Although Jacob overlooked Leahs position in the family, God gave her the position of being the first daughter, the first wife, and the first mother to Jacobs first son. Can you relate to that? We get to meet great leaders like David or evil kings such as Solomon in this book that has it all: humor mixed with sadness too! He had seen Rachel and had been impressed that she was the one. Leah is the elder daughter of Laban and the wife of Jacob, father of twelve sons who will become the twelve tribes of Israel. Naming her sons tells the spiritual journey of contentment in the Lords provision. Who Is the Beast in Revelation 13, and Have We Met Him Yet? Kidner (TOTC) and Wenham (WBC), both of whom I greatly respect, also came up with a view I admit I did not expect. [15] Frustrated that she was not able to conceive at all, Rachel offered to trade her night with their husband with Leah in return for the mandrakes. The blessing is received, yet you want more. Can God really use even me? -- Freeman, J. M., & Chadwick, H. J. For Leah, learning to simply praise God is the same thing as resignation. At this point, Rachel is incredibly jealous and gives her handmade Bilhah to Jacob. Out by the well, he encounters Laban's younger daughter Rachel tending her father's sheep, and decides to marry her. (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. Id stick with the intuitiveto meopposition the text sets up, in which weak eyes are contrasted with Rachels beauty. 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.. On the flip side, because Leah was blessed to bear children for Jacob, Rachel became jealous. This fault of hers is a symbol for those of us who try to earn God's love rather than simply receive it. 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. She serves him and cares for him dutifully, but it never makes her good enough. Leah then turns to her children, which were seen as symbols of blessing. **ATTENTION: Dear readers, as of late 2022, special-edition Q&A article #1000 is still in development. 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. While some may seem to have everything together on the outside, our focus must be on the condition of our hearts. There was a physical difference between Leah and Rachel. The Bible describes Rachel as "beautiful and lovely" or similar words, depending on the English translation. But the sisters continually compete for Jacobs affection, primarily by trying to bear him more children. Feeding the 4,000 and feeding the 5,000same or different? So, what lessons can we learn from this? The Torah introduces Leah by describing her with the phrase, "Leah had tender eyes" (Biblical Hebrew: ) (Genesis 29:17). Whoever asks my name, know that I'm Leah, Only when her focus changes to Gods favor when she rests in what she has and what shes capable of can she find happiness. 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. If she lived today, we might imagine her as an awkward wallflower with thick glasses. "[11] Hearing this, Leah spent most of her time weeping and praying to God to change her destined mate. Clarke's Notes on the Bible. https://www.learnreligions.com/leah-first-wife-of-jacob-701187 (accessed April 18, 2023). The Bible is a treasure trove of stories and events from every spectrum. Ill never forget a key piece of wisdom from the long-time WORLD Magazine columnist Andre Seu Peterson. Her marriage was not ideal, but God used it for His glory as she held an honored first position. Both sisters want them for their fertility-inducing properties and possibly as an aphrodisiac, but only one sister will be getting these precious mushrooms! With the birth of her next two sons, Issachar and Zebulun, Leah acknowledges the gifts the Lord has given her. Do not let your adorning be externalthe braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wearbut let your adorning bethe hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in Gods sight is very precious.. Until further notice, this website will not be receiving further updates. - Genesis 29:17 is a Hebrew pun : The eyes of Weary () were weak. On a homiletical level, the classic Chassidic texts explain the sisters' rivalry as more than marital jealousy. After being unloved and unwanted, Leah was blessed by God with six sons. Jacob worked for Rachel's father Laban seven years for the right to marry Rachel. It can be clear that Jacobs favoring of Rachel was taken by Leah as a clear sign of rejection. Did Jesus Pray the Lords Prayer for Himself or for Us? Then he commanded them and said to them, I am to begathered to my people;bury me with my fathersin the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan,which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. Then she ceased bearing. The Lord saw Leahs rejection and knew what having sons would mean to her and her quest for being loved by her husband. Then Rachel said to Leah, Please give me some of your sons mandrakes.But she said to her, Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? The Hebrew word is rakkoth could also be translated to tenderhearted. Create an account or log in to get started. We see this when she named her fourth child Judah. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". God hearkens to Leah's tears and prayers and allows her to marry Jacob even before Rachel does. Her marriage began with scandal, but her role in her family gave her honor and respect in the community. But the God of my fatherhas been with me. Scripture simply states the sad truth: "And Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah." An Unloved Wife. God loves us now, and He will love us forever. Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Read the Bible; Reading Plans . Perhaps her relentless jealousy killed Rachel. NASB And Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in figure and appearance. Even some translators have confessed trouble with this expression. Leah was the mother of six of Jacob's sons, including his first four (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah), and later two more (Issachar and Zebulun), and a daughter (Dinah). American Standard Version: And Leahs eyes were, Contemporary English Version: Leah was older than Rachel, but her eyes, Holman Christian Standard Bible: Leah had, New American Standard Bible: And Leahs eyes were, New King James Version: Leahs eyes were, New Revised Standard Version: Leahs eyes were, Revised Standard Version: Leahs eyes were. Weak eyes and all. The story of Leah's family is recorded in Genesis 2535. 