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. Many Bible experts say the verse refers to Leah's lack of attractiveness rather than her eyesight. This is evident as she named her fourth son, Judah, meaning praise. Leah (the woman nobody wants) is "disregarded" by her cousin, Jacob. Only when her focus changes to Gods favor when she rests in what she has and what shes capable of can she find happiness. 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. Perhaps having poor eyesight was itself considered unattractive in Jacobs day? He had seen Rachel and had been impressed that she was the one. Whatever she lacked in her marriage the world received a gift of a Savior through the abundant blessing of God. (2021, December 6). Jacob arrives in Haran and meets the younger sister, Rachel, at a well. Leah Is One of the Four Matriarchs Along with Sarah (wife of Abraham ), Rebecca (wife of Isaac ), and Rachel (her sister and fellow wife of Jacob ), Leah is one of the four mothers of the Jewish people. The battle between the two sisters comes to a head when Reuben finds mandrakes. Rachel's eyes were beautiful yet she could not see God's way. Kidner (TOTC) and Wenham (WBC), both of whom I greatly respect, also came up with a view I admit I did not expect. We assume that she squinted because of her eyes, and perhaps was plain and homely too. Leah said, God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband. So she called his name Issachar. 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. 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. Learn Religions. The whole reason I look at commentaries is that I need help, so I tend to turn to them when Im uncertain of the meaning of a given passage. When he meets the stunning shepherdess, Jacob is overcome with joy. Leah Lively is a wife and mother of four living in central Virginia. 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). Leah had not conceived for a while, and the plant, whose roots resemble the human body, was thought to be an aid to fertility. The question is this: When push comes to shove, do I go with Christian peer pressure or with Gods Word as I see it? She becomes a mother of seven, tenderly caring for and raising her children to be leaders of the tribes of Israel. 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. She is also mentioned in Ruth 4:11. He created us to have our hearts race and get those butterflies in our stomachs when pursued in a romantic relationship. She names her first son Reuben. Leah Is a Matriarch Unloved and unwanted, Leah was not only blessed by God with six sons and one daughter. 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. (NIV), Genesis 49:29-31Then he gave them these instructions: I am about to be gathered to my people. God had compassion on her and allowed her to become pregnant. You'd be the one contrasted with the beauty. 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. [9] It is argued as to whether the adjective "tender" () should be taken to mean "delicate and soft" or "weary".[10]. "Meet Leah: First Wife of Jacob." 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. Plug in, Turn on and Be En light ened! Zavada, Jack. In the light of day and the absence of a veil, the following day, the truth is revealed. 1 Dinah, Jacob's daughter by Leah, went out to see the young women of the land. Women in the Bible: Leah the unlovely. Each woman desired to grow spiritually in her avodat HaShem (service of God), and therefore sought closeness to the tzadik (Jacob) who is God's personal emissary in this world. Jacob loved and desired Rachel so much that he worked for Laban an additional seven years, a total of fourteen years to marry Rachel. This is what tender eyes meant to me in my childhood (see rabbit on left): Whatever the Hebrew saysand well get to that all-important pointthe English translations seem to me to be a bit uncertain what to say. 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). They send forth an uncertain sound. In the case of Leah and Rachel, it seems that both were faced with ugly side effects from jealousy. 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. Scripture simply states the sad truth: "And Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah." An Unloved Wife. Get a roundup of new Word by Word articles in your inbox each Friday. Who Is the Beast in Revelation 13, and Have We Met Him Yet? Why did Jesus say to throw the net on the right side? 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. Rachel and Leah, painting by James Tissot. If we never accomplish another impressive thing, his love for us anyway will suffice as a blessed assurance. She was a matriarch to Jesus Christ. 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. Leah was born in the town of Paddan-Aram, the oldest daughter of Laban, sister of Rachel, and niece of Rebekah. Scripture tells us Rachel was "lovely in form, and beautiful." The commentary of Rashi cites a Rabbinic interpretation of how Leah's eyes became weak. Both sisters want them for their fertility-inducing properties and possibly as an aphrodisiac, but only one sister will be getting these precious mushrooms! 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. 19 Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. There was a physical difference between Leah and Rachel. The blessing is received, yet you want more. 34 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she bore unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. King James Bible Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. The Torah introduces Leah by describing her with the phrase, "Leah had tender eyes" (Biblical Hebrew: ) (Genesis 29:17). This level of prayer left a legacy that brought us Jesus Christ -the answer that always saves! The sisters strike a deal. For Leah, learning to simply praise God is the same thing as resignation. The Lord saw Leahs rejection and knew what having sons would mean to her and her quest for being loved by her husband. God saw that she was unloved and allowed her to conceive. Leah was the mother of seven of Jacob's children. This is the same spring water his mother Rebekah drew from before she married Isaac. The chief recommendation of Leah was her soft and beautiful eyes . Meet Leah: First Wife of Jacob. Afterwards she gave birth to Zebulun and to a daughter, Dinah. This post is loaded with all kinds of Bible lists . Sometimes people have an eye that is slightly crossed, or sometimes eyes that are big and bulging, etc. Leahs tender heart made her the perfect candidate to fulfill Jacobs First Wife duties by bearing him many sons! Its then that God demonstrates howHefaithfully cherishes andHefaithfully pursues. Judah means acknowledgment (hodaah, as in modeh ani). His father, Isaac, had married a first cousin, once removed; Jacob will marry his matrilineal first cousins and his paternal second cousins, once removed. Leahs eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Have you ever felt rejected, left out, or ignored? Rachel envied Leah's tearful prayers, by which she merited to marry the tzaddik and bear six of his twelve sons. 