Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageJacob cut fresh branches from white poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled them in white stripes, exposing the pale wood beneath.
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GYa'akov then took fresh rods of white poplar, almond, and plane tree, and peeled white strips in them, laying bare the white of the rods.
KJV
King James VersionAnd Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.
BSB
Berean Standard BibleJacob, however, took fresh branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees, and peeled the bark, exposing the white inner wood of the branches.
Footnotes
The three trees carry layered significance: לִבְנֶה (libneh, white poplar/storax) — whose root לָבָן (lavan) = white — is an unmistakable pun on Laban's name, suggesting Jacob deploys Laban's own "whiteness" against him; לוּז (luz, almond), the ancient name for Bethel (Gen. 28:19) where Jacob received his covenant dream, subtly evoking divine guidance; עַרְמוֹן (armon, plane tree). Gen. 31:10–12 later clarifies that a divine dream, not the technique itself, produced the outcome — the rods are Jacob's faith-act within a sovereignly orchestrated result.
