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. [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 It seems that Leahs father was not a man of his word. 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. Rachel became the mother of two other tribesJoseph and Benjamin. 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. He doesn't need us to lose the baby weight, tone up, or look "put together" before he can use us. Privacy Policy | Bamboo on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Here are 10 Lessons We Can Learn from Leah in the Bible, 6. How could wise King Solomon let foreign women deceive him? [1] 3 He had a strong desire for Dinah, [2] the daughter of Jacob, and he was in love with the young woman and spoke . Sometimes it is difficult not to compare ourselves to these picture-perfect women. In Leahs story, we can be encouraged that a life redeemed can not occur with the perfect spouse or an abundance of children but with a heart that is tender and surrendered to God. Leah Is a Matriarch Unloved and unwanted, Leah was not only blessed by God with six sons and one daughter. 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. Several, including the well-regarded CSB, stick with the KJVs tender. But others try a different tack, with weak being probably the most popular choice (NIV, ESV, NASB). 20 Then Leah said, "God has presented me with a precious gift. Leah eventually has two more sons with Jacob, Issachar and Zebulon, and Jacob's only daughter, Dinah. Women in the Bible: Leah the unlovely. Her marriage was not ideal, but God used it for His glory as she held an honored first position. 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. It is unclear whether Leah had any say in the matter. Leah agreed, and that night she slept with Jacob and conceived Issachar. 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.. Read the Bible; Reading Plans . God had a specific calling for Leah and her life, whether Jacob favored her. That seems logical since a contrast is made with her beautiful sister Rachel. Leah writes on her blog at leahlivelyblog.com and just released her second Bible study, 30 Days in Acts A Journey: Igniting the Flame of the Early Church. By marrying Jacob and bearing his sons, who would be raised in the tzadik's home and continue his mission into the next generation (indeed, all 12 sons became tzadikim in their own right and formed the foundation of the Nation of Israel), they would develop an even closer relationship to God. When he meets the stunning shepherdess, Jacob is overcome with joy. He is also a host for Logos Live and is an active YouTuber. The question is this: When push comes to shove, do I go with Christian peer pressure or with Gods Word as I see it? You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. The oldest daughter of Laban, she was plain looking and may have had poor eyesight, but she was dutiful and virtuous. God saw that she was unloved and allowed her to conceive. Leah is identified as having "tender eyes." Other translations describe her as weak, delicate, ordinary, or plain. God had compassion on her and allowed her to become pregnant. both young and fair; along a plain she gathered One day a stranger visits their home. 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. They go together, but Leah is still second best despite her many children. Learn Religions, Dec. 6, 2021, learnreligions.com/leah-first-wife-of-jacob-701187. And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. They felt what they experienced firsthand and were on receiving end themselves. [9] It is argued as to whether the adjective "tender" () should be taken to mean "delicate and soft" or "weary".[10]. Leah's eyes, in their views, were either weak in power or color (Kidner) or in sparkle or fire (Wenham). When theLordsaw that Leah washated,he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Read Genesis (YLT) Read Genesis 29:17 (YLT) in Parallel. 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. So, what lessons can we learn from this? He negotiates with Laban to serve him 7 years for Rachel's hand in marriage. You'd be the one contrasted with the beauty. God placed her first and blessed her abundantly. Jealousy can be an ugly feeling that we all share. Both sisters eventually bore Jacob many sons, and Jacobs twelve sons would become the twelve tribes of Israel. Then she ceased bearing.. 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. "Meet Leah: First Wife of Jacob." Thus the Torah describes her eyes as "soft" from weeping. Contact Us (Mailing Address for Donations). Leahs eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful. This verse sets up a contrast, and as in all language, so in the Bible: you interpret the unclear in light of the clear. Genesis 29:17 Most of us have read the passage above about Jacob's wives as describing Leah's bad eyesight. Leah coarsely announces to Jacob that she has hired him with the mandrakes, and Jacob spends the night with her. He continued to pursue her heart, even if no one else did. So she named him Issachar. Also see: -- Freeman, J. M., & Chadwick, H. J. Her children led half of the tribes of Israel. 17 God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. In fact, because of Jacob's rejecting her, God took pity on Leah and opened her womb. With the birth of her next two sons, Issachar and Zebulun, Leah acknowledges the gifts the Lord has given her. The name Judah in Hebrew is Yehudah. And they tend to sharpen up my vision of the question Im pursuing. She conceived again and bore a son and said, Because theLordhas heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also. And she called his name Simeon. [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. All my obediences to received practice are suspect when I balk at the one point where conscience makes a contrary demand. Leah was tender-eyed raccoth, soft, delicate, lovely.I believe the word means just the reverse of the signification generally given to it. But all of this is just part of his "seven year" plan. Her marriage began with scandal, but her role in her family gave her honor and respect in the community. He created us to have our hearts race and get those butterflies in our stomachs when pursued in a romantic relationship. And he divided the children unto Leah, and . While Jacob may have settled for Leah, Leah herself doesnt settle. God had a special place in his heart for Leah. When Rachel saw thatshe bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. But I, of course, also turned to that glorious army, the commentators. Leahs role as a wife tends to her husband, desperately trying to capture his heart. Even some translators have confessed trouble with this expression. In Hebrews 11:17-18 CSB, it says Your (Abrahams) offspring will be called through Isaac.. 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. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Leah tried to make Jacob love her through her deeds. She was married to the biblical patriarch Jacob, but he favored her sister instead. The blessing is received, yet you want more. (NIV), Genesis 29:31When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. In the light of day and the absence of a veil, the following day, the truth is revealed. You know that I have served your father with all my strength,yet your father has cheated me and changed my wagesten times. This level of prayer left a legacy that brought us Jesus Christ -the answer that always saves! 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. Another example of typical, modern-day, watering-down of Gods Word within scholarly circles! Exactly what was wrong with Leahs eyes? 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? [12] Laban offers to give Rachel to Jacob in marriage in return for another seven years of work (Genesis 29:27). 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.. You have to earn the right to your opinion, of course. lists them as being daughters of Laban, but not his wife Adinah, and another lists them as being the daughters of Rotheus, a man who was close to Laban but not related to him. She becomes a mother of seven, tenderly caring for and raising her children to be leaders of the tribes of Israel. 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. 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. [19] She is thought to be buried in the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron alongside Jacob. But God did not permit him to harm me.If he said,The spotted shall be your wages, then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, The striped shall be your wages, then all the flock bore striped. Rachel was younger and had a beautiful face and figure. 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