Gen 30:22-24 | NETfull | STEP | Then God took note of Rachel. He paid attention to her and enabled her to become pregnant.

Genesis 30:22-24

22 Then God took note of ^{▼▼ Heb “remembered.”} Rachel. He paid attention to her and enabled her to become pregnant. ^{▼▼ Heb “and God listened to her and opened up her womb.” Since “God” is the subject of the previous clause, the noun has been replaced by the pronoun “he” in the translation for stylistic reasons} 23 She became pregnant ^{▼▼ Or “conceived.”} and gave birth to a son. Then she said, “God has taken away my shame.” ^{▼▼ Heb “my reproach.” A “reproach” is a cutting taunt or painful ridicule, but here it probably refers by metonymy to Rachel’s barren condition, which was considered shameful in this culture and was the reason why she was the object of taunting and ridicule.} 24 She named him Joseph, ^{▼▼ 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.} saying, “May the Lord give me yet another son.”