KJV ORIGINAL
And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Whenever the stronger cattle were ready to mate, Jacob would place the striped branches in front of them in the water troughs, so they would mate while looking at the branches.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Jacob strategically used his method with only the healthiest, strongest animals to ensure he got the best livestock for himself.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during Jacob's time working for his father-in-law Laban, who had been changing Jacob's wages and trying to cheat him. Jacob was using what he believed was a breeding technique to build his own flocks while still serving Laban. In ancient times, people often believed that what animals saw during mating could influence their offspring's appearance.
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