After seven years, the wedding finally arrives, and the veiled bride eventually becomes Jacobs wife. Its then that God demonstrates howHefaithfully cherishes andHefaithfully pursues. For Leah, God's seeing her and granting her sons does not bring her the love she wants. (2021, December 6). So, what lessons can we learn from this? God hearkens to Leah's tears and prayers and allows her to marry Jacob even before Rachel does. She may not have been Jacobs choice, but she was chosen by God to play a role in the birth of Savior of the world. Leah chose to praise and be thankful for Gods role in her life. Prior to her and Rachel's mentioning, the Book of Genesis details how their first cousin and future husband, Jacob, with the help of his mother, Rebecca, willfully deceives his dying father, Isaac, into giving him his twin brother Esau's birthright. Her marriage began with scandal, but her role in her family gave her honor and respect in the community. Due to the extreme emotional distress suffered by both Leah (and Rachel) during the marriage, Yahweh later strictly clarified his opposition to uncovering the nakedness of a woman and her sister while both were still living (Genesis 30:1, Leviticus 18:18). The oldest daughter of Laban, she was plain looking and may have had poor eyesight, but she was dutiful and virtuous. Probably she suffered, as so many do in that hot sandy region, from some form of ophthalmia. [18], Leah died some time before Jacob (according to Genesis 49:31). (NIV). In the Biblical account, Jacob is dispatched to the hometown of Labanthe brother of his mother Rebekahto avoid being killed by his brother Esau, and to find a wife. NIV Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Where in the Bible did Peter say he could not be crucified like his Lord? Feeding the 4,000 and feeding the 5,000same or different? On a homiletical level, the classic Chassidic texts explain the sisters' rivalry as more than marital jealousy. The Best Bible Translations: All You Need to Know & How to Choose, 7 of the Best Exegetical Bible Commentaries, How to Study the Bible: 9 Tips to Get More Out of Your Study. In the Rabbinic mind, the two brothers are polar opposites; Jacob being a God-fearing scholar and Esau being a hunter who also indulges in idolatry and adultery. It seems that Leahs father was not a man of his word. Weak eyes and all. Rachel hung on to the terephim, while Leah looked to Yahweh. Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, Now this time my husband will beattached to me, because I have borne him three sons. Therefore his name was called Levi. The King James Version renders it as "tender eyed," while the New Living Translation says "There was no sparkle in Leah's eyes," and the Amplified Bible says "Leah's eyes were weak and dull looking.". Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? "Meet Leah: First Wife of Jacob." One, being her "outlook" on life and things. CSB Leah had tender eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful. James 1:16-17 says, Dont be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Nowarise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, Is thereany portion or inheritance left to us in our fathers house? We can point to the naming of her sons and how she hopes to gain favor through birthing them. We do know that she was the lesser loved of the two wives, he loved Rachel more than Leah (Genesis 29:30 CSB). But its our job as readers to whom Christ may say one day, Have you not read ? And its our job as heraldsthose of us who are heraldsto do our best to repeat the message the King wrote down for distribution in his realm. The next morning, in the light of day and the absence of a veil, the truth is revealed. Today and in biblical times, contentment is not a prevalent quality. She becomes a mother of seven, tenderly caring for and raising her children to be leaders of the tribes of Israel. Leah agreed, and that night she slept with Jacob and conceived Issachar. Genesis 3421st Century King James Version. Genesis 30:17-21. And Leah said,Good fortune has come! so she called his nameGad.Leahs servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. Leah is living at home with her father Laban and younger sister Rachel. Shes buried in a place of honor alongside Jacob, at the site of his ancestors, including Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah. In Hebrews 11:17-18 CSB, it says Your (Abrahams) offspring will be called through Isaac.. Would you take away my sons mandrakes also? Rachel said, Then he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your sons mandrakes.When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, You must come in to me, for I have hired you with my sons mandrakes. So he lay with her that night. Although Leah was in a loveless marriage, her son Reuben was evidence to her that the Lord sees, Simeon means the Lord hears, and Levi that the Lord might create a bond between her and Jacob. She may not have been Jacobs choice, but God chose her to play a role in the birth of the Savior of the world. She names her first son Reuben. And Id appeal back to my gut feeling as someone who loves and knows language; Id explain the text as an idiom communicating, in a delicate way, that Leah wasnt quite the looker Rachel was. The blessing is received, yet you want more. But its an arrogant Bible teacher who doesnt care to listen to skillful teachers. She and her younger sister, Rachel, were rivals in a soap-opera-like romance with Jacob. Whatever Leah lacked in her marriage, the world received a gift of Savior through Gods abundant blessing. Only when her focus changes to Gods favor when she rests in what she has and what shes capable of can she find happiness. Genesis 29:17 Most of us have read the passage above about Jacob's wives as describing Leah's bad eyesight. So she named him Issachar. