵּךְ (kaḥtêk) meaning “you have taken,” to frame Leah’s accusation of Rachel’s greed.
The thread — The identical rhetorical challenge appears in Numbers 16:13 and Isaiah 7:13, where speakers use the same structure to confront perceived overreach or divine patience.
Why it lands — The text records a transactional negotiation between sisters, requiring the reader to observe how familial rivalry reduces human relationships to bargaining without endorsing either party’s actions.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.
Cross-references
- Numbers 16:13 Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also appoint yourself as ruler over us?
- Numbers 16:9 Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel and brought you near to Himself to perform the work at the LORD’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?
- Isaiah 7:13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well?
- Ezekiel 16:47 And you not only walked in their ways and practiced their abominations, but soon you were more depraved than they were.
- 1 Corinthians 4:3 I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.