3 And his soul cleaved unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved . Leah's story in the Bible is told in Genesis chapters 29-31, 33-35, 46, and 49. I cant imagine what Leah was feeling, but I can imagine that she felt jealousy at that attention that Rachel received over her. If she lived today, we might imagine her as an awkward wallflower with thick glasses. Scripture tells us Rachel was "lovely in form, and beautiful." Leah was tender-eyed raccoth, soft, delicate, lovely.I believe the word means just the reverse of the signification generally given to it. Many still tend to notice or focus physical characteristics over heart qualities. Laban tricked Jacob and had replaced Leah with her older sister Leah. 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. The chief recommendation of Leah was her soft and beautiful eyes . This book was named from the author who was an eye witness to Jesus's life and ministry. Story of Leah in the Bible 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. 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. Meet Leah: First Wife of Jacob. God also has a calling on your life and will make all circumstances work together for your good. Shes buried in a place of honor alongside Jacob, at the site of his ancestors, including Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah. Wouldnt you? Leah will give Rachel the mandrakes in return for a night with 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. There was a physical difference between Leah and Rachel. This is the same spring water his mother Rebekah drew from before she married Isaac. He continued to pursue her heart, even if no one else did. Even after Rachel's death, Leah's situation did not improve, as Jacob took Bilhah, Rachel's handmaiden, as his primary partner. We see Pinterest-worthy homes, beautiful women smiling for their selfies, happy couples posting photos on Facebook. Leah is a matriarch of her people and of Christ. Leah gave birth to six of the 12 tribes of IsraelReuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Probably she suffered, as so many do in that hot sandy region, from some form of ophthalmia. She was not the preferred wife, often forgotten by her husband as his attention remained with Rachel, but at the end of her life, Leah was honored by Jacob as she was laid to rest with her fellow matriarchs and patriarchs of faith. a garland of the flowers I have gathered. 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. Scripture simply states the sad truth: "And Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah." An Unloved Wife. Learn Religions, Dec. 6, 2021, learnreligions.com/leah-first-wife-of-jacob-701187. Her second son she named Simeon (the Lord has heard that I am hated). As we saw in the case of Rachel, the security one would expect a person to have that is seen as beautiful in form and appearance was temporary as her jealousy grew. [21] Dante Alighieri's Purgatorio includes a dream of Rachel and Leah, which inspired illustrations by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and others: " in my dream, I seemed to see a woman This fits just fine with the traditional KJV rendering of tender, which could be positive or negative. Thus God hastaken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. While others may appear to have everything together on the outside, focus on the condition of your heart. For Leah, learning to simply praise God is the same thing as resignation. Leahs role as a wife tends to her husband, desperately trying to capture his heart. The question is this: When push comes to shove, do I go with Christian peer pressure or with Gods Word as I see it? Do not close your ears to the needs and hopes of those who may not be beautiful and have physical and emotional bruises. It is unclear whether Leah had any say in the matter. May we be reminded that Gods plan for our lives doesnt always end up with us being Miss Universe, the most popular, or having the nicest house on the block. Sadly, can you imagine how that made Leah feel? Leah's "soft" eyes are eventually mirrored in the eyes of the earthly Jesus. The Bible describes Rachel as "beautiful and lovely" or similar words, depending on the English translation. In a world as troubled as our own, it is no wonder that this aspect of Leah's narrative carries lasting resonance. Can you imagine how adored and treasured that made Rachel feel? The Bible says in Genesis 29:17: Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. What does Scripture mean that Leah was tender eyed? It is a difficult verse at first glance. In biblical times, women had little control over their lives. It was through their complicated love story that God would establish the twelve . Leah felt unloved. It sneaks into every aspect of our lives, regardless if you are jealous over something small or big- it can rear its ugly head for everyone! Laban is willing to give Rachel's hand to Jacob as long as he works seven years for her. Perhaps she just looked listless, dull? Leah first appears in the Book of Genesis, in Genesis 29, which describes her as the daughter of Laban and the older sister of Rachel, and is said to not compare to Rachel's physical beauty and that she has tender eyes. The stakes are low. Leahs role as wife is one that tends to her husband, desperately trying to capture his heart. Being unmarried and unable to bear children held the stigma that you were being punished by God. Sons and daughters could make her worthy. The sisters strike a deal. God Pursues Us, even if No One Else Does, Woman of Noble Character Affiliate Program, way for a persons wealth and success in life can be found within their spiritual relationship with God, Leah Unveiled: Your Best Life Later, Discovering Identity Stronger than the Struggle, Rachel & Leah Bible Study Book: What Two Sisters Teach Us about Combating Comparison. According to the scriptures, God saw that Leah was "unloved" and opened her womb as consolation. When you see translations differ this much, youre probably dealing with a genuine ambiguity or obscurity in the Hebrew. His father, Isaac, had married a first cousin, once removed; Jacob will marry his matrilineal first cousins and his paternal second cousins, once removed. They do indeed take the phrase more literally. It can be clear that Jacobs favoring of Rachel was taken by Leah as a clear sign of rejection. In the Bible, we first meet Leah in the Bible as a character in the Book of Genesis who has experienced great heartbreak. According to this story, Leah was destined to marry Jacob's older twin brother, Esau. Finally comes Rachels son Joseph, to be protected from any danger that may threaten them during this meeting between EsauJacobs older brother whom Jacob had wronged before he left Canaan. God saw that she was unloved and allowed her to conceive. What happened to those saints raised from the dead in Matthew 27:52-53? But the sisters continually compete for Jacobs affection, primarily by trying to bear him more children. Feeling overlooked or not good enough can be a deep hurt and can snowball into feelings of being less than, forgotten, or the fear of not being wanted. Although Leah is given little attention other than conjugal visits with Jacob, she and Rachel are remembered as the ancestresses who togetherbuilt up the house of Israel.. Genesis 29:17 Most of us have read the passage above about Jacob's wives as describing Leah's bad eyesight. 