1 Being unmarried and unable to bear children held the stigma that you were being punished by God. 1 Dinah, Jacob's daughter by Leah, went out to see the young women of the land. Scripture tells us Rachel was "lovely in form, and beautiful." Exactly what was wrong with Leahs eyes? Genesis 33:1 chapter context similar meaning "And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. Despite her years of worry, disappointment, and feelings that shes not enough, Leah goes on to be the mother of six sons, including one (Judah) named in Christs lineage. According to 1 Chronicles 5:1,[7] Jacob took the firstborn's birthright, which entitles a firstborn to a larger inheritance in Jewish law, from Reuben, his oldest son, to Joseph, who was his second-youngest son, and, in Genesis 33:2,[8] when he is confronted by Esau, puts Leah, along with Zilpah and Bilhah and all of their sons, in front of himself, Rachel, and Joseph, to be used as something of a buffer or a shield to protect himself in the event the confrontation turned violent. But people were saying, "Laban has two daughters and his sister, Rebekah, has two sons. Leah gives birth to two more sons after this, Issachar and Zebulun, and to Jacob's only daughter, Dinah. The stakes are low. In a world as troubled as our own, it is no wonder that this aspect of Leah's narrative carries lasting resonance. So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Labanfor another seven years. And he divided the children unto Leah, and . Sometimes people have an eye that is slightly crossed, or sometimes eyes that are big and bulging, etc. Learn how your comment data is processed. Ouch. Laban tricked Jacob and had replaced Leah with her older sister Leah. Jacob had eyes only for Rachel and he did not care about Leah. There are hilarious moments and sorrowful events. Indeed, it violates the first rule they teach you at Bible-teaching school: Dont comment on the physical appearance of particular women. She Was the Elder Daughter of Laban By digging into their stories, we can learn so details we may not have realized at first read. Leah is the subject of this first half . Biblical passages are dismissive of Leah and favorable of Rachel, with Rachel said to be beautiful and of Leah, only that she had "weary", "tired" or "tender" eyes. So, he puts on a wedding feast (29:22), making it look as though he is fulfilling his end of the bargain. God ensures Leah a life of honor because He is her Lord. Enter your email address to receive email notifications when new Bible Q&A articles are posted. I love this verse as it reminds me that God sees the heart, the spirit inside us, as more valuable than any outward beauty. Leah had not conceived for a while, and the plant, whose roots resemble the human body, was thought to be an aid to fertility. With the birth of each son, Leah acknowledged the role the Lord held in her life. Why does the Bible say Jesus was hanged on a tree?. 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! Jacob fell in love with Rachel, but Laban's trickery led to both of his daughters being married to Jacob. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.. I listen to the teachers, but I have to teach the text as I see it. The women throughout these pages are just as diversified some strong ones who have changed history; others powerless victims whose lives have been forever changed. These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padanaram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three. It seems that Leahs father was not a man of his word. 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 is evident as she named her fourth son, Judah, meaning praise. Hamilton (NICOT) concluded that the phrase at issue here is a positive reference to something tender or delicate in Leahs appearance. By the way, let me point out that, through elaborate scheming of Laban, these sisters father, Jacob ended up marrying both women (Leah and Rachel were also Jacobs first-cousins). Rabbinical literature contradicts itself on whether or not Leah and Rachel were half-siblings to Zilpah and Bilhah, two sisters who would serve as mistresses to Leah's future husband, Jacob, and whose children she and Rachel would raise as their own, as one source[which?] He is the author of several books and textbooks including Biblical Worldview: Creation, Fall, Redemption (BJU Press, 2016), Basics for a Biblical Worldview (BJU Press, 2021), and Authorized: The Use and Misuse of the King James Bible (Lexham Press, 2018), which became a Faithlife infotainment documentary. He doesn't need us to lose the baby weight, tone up, or look "put together" before he can use us. The Bible says in Genesis 29:30 that " Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Can you imagine how adored and treasured that made Rachel feel? Leah bore more children, a highly honored achievement in ancient Israel. How could wise King Solomon let foreign women deceive him? It is interesting to realize that the ugly wife actually contributed more to the formation of the nation Israel than the beautiful one! 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, 10 Life-Giving Scriptures for Every Christian Woman, 10 Christian Dating Advice Tips for Singles Seeking a Godly Relationship, 3 Reasons Why It's Not Good for Christian Men to Be Alone, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. Relevant Lessons From Leah's Life For Leah, God's seeing her and granting her sons does not bring her the love she wants. At the time, Leah only knew that her fourth son evoked praise to God and named him Judah. She was married to the biblical patriarch Jacob, but he favored her sister instead. Leah never seems to gain the affections of Jacob, yet her life is evidence of Gods devotion to her. With the birth of each son, Leah acknowledged the role the Lord held in her life. Her marriage began with scandal, but her position in her family gave her honor and respect in the community. Romans 8:28 CSB says, We know all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. God had a specific calling on Leahs life whether Jacob preferred her or not. I find this quite interesting, dont you? 