But Jacob took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees. He made white streaks by peeling them, making the white inner wood in the branches visible.

Then he set up the peeled branches in all the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. He set up the branches in front of the flocks when they were in heat and came to drink.

When the stronger females were in heat, Jacob would set up the branches in the troughs in front of the flock, so they would mate near the branches.

When the sheep mated in front of the branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.

But if the animals were weaker, he did not set the branches there. So the weaker animals ended up belonging to Laban and the stronger animals to Jacob.

On the vine there were three branches. As it budded, its blossoms opened and its clusters ripened into grapes.

"This is its meaning," Joseph said to him. "The three branches represent three days.

Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough near a spring whose branches climb over the wall.