Leah is a significant figure in the Old Testament, known as the first wife of Jacob and the mother of six of the twelve tribes of Israel. Her account is primarily found in the Book of Genesis, chapters 29 through 35.

Family Background and Marriage to Jacob

Leah was the elder daughter of Laban, the brother of Rebekah, making her Jacob's cousin. The Bible describes Leah as having "weak eyes" (Genesis 29:17), a phrase that has been interpreted in various ways, often contrasting her with her younger sister Rachel, who was "shapely and beautiful."

Jacob, having fled from his brother Esau, arrived in Haran and fell in love with Rachel. He agreed to work for Laban for seven years to marry her. However, Laban deceived Jacob by substituting Leah for Rachel on the wedding night. When Jacob confronted Laban, he was told, "It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older" (Genesis 29:26). Jacob then agreed to work another seven years for Rachel, whom he married a week later.

Leah's Children

Leah's role as a matriarch is significant, as she bore Jacob six sons and a daughter. Her sons were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Each son's name reflects Leah's experiences and emotions, often expressing her desire for her husband's love and God's favor. For instance, upon the birth of her first son, Reuben, Leah said, "Because the LORD has seen my affliction, surely my husband will love me now" (Genesis 29:32).

Leah also bore a daughter named Dinah. Her sons became the heads of six of the twelve tribes of Israel, with Levi's descendants becoming the priestly tribe and Judah's line leading to King David and, ultimately, to Jesus Christ.

Leah's Relationship with Jacob and Rachel

Leah's marriage to Jacob was marked by tension and rivalry with her sister Rachel. Although Leah was Jacob's first wife, he loved Rachel more, which caused Leah much heartache. Despite this, Leah's fertility was seen as a blessing from God, who "saw that Leah was unloved" and "opened her womb" (Genesis 29:31).

The rivalry between Leah and Rachel extended to their children and their maids, Bilhah and Zilpah, whom they gave to Jacob as concubines to bear additional children. This complex family dynamic highlights the struggles and competition between the sisters.

Legacy and Burial

Leah's legacy is profound, as she is the mother of Judah, from whom the Davidic line and the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come. Her life reflects themes of God's providence and the reversal of human expectations, as the unloved wife became the mother of the priestly and royal tribes.

Leah was buried in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron, alongside the patriarchs and matriarchs of Israel. This burial place signifies her honored position within the family lineage, despite the challenges she faced during her life.

Leah's account is a testament to God's sovereignty and grace, demonstrating how He works through human imperfections to fulfill His divine purposes.Leah

weary; tired

Leah

(wearied), the daughter of Laban. (Genesis 29:16) The dullness or weakness of her eyes was so notable that it is mentioned as a contrast to the beautiful form and appearance of her younger sister Rachel. Her father took advantage of the opportunity which the local marriage rite afforded to pass her off in her sister's stead on the unconscious bridegroom, and excused himself to Jacob by alleging that the custom of the country forbade the younger sister to be given first in marriage. Jacob's preference of Rachel grew into hatred of Leah after he had married both sisters. Leah, however, bore to him in quick succession Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, then Issachar, Zebulun and Dinah, before Rachel had a child. She died some time after Jacob reached the south country in which his father Isaac lived. She was buried in the family grave in Machpelah, near Hebron. (Genesis 49:31) (B.C. about 1720.)

Leah

The elder daughter of Laban, and the first wife of Jacob, though less beloved than her sister Rachel. She had, through life, the remembrance of the deceit by which her father had imposed her upon Jacob. She was the mother of seven children, among whom were Reuben- Jacob's firstborn-and Judah, the ancestor of the leading tribe among the Jews, of the royal line, and of our Lord, Genesis 29:16-35; 30:1- 21. She is supposed to have died before the removal of the family into Egypt, Genesis 49:31.