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." God used her marriage for His glory even though it wasnt an ideal situation. You know that I have served your father with all my strength,yet your father has cheated me and changed my wagesten times. Disagree as little as possible with the translations in your peoples laps.). and I apply my lovely hands to fashion 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. God placed her first and blessed her abundantly. 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). Why did Jesus say to throw the net on the right side? Ive puzzled over this phrase since I was a kid. both young and fair; along a plain she gathered God had a special place in his heart for Leah. The women in the Bible are just as diverse as the men. We must rejoice, pray, and give thanks for who God is not based on our current circumstances. Leah fell short of the conventional standard of beauty in the ancient world. Young's Literal Translation for Genesis 29:17. 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. One of those sons was Judah who was listed in Matthew 1 in the genealogy of King David, King Solomon, and the King of Kings Jesus Christ. 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. (Physical appearance is irrelevant in Gods eyes. We wont be promised a trial-free life but what God gives us is so much more. That Leah's eyes were compared to Rachel's beauty obviously meant there was no beauty in them and that Leah herself was probably plain in face and form compared to her sister. Her story illustrates that God often chooses to fulfill his plans and purposes by using those who are overlooked by others. Leah's name is variously said to mean "wild cow," "gazelle," "wearied," and "weary" in Hebrew. 17 and the eyes of Leah [are] tender, and Rachel hath been fair of form and fair of appearance. In Genesis 49:29-33, we learn that Leah is buried in a cave with Jacobs parents (Rebekah and Isaac) and grandparents (Sarah and Abraham). 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. 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. In the light of day and the absence of a veil, the following day, the truth is revealed. May theLordmake the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah,who togetherbuilt up the house of Israel. 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. 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? Theres nothing to obey or disobey in Genesis 29:17. But both women made the same mistake as Sarah, offering their maidservants to Jacob during times of barrenness. Rachel's eyes were beautiful yet she could not see God's way. Sometimes people have an eye that is slightly crossed, or sometimes eyes that are big and bulging, etc. She said to Jacob, Give me children, or I shall die!. And second, Leah is "discarded" by her father, Laban (29:21-27). 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. And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 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. He is also a host for Logos Live and is an active YouTuber. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. [18], Leah died some time before Jacob (according to Genesis 49:31). Leahs tender heart made her the perfect candidate to fulfill Jacobs First Wife duties by bearing him many sons! [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. We assume that she squinted because of her eyes, and perhaps was plain and homely too. Leah never seems to gain the affections of Jacob, yet her life is evidence of Gods devotion to her. But people were saying, "Laban has two daughters and his sister, Rebekah, has two sons. And we know that for those who love God all things work togetherfor good, forthose who are called according to his purpose. NIV Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. She is also someone many people can identify with. 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. 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. Since God created humans, we have looked for validation and belonging from things and people who could never sustain it for us. 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. Leah was older, had weak or delicate eyes, and apparently was not attractive. 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). God chose and elevated those whose hearts are pure before him. But I, of course, also turned to that glorious army, the commentators. One day a stranger visits their home. This level of praise left a legacy which brought us a Savior. Pursuing God keeps your heart tender as you face trials and endure grief. 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). According to some commentaries, Bilhah and Zilpah are actually half-sisters of Leah and Rachel.[14]. It seems that Leahs father was not a man of his word. Leah in the Bible is the older daughter of Laban and Jacob's first wife. However, Leah found favour in the eyes of God, He blessed her with children, while Rachel remained barren for a time. I did get at least as far as Genesis 29 as an elementary schooler in my somewhat desultory attempts at Bible reading. There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. Leah and her sister Rachel, whose names mean "cow" and "ewe," give Jacob many sons; and their father gives him actual live-stock. The world is always trying to get us hooked on material things, but the best way for a persons wealth and success in life can be found within their spiritual relationship with God. Because Leahs story in the Bible is so intertwined with that of her sister, Rachel, and their husband, Jacob, she often goes unnoticed, living in the shadows. And Wenham sees this as the majority view among commentators: Leahs eyes had no sparkle. Then all the people who wereat the gate and the elders said, We are witnesses. 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