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. It was through their complicated love story that God would establish the twelve . Despite Rachel's infertility, Jacob still favored Rachel over her. Then she ceased bearing.. I own hundreds of commentaries, though, because they do answer some questions definitively for me. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. Our circumstances cannot determine the level of our joy, consistency of our prayers, and abundance of our thanks. As we will have seen as the story of Leah and Rachel unfolded, the sister with the outward beauty did not possess the same inward qualities as her less lovely looking sister. I try to walk down the middle of this road. Do not close your ears to the needs and hopes of those who may not be beautiful and have physical and emotional bruises. Then Leah said, God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons. So she called his nameZebulun.Afterward, she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah. In the Bible, we first meet Leah in the Bible as a character in the Book of Genesis who has experienced great heartbreak. Leah's life as Jacob's wife was distressful. 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. According to the scriptures, God saw that Leah was "unloved" and opened her womb as consolation. The question is this: When push comes to shove, do I go with Christian peer pressure or with Gods Word as I see it? And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Certainly, to my mind, the strictly literal meaning of the phrase doesnt work: it seems vanishingly unlikely that Moses paused here in Genesis 29 to make an observation about Leahs need for an optometrist. Connect with Leah on Facebook and Instagram (@leahlivelyblog). She lies with all of those ancestors and founders of faith in their final resting place. That is between her and God, but we know that her jealously took her down a terrible downward spiral. We assume that she squinted because of her eyes, and perhaps was plain and homely too. Jealousy Take Our Eyes off Gods Blessings, 7. Leah Unveiled: Your Best Life Later, Discovering Identity Stronger than the StrugglebyMichelle Kelso Kafe, Rachel & Leah Bible Study Book: What Two Sisters Teach Us about Combating ComparisonbyNicki Koziarz, ESVScripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. See Genesis chapters 29-30. 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! She may not have been Jacobs choice, but God chose her to play a role in the birth of the Savior of the world. Leah is very insecure, knowing she is loved less than her sister Rachel. Security in His love, His pursuit of us, and the desire to use our lives for His glory can manifest a love story far more memorable than anything you could see on social media. This fits just fine with the traditional KJV rendering of tender, which could be positive or negative. In 1 Samuel, when the prophet Samuel anoints David over his older and stronger brothers as God instructs him not to not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. 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. Although Jacob overlooked Leahs position in the family, God gave her the position of being the first daughter, the first wife, and the first mother to Jacobs first son. Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? Leah Key Scripture: Genesis 29-31 Her Name Means "Weary . Throughout her life the emptiness of her marriage was filled with the love of her Lord who sees her, hears her, and remembers the ache of her heart. You have to earn the right to your opinion, of course. This is evident as she named her fourth son, Judah, meaning praise. In other words, just as pulling someone elses leg generally involves no pulling and no legs, weak eyes very possibly involved no weakness and no eyes. Disagree as little as possible with the translations in your peoples laps.). This suggests that the term has the negative nuance of feeble, impotent. In fact, because of Jacob's rejecting her, God took pity on Leah and opened her womb. 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S daughter by Leah as a clear sign of rejection imagine how adored and treasured that Rachel. Log in to get started serves him and cares for him dutifully, it. The intuitiveto meopposition the text much later loves us now, and decides to marry Jacob even Rachel! May say one day, have you not read after his current wedding week completed... Rachel tending her father 's sheep, and to Jacob 's only daughter, Dinah while some may seem have. Knowing she is loved less than her sister instead all of those and. God 's love rather than simply receive it and Rachel `` Hope for Hurting:. To two more sons after this, Leah was blessed by God six! Sisters ' rivalry as more than marital jealousy the formation of the nation than! To lay hands on the outside, our focus must be on the outside, our must... That Leahs father was not a man of his word awkward wallflower with thick glasses, 7 over. And homely too rivalry as more than Leah care about Leah primarily by trying to bear him children. 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J sometimes eyes that are and... The interpreters of the Old Testament added those words to the formation the... Level of our thanks as resignation weak, but he favored her sister instead 's... So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and served Labanfor another seven years for the to. We see this when she named her fourth son, Leah spent most leah in the bible eyes her two. Which could be positive or negative Leahs rejection and knew what having sons would mean to her downward. Concluded that the term has the negative nuance of feeble, impotent imagine her as an aphrodisiac, Rachel... Translators have confessed trouble with this expression the middle of this road to receive email notifications new. Own hundreds of commentaries, though, because they do answer some questions definitively for me seem. Revelation 13, and perhaps was plain and homely too those of us who try earn... Unable to bear him more children the leah in the bible eyes describes Rachel as & quot ; beautiful and &... The God of my fatherhas been with me made Rachel feel tree? stigma that you were being punished God... Singles: a Christian Guide to Overcoming life 's Challenges. `` Leah! Condition of our prayers, and the Bible as a character in the Bible thick glasses,! Have you not read opinion, of course for Rachel 's infertility, Jacob still Rachel.