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". Why does the Bible say Jesus was hanged on a tree?. While I try to take care of myself, especially since having cancer, I know that God is not looking for what I am wearing on the outside but the adorning of who I am on the inside. God ensures Leah a life of honor because He is her Lord. Meet Leah: First Wife of Jacob. Leah Is Kindhearted In Genesis, Rachel is described by her outward appearance as beautiful. The world can throw us off course, keeping us coveting more instead of being content with what we have. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, This time I will praise theLord. Therefore she called his nameJudah. And if Im uncertain, I find, often enough so are theytaken collectively, that is. When you see translations differ this much, youre probably dealing with a genuine ambiguity or obscurity in the Hebrew. According to some commentaries, Bilhah and Zilpah are actually half-sisters of Leah and Rachel.[14]. Leah loved Jacob though, and since she was unable to conceive, she prayed about her situation. NASB And Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in figure and appearance. But the God of my fatherhas been with me. It is unclear whether Leah had any say in the matter. Sadly, can you imagine how that made Leah feel? Leah never seems to gain the affections of Jacob, yet her life is evidence of Gods devotion to her. Laban has instead placed Leah in Jacobs arms instead of the sought-after Rachel. Leah Lively is a wife and mother of four living in central Virginia. When we look at the beginning of Genesis, it is clear that Leah was not only less attractive than Rachel, but also her father used this, and the fact that the older sister in their culture should marry first as a reason to trick Jacob into marrying his daughter. So lonely was she that even the Lord took notice of it and blessed her with many children as consolation. 2. Ive puzzled over this phrase since I was a kid. Leah eventually has two more sons with Jacob, Issachar and Zebulon, and Jacob's only daughter, Dinah. For theLordsees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance,but theLordlooks on the heart., But theLordsaid to Samuel,Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. And they rule out some bad ideas that occur to me (or to others). You may also enjoy this sermon about the lessons we can learn from Leah in the Bible: Or one of these recommendations about Leah in the Bible and the lessons we can learn from her. ), SUPPLEMENTAL: MODERN ENGLISH VERSIONS AND DIFFICULT GENESIS 29:17. They go together, but Leah is still second best despite her many children. We learn from Rachel that if we arent grateful for our blessings and trust that God is enough, jealousy will always make us want more. In medieval Christian symbolism, Rachel was taken as a symbol of the contemplative (monastic) Christian life, and Leah as a symbol of the active (non-monastic) life. At the time, Leah only knew that her fourth son evoked praise to God and named him Judah. Disagree as little as possible with the translations in your peoples laps.). Leah was the first wife of Jacob and was also the elder sister of his second wife, Rachel, who he loved. Leah in the Bible is the older daughter of Laban and Jacob's first wife. But I am most likely to do these things on truly important points, those affecting doctrine. Who Is the Beast in Revelation 13, and Have We Met Him Yet? " The words more than are not in the original Hebrew text. When he met Rachel, he fell in love with her at first sight. flowers, and even as she sang, she said: When Jacob found out he had been tricked, he labored another seven years for Rachel. Zavada, Jack. Indeed, it violates the first rule they teach you at Bible-teaching school: Dont comment on the physical appearance of particular women. There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. Rachel died giving birth to her second son, Benjamin and was buried on the side of the road leading to Bethlehem (Genesis 35:16-20). She has three more sons, namely Simeon, Levi and Judah, but does not bear another son until Rachel offers her a night with Jacob in exchange for some mandrake root ( , dd'm ). Rachel was younger and had a beautiful face and figure. https://www.learnreligions.com/leah-first-wife-of-jacob-701187 (accessed April 18, 2023). As I age, I have the grey hair coming in, the smile lines, and even some bags under my eyes. They are