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. And he divided the children unto Leah, and . Leah's story in the Bible is told in Genesis chapters 29-31, 33-35, 46, and 49. 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. Young's Literal Translation for Genesis 29:17. Her marriage was not ideal, but God used it for His glory as she held an honored first position. 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. Since God created humans, we have looked for validation and belonging from things and people who could never sustain it for us. The older daughter (Leah) will marry the older son (Esau), and the younger daughter (Rachel) will marry the younger son (Jacob). (NIV). 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. Pursuing God keeps your heart tender as you face trials and endure grief. Wouldnt you? The Bible is full of characters from every spectrum of life. 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! Perhaps her relentless jealousy killed Rachel. Id land without telling everybody where Id flown. 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 . Pursuing the Lord keeps your heart tender as you face trials and endure grief. 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. She was married to the biblical patriarch Jacob, but he favored her sister instead. Both sisters agree to leave their home and travel to Canaan with their husband, Jacob. It turns out his name is Jacob and he is looking for a worthy wife. 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." 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. Why does the Bible say Jesus was hanged on a tree?. Exactly what was wrong with Leahs eyes? 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 can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. Leah was Jacob's first wife, and the older sister of his second (and favored) wife Rachel. 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. Her third son she named Levi (now this time my husband will be attached to me). To add to the big name parade, Waltke agrees with Wenham. Leah continues to offer her heart to Jacob for many years. And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Later in the story, her words change from a piteous woe is me attitude to what good fortune! and how happy I am!. Her story illustrates that God often chooses to fulfill his plans and purposes by using those who are overlooked by others. The next morning, in the light of day and the absence of a veil, the truth is revealed. 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. 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. both young and fair; along a plain she gathered Instead of pining after Jacob and regarding herself as a disappointment, instead of hoping that her children would bestow worth upon her, with her fourth pregnancy, Leah proclaims, This time I will praise the Lord., The fourth son she names Judah. 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. When you see translations differ this much, youre probably dealing with a genuine ambiguity or obscurity in the Hebrew. With the birth of her next two sons, Issachar and Zebulun, Leah acknowledges the gifts the Lord has given her. God sees your heart and knows your hurts, disappointments, and wounds. It may have been, then, a delicate way of referring to something else about Leahs physical appearance entirely. But the God of my fatherhas been with me. Leah is the elder daughter of Laban and the wife of Jacob, father of twelve sons who will become the twelve tribes of Israel. After Jacob tricked his father and stole his brother's birthright ( Genesis 27:1-29 ), he was forced to flee to the home of his uncle Laban in Harran. (Perhaps she had dull or pale-colored irises instead of striking dark ones?) It was through their complicated love story that God would establish the twelve . Many of the stories about Leah in the Bible center around her turbulent relationship with her sister, Rachel, as they are both Jacobs wives. Rachel eventually became pregnant again, but sadly she died in childbirth. Leah's life as Jacob's wife was distressful. She is also someone many people can identify with. She lies with all of those ancestors and founders of faith in their final resting place. - Youngs Literal Bible And Leah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was of beautiful form and fair to look upon. As the mother of Judah, Leah was part of the ancestry that led to the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. She is the sister of Rachel and the cousin of Jacob. While their marriage began with deception, Leah was honored at her death by Jacob. Indeed, it violates the first rule they teach you at Bible-teaching school: Dont comment on the physical appearance of particular women. How long did it take for Israel to cross the Red Sea? Jacob traveled to Paddan-Aram to find a wife from among his relatives. What does Anathema Maranatha mean in 1 Corinthians 16:22? Genesis 3421st Century King James Version. Jealousy Take Our Eyes off Gods Blessings, 7. Leah chose to praise and be thankful for Gods role in her life. 17 and the eyes of Leah [are] tender, and Rachel hath been fair of form and fair of appearance. - Jewish Publication Society Bible What the Bible indicates here is that Jacob did not love Leah at all. She is the mother of Jacob's first son Reuben. For more detailed information, please visit ourAffiliate Disclaimerpage. 17 God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. Rachel became the mother of two other tribesJoseph and Benjamin. Through no fault of her own, she was not one of the "beautiful people" and it caused her a lifetime of heartache. 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! He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". Leah in the Bible is the older daughter of Laban and Jacob's first wife. According to this story, Leah was destined to marry Jacob's older twin brother, Esau. PREVIOUS Genesis 29:16 NEXT Genesis 29:18. The women in the Bible are just as diverse as the men. The Bible describes Rachel as "beautiful and lovely" or similar words, depending on the English translation. Thus the Torah describes her eyes as "soft" from weeping. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Leah is living at home with her father Laban and younger sister Rachel. 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. Jealousy take our eyes off Gods Blessings, 7 Jesus say to throw the net on the English.... 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