Weary, the eldest daughter of Laban, and sister of Rachel (Genesis 29:16). Jacob took her to wife through a deceit of her father (Genesis 29:23). She was "tender-eyed" (17). She bore to Jacob six sons (32-35), also one daughter, Dinah (30:21). She accompanied Jacob into Canaan, and died there before the time of the going down into Egypt (Genesis 31), and was buried in the cave of Machpelah (49:31). LEAH

le'-a (le'ah; Leia, "weary," "dull"(?), "wild cow"): Rachel's sister, and the elder daughter of Laban (Genesis 29:16). We are told that her eyes were "tender" rakkoth). Gesenius renders it "weak," Septuagint astheneis; accordingly, she was weak-eyed, but by no means "blear-eyed" (compare Vulgate). Her eyes were lacking that luster which always and everywhere is looked upon as a conspicuous part of female beauty. Josephus (Ant., I, xix, 7) says of her, ten opsin ouk euprepe, which may safely be rendered, "she was of no comely countenance."

Leah became the wife of Jacob by a ruse on the part of her father, taking advantage of the oriental custom of heavily veiling the prospective bride. When taken to task by his irate son-in-law, Laban excused himself by stating it was against the rule of the place "to give the younger before the first-born" (Genesis 29:21-26). Although Rachel was plainly preferred by Jacob to Leah, still the latter bore him six sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah (Genesis 29:31), Issachar, Zebulun, and a daughter, Dinah (Genesis 30:17-21). Up to this time Rachel had not been blessed with children of her own. Thus the lesson is brought home to us that Yahweh has a special and kindly regard for the lowly and despised, provided they learn, through their troubles and afflictions, to look to Him for help and success. It seems that homely Leah was a person of deep-rooted piety and therefore better suited to become instrumental in carrying out the plans of Yahweh than her handsome, but worldly-minded, sister Rachel.

When Jacob decided to return to the "land of his fathers," both of his wives were ready to accompany him (Genesis 31:4, 14). Before they reached the end of their journey their courage was sorely tried at the time of the meeting between Jacob and his brother Esau. Although Leah was placed between the handmaids in the front, and Rachel with her son Joseph in the rear, she still cannot have derived much comfort from her position. We may well imagine her feeling of relief when she saw Esau and his 400 men returning to Seir (Genesis 33:2, 16).

According to Genesis 49:31, Leah was buried at Machpelah. We cannot know for a certainty that she died before Jacob's going down to Egypt, though it is very likely. If she went down with her husband and died in Egypt, he had her body sent to the family burying-place. Ruth 4:11 discloses the fact that her memory was not forgotten by future generations. When Boaz took Ruth for a wife the witnesses exclaimed, "Yahweh make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel."

William Baur

3812. Leah -- "weary," a wife of Jacob
... 3811, 3812. Leah. 3813 . "weary," a wife of Jacob. Transliteration: Leah
Phonetic Spelling: (lay-aw') Short Definition: Leah. Word ...
/hebrew/3812.htm - 6k

3485. Yissaskar -- perhaps "there is recompense," a son of Jacob ...
... perhaps "there is recompense," a son of Jacob and Leah, also a son of Obed-edom.
Transliteration: Yissaskar Phonetic Spelling: (yis-saw-kawr') Short Definition ...
/hebrew/3485.htm - 6k

2153. Zilpah -- one of Jacob's wives
... Zilpah. : from an unused root apparently meaning to trickle, as myrrh; fragrant
dropping; Zilpah, Leah's maid -- Zilpah. 2152, 2153. Zilpah. 2154 . ...
/hebrew/2153.htm - 6k

Laban had Two Daughters, Leah and Rachel; but Leah had Tender Eyes ...
... The Sacred History Of Sulpitius Severus. Book I. Chapter IX. Laban had
two daughters, Leah and Rachel; but Leah had tender eyes? ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter ix laban had two.htm

The Reason of the Order of the Sons of Leah.
... THE VISION The Reason of the Order of the Sons of Leah. Judah, Reuben,
Gad, Aser, constitute, as you see, the first quaternion of ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the reason of the order.htm