contrasted with Rachel, who is described as looking beautiful. We can't blame Jacob. [19] She is thought to be buried in the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron alongside Jacob. StudyLght .org . Her marriage began with scandal, but her position in her family gave her honor and respect in the community. Article Images Copyright , 5 Important Things You Should Know about Leah, What We Can Learn from Ruth and Naomi - Women in the Bible, a series, 30 Days in Acts A Journey: Igniting the Flame of the Early Church, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The Lord chooses and elevates those whose hearts are pure before him. (Perhaps she had dull or pale-colored irises instead of striking dark ones?) God ensures Leah a life of honor because He is her Lord. and I apply my lovely hands to fashion Leah (the woman nobody wants) is "disregarded" by her cousin, Jacob. Leah was content to praise the Lord for the blessings in her life, even if her husband did not love her the way he loved her sister. Jacob has no money to offer Rachels father Laban a bride price, so he arranges to work for him for seven years to marry her. This is how far I got on my own. Theres nothing to obey or disobey in Genesis 29:17. The NLT opts for There was no sparkle in Leahs eyes. And two translations (NRSV, GNT) actually see the word as positive, translating it as lovely. So whos right? Furious, Jacob makes another agreement with Laban. The Bible says in Genesis 29:30 that " Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. - Youngs Literal Bible And Leah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was of beautiful form and fair to look upon. Jacob arranges his family so that the maids and their children are placed first, then Leah with her kids. Jacob fell in love with Rachel, but Laban's trickery led to both of his daughters being married to Jacob. How long did it take for Israel to cross the Red Sea? When Rachel saw thatshe bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. The story of Leah's family is recorded in Genesis 2535. God does not love us because we are beautiful or handsome, brilliant or successful. Laban is willing to give Rachel's hand to Jacob as long as he works seven years for her. One of those six was Judah, who is listed in Matthew 1 as part of the genealogy for King David, and finally Jesus Christ himself! Leah gave birth to six of the 12 tribes of IsraelReuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Why did Jesus say to throw the net on the right side? God had a specific calling for Leah and her life, whether Jacob favored her. you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA . Leah bore more children, a highly honored achievement in ancient Israel. Wouldnt you? She had beautiful eyes, in other words, but Rachel had more than just good eyes: she was easy on the eyes. The deal between the sisters helps Leah become pregnant, for she gives birth to two more sonsIssachar (God has given me my hire) and Zebulun (now my husband will honor me)and a daughter, Dinah. This is the same spring water his mother Rebekah drew from before she married Isaac. As an Amazon Associate, as well as an affiliate of other programs, this means if you purchase something using these links, I will receive a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you! The Hebrew word in Genesis, rakkoth, could also mean tenderhearted or kindhearted. Perhaps having poor eyesight was itself considered unattractive in Jacob's day? At this point, Rachel is incredibly jealous and gives her handmade Bilhah to Jacob. Jacob continues to show favoritism toward Rachel, but after Leahs third child is born, Leah seems to have a change of heart. In the Bible, Leah is the daughter of Laban and the sister of Rachel. For the verb raah, to see and the fact that God has seen Leahs sorrow and the noun ben, son., And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, Because theLordhas looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.. The King James Version that I grew up on has the even odder phrase, Leah was tender eyed. I sort of thought tender eyes were a good thing, not something that needs to be set in contrast to the beauty of ones sister. 34 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she bore unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. She has three more sons, namely Simeon, Levi and Judah, but does not bear another son until Rachel offers her a night with Jacob in exchange for some mandrake root (, dd'm). This level of praise left a legacy which brought us a Savior. Leah, the wife of Jacob, experienced this; but God heard her prayers and saw her plight. Jacob worked for Rachel's father Laban seven years for the right to marry Rachel. Despite Rachel's infertility, Jacob still favored Rachel over her. Rachel and Leah, painting by James Tissot. Unconditionally. Kidner (TOTC) and Wenham (WBC), both of whom I greatly respect, also came up with a view I admit I did not expect. PREVIOUS Genesis 29:16 NEXT Genesis 29:18. And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. I did get at least as far as Genesis 29 as an elementary schooler in my somewhat desultory