The Deceiver Deceived
... Tell me what shall be your wages?" Now Laban had two daughters: the name of
the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the deceiver deceived.htm

The Testament of Issachar Concerning Simplicity.
... [124] For Reuben [125] brought in mandrakes from the field, and Rachel met him and
took them. And Reuben wept, and at his voice Leah my mother came forth. ...
/.../v the testament of issachar concerning.htm

Chapter xxxiii
... So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two handmaidens. ...
Then comes Leah and her children; lastly, Joseph and Rachel. ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxiii.htm

The vision
... Since, then, the sons of Leah, both natural and adoptive, are double the number
of Rachel, for there are eight of the former, and only four of the latter ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the vision .htm

The Marriages of Jacob are a Figure of the Church.
... Now Leah is your people and synagogue; but Rachel is our Church. ... Leah was
weak-eyed; for the eyes of your souls are excessively weak. ...
/.../chapter cxxxiv the marriages of jacob.htm

Here Beginneth the Life of Isaac
... He had two daughters, the more was named Leah, and the less was called Rachel, but
Leah was blear-eyed, and Rachel was fair of visage and well-favored, whom ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/here beginneth the life of.htm

Meeting a Brother who had Been Wronged
... And he put the maid servants and their children in front, Leah and her
children next, and Rachel and her son Joseph in the rear. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/meeting a brother who had.htm

Chapter xxix
... Though "Rachel" signifies "ewe" and "Leah" "wild cow," that fact in itself does
not support the groundless contention that the early stages of the patriarchal ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxix.htm

Leah (30 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LEAH. le'-a (le'ah; Leia, "weary," "dull"(?),
wild cow"): Rachel's sister, and the elder daughter of Laban (Genesis 29:16). ...
/l/leah.htm - 19k

Leah's (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Leah's (5 Occurrences). Genesis 29:17 Leah's eyes
were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive. ...
/l/leah's.htm - 7k

Zilpah (7 Occurrences)
... Drooping, Leah's handmaid, and the mother of Gad and Asher (Genesis 30:9-13). ... Genesis
29:24 Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid. ...
/z/zilpah.htm - 9k

Maid-servant (49 Occurrences)
... woman;' (YLT). Genesis 29:24 and Laban giveth to her Zilpah, his maid-servant,
to Leah his daughter, a maid-servant. (YLT). Genesis ...
/m/maid-servant.htm - 22k

Maidservant (73 Occurrences)
... Abraham. (See NIV). Genesis 29:24 And Laban gave to her Zilpah, his maidservant,
to be maidservant to Leah his daughter. (DBY NIV). ...
/m/maidservant.htm - 28k

Rachel (42 Occurrences)
... price (29:17-20). But when the time had passed, Laban deceived Jacob by giving
him Leah instead of Rachel. When Jacob protested, Laban ...
/r/rachel.htm - 24k

Zebulun (46 Occurrences)
... Dwelling, the sixth and youngest son of Jacob and Leah (Genesis 30:20). ... Zebulun was
the 10th son of Jacob, the 6th borne to him by Leah in Paddan-aram. ...
/z/zebulun.htm - 29k

Levi (79 Occurrences)
... Adhesion. (1.) The third son of Jacob by Leah. ... le'-vi (Lewi; Leui; Westcott and Hort,
The New Testament in Greek Leuei): (1) The 3rd son of Jacob by Leah. ...
/l/levi.htm - 35k

Beareth (108 Occurrences)
... Genesis 29:32 and Leah conceiveth, and beareth a son, and calleth his name Reuben,
for she said, 'Because Jehovah hath looked on mine affliction; because now ...
/b/beareth.htm - 34k

Dinah (7 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Judged; vindicated, daughter of Jacob by Leah,
and sister of Simeon and Levi (Genesis 30:21). She was ...
/d/dinah.htm - 10k

Who was Leah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

How could Jacob not notice he married Leah instead of Rachel? | GotQuestions.org

What is the story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel? | GotQuestions.org

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