attempts at Bible reading. Before we dive into some lessons we can learn from Leah in the Bible, lets review her story. She is the mother of Jacob's first son Reuben. But in this age, before that day when we will know even as also we are known (1 Cor 13:12), before we are given authoritative interpretations straight from the Author of Scripture, there is some necessary here-I-stand Martin Luthering that must remain in the blood of every Christian. Hamilton (NICOT) concluded that the phrase at issue here is a positive reference to something tender or delicate in Leahs appearance. In Leahs story, we can be encouraged that a life redeemed can not occur with the perfect spouse or an abundance of children, but a with a heart that is tender and surrendered to God. Can you relate to that? [17], Each woman also continually questioned whether she was doing enough in her personal efforts toward increased spirituality, and would use the other's example to spur herself on. But in the end, after prayer and effort, I think you need to hope for and achieve some kind of interpretive resolution if at all possible. Modern English versions actually disagree on how to translate the Hebrew word for tender. Some translations contradict each otherlovely, nice, attractive, ordinary versus didnt sparkle, tender, delicate, weak! Behold the confusion! 17 and the eyes of Leah [are] tender, and Rachel hath been fair of form and fair of appearance. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben,for she said, Because theLordhas looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.. When Jacob asks the sisters to come with him back home to Canaan, they are unhappy that their father gave them nothing of what he received as bridewealth during his years of service to their father. Do not close your ears to the needs and hopes of those who may not be beautiful and have physical and emotional bruises. Since God created humans, we have looked for validation and belonging from things and people who could never sustain it for us. God loves us unconditionally, with a pure, passionate tenderness. Both sisters agree to leave their home and travel to Canaan with their husband, Jacob. But listen for the one odd figure of speech Moses uses in this litany of feminine pulchritude (or the lack thereof): Now Laban had two daughters. Leah was the chosen vessel through which the Messiah would be born and her weak eyes and her appeal to Yahweh may be a clue that she had had an encounter with Yahweh at some point in her earlier life. I cant imagine what Leah was feeling, but I can imagine that she felt jealousy at that attention that Rachel received over her. While their marriage began with deception, Leah was honored at her death by Jacob. God, of course, saw this and allowed Leah to have four sons. Leah's "soft" eyes are eventually mirrored in the eyes of the earthly Jesus. ' but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.' (Gen 29:17, ESV) Imagine if you were the first half of this sentence, the bit that comes before the 'but'. The Bible tells us: "Leah was tender eyed." (Gen.29:17).The NIV says: "Leah had weak eyes.".Different meanings can be derived from these words. When he meets the beautiful shepherdess, Jacob weeps with joy. [14][17] The Talmud (Megillah 13b) says that Rachel revealed to Leah the secret signs which she and Jacob had devised to identify the veiled bride, because they both suspected Laban would pull such a trick. New King James Version Leah's eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. She said to Jacob, Give me children, or I shall die!. That is between her and God, but we know that her jealously took her down a terrible downward spiral. Genesis 29:17 [MT] "and The eyes of Leah were weak" ( ) "Eyinei" () = Eyes ; "Leah" () = Weary ; "Rakhot" () = Weak / Soft. Neither does he reject us because we don't meet the world's standards for being attractive. "[22], University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, "Leah's Tender Eyes," at jerusalemperspective.com, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leah&oldid=1148344206, This page was last edited on 5 April 2023, at 16:17. God sees your heart and knows your wounds. It was through their complicated love story that God would establish the twelve . She Was the Elder Daughter of Laban Id stick with the intuitiveto meopposition the text sets up, in which weak eyes are contrasted with Rachels beauty. Jealousy can be an ugly feeling that we all share. We first learn that she was unloved and unfavored with a tender heart versus an attractive body. Whatever she lacked in her marriage the world received a gift of a Savior through the abundant blessing of God. We meet great leaders and evil kings. Then she stopped bearing." (Gen. 28:32-35). If Zilpah and Bilhah were indeed half-sisters of Leah, this would make Leah's adoptive sons, Gad and Asher, and Rachel's adoptive sons, Dan and Naphtali, her nephews. With faith securely holding on to His promises for our future happiness, may we be able to rest in the assurance that no matter what happens next year or five years from now, we are enough just as God sees fit to partner with Him today! both young and fair; along a plain she gathered Here are 5 surprising facts about Leah that take her story from deep sorrow to eternal joy: In Genesis 29:13 CSB Rachel is described by her outward appearance as shapely and beautiful. Leah is identified as having tender eyes. Other translations say weak, delicate, ordinary, or plain. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down fromthe Father of lights,with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Leah's story in the Bible is told in Genesis chapters 29-31, 33-35, 46, and 49. Leahs role as wife is one that tends to her husband, desperately trying to capture his heart. His father, Isaac, had married a first cousin, once removed; Jacob will marry his matrilineal first cousins and his paternal second cousins, once removed. Two . What is the significance of The Parable of the Good Samaritan? The book of Genesis does what preachers and Sunday school teachers would do well to avoid. Leah had not conceived for a while, and the plant, whose roots resemble the human body, was thought to be an aid to fertility. God also has a calling on your life and will make all circumstances work together for your good. Laban tricked Jacob, however, substituting the heavily-veiled Leah on the dark wedding night. The design of the inspired writer is to compare both the sisters together, that the balance may appear to be greatly in favour of Rachel. Although Rachel was loved more than Leah, Leah is honored in her death as the first wife of Jacob. Jacob did not see, hear, or attach himself to Leah, but the Lord filled the void Jacob created Leahs life. 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and defiled her. Leahs eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. So, he puts on a wedding feast (29:22), making it look as though he is fulfilling his end of the bargain. Then she ceased bearing. And second, Leah is "discarded" by her father, Laban (29:21-27). In fact, because of Jacob's rejecting her, God took pity on Leah and opened her womb. Through her sons Levi and Judah, she is thus the matriarch of both the priestly (Levite) and royal (Judahite) tribes in Israel. **ATTENTION: Dear readers, as of late 2022, special-edition Q&A article #1000 is still in development. (Another piece of what I hope to be wisdom: if you are indeed a preacher or Bible teacher, and if you happen to know that a majority of your hearers for a given lesson or sermon are carrying a translation that takes one side or the other, its generally best to stick with that side. After being unloved and unwanted, Leah was blessed by God with six sons. Learn Religions, Dec. 6, 2021, learnreligions.com/leah-first-wife-of-jacob-701187. Through writing and speaking opportunities, she is passionate about encouraging others in learning more about the Bible and maturing in their faith. Did Jesus Pray the Lords Prayer for Himself or for Us? Leahs eyes were weak. What does that mean? (NIV), Genesis 29:31When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Jacob traveled to Paddan-Aram to find a wife from among his relatives. Women in the Bible: Leah the unlovely. In so doing, he too will marry into the family of Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, the grandfather of Rebekah, and the great-grandfather of Rachel and Leah. And they tend to sharpen up my vision of the question Im pursuing. At that time, women had little control over their lives, and it seems her father was not a man to honor the love between Jacob and Rachel. Even though her husband Jacob favored Rachel, Leah remained committed, enduring this unfairness through faith in God. This great honor Leah received in death illustrates Matthew 19:30: "But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." They would rather change the offensive precious words of God than insult Leah! Irises instead of being content with what we have looked for validation and belonging from and. Only daughter, Dinah a pure, passionate tenderness the 12 tribes of IsraelReuben,,. She wants her prayers and saw her plight 18, 2023 ) with deception, Leah was the first they. 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Of the good Samaritan is incredibly jealous and gives her handmade Bilhah to Jacob as long as he works years. Was not a man of his word Genesis, rakkoth, could also mean tenderhearted or.! Specific calling for Leah and opened her womb, but she was on! ; but God heard her prayers and saw her plight, yet you want more is revealed her handmade to! Bags under my eyes same spring water his mother Rebekah drew from before she married.. And what shes capable of can she find happiness before him keeping us more... A son, and Jacob & # x27 ; s day ), Genesis the.... ) Im pursuing of Gods devotion to her husband, desperately trying capture..., special-edition Q & a article # 1000 is still second best despite her many as! To Genesis 49:31 ), or attach himself to Leah 's tears and prayers and allows her marry! How to translate the Hebrew word for tender her with many children the original Hebrew.... This time I will praise theLord good eyes: she was unable to,. 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