The blessing we see in Leahs life is that her dependence on Jacobs love and attention slowly turns toward God. I cant imagine what Leah was feeling, but I can imagine that she felt jealousy at that attention that Rachel received over her. She may not have been Jacobs choice, but God chose her to play a role in the birth of the Savior of the world. God had a special place in his heart for Leah. (1998). This level of prayer left a legacy that brought us Jesus Christ -the answer that always saves! [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 Leah fell short of the conventional standard of beauty in the ancient world. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. He is also a host for Logos Live and is an active YouTuber. I listen to the teachers, but I have to teach the text as I see it. The design of the inspired writer is to compare both the sisters together, that the balance may appear to be greatly in favour of Rachel. 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. Rachel and Leah, painting by James Tissot. 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. There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. One of those sons was Judah who was listed in Matthew 1 in the genealogy of King. 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. May theLordmake the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah,who togetherbuilt up the house of Israel. How could anyone be so heartless? They felt what they experienced firsthand and were on receiving end themselves. 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. Leah is living at home with her father Laban and younger sister Rachel. You have to earn the right to your opinion, of course. 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.. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. This is evident as she named her fourth son, Judah, meaning praise. Jacob arrives in Haran and meets the younger sister, Rachel, at a well. Jacob meets Rachel at a well (compare the stories of Zipporah and Rebekah) and falls in love. 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. Leahs tender heart made her the perfect candidate to fulfill Jacobs First Wife duties by bearing him many sons! Scripture simply states the sad truth: "And Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah." An Unloved Wife. God also has a calling on your life and will make all circumstances work together for your good. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. This page/post may contain affiliate links. She is the mother of Jacob's first son Reuben. As Leah named her sons, we glimpse her spiritual journey toward contentment in how the Lord provided for her. Leah Is Kindhearted In Genesis, Rachel is described by her outward appearance as beautiful. 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. And he divided the children unto Leah, and . Leah agreed, and that night she slept with Jacob and conceived Issachar. With faith securely holding on to His promises for our future happiness, may we be able to rest in the assurance that no matter what happens next year or five years from now, we are enough just as God sees fit to partner with Him today! Scripture tells us Rachel was "lovely in form, and beautiful." Then she ceased bearing. NIV Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. It is unclear whether Leah had any say in the matter. Many of the stories about Leah in the Bible center around her turbulent relationship with her sister, Rachel, as they are both Jacobs wives. God loves us unconditionally, with a pure, passionate tenderness. We see this when she named her fourth child Judah. As the mother of Judah, Leah was part of the ancestry that led to the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Leah was Jacob's first wife, and the older sister of his second (and favored) wife Rachel. On the flip side, because Leah was blessed to bear children for Jacob, Rachel became jealous. 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. And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. But people were saying, "Laban has two daughters and his sister, Rebekah, has two sons. 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. 2. StudyLght .org . 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 we never accomplish another impressive thing, his love for us anyway will suffice as a blessed assurance. However, Leah's eyes were weak from crying, for she feared that she would have to be married to the wicked Esau. Who Is the Beast in Revelation 13, and Have We Met Him Yet? Theres nothing to obey or disobey in Genesis 29:17. Laban has instead placed Leah in Jacobs arms instead of the sought-after Rachel. Jacob loved and desired Rachel so much that he worked for Laban an additional seven years, a total of fourteen years to marry Rachel. Its then that God demonstrates howHefaithfully cherishes andHefaithfully pursues. So lonely was she that even the Lord took notice of it and blessed her with many children as consolation. Leah Lively is a wife and mother of four living in central Virginia. In fact, because of Jacob's rejecting her, God took pity on Leah and opened her womb. 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). The conjunction but in the middle of this verse actually provides us with context clues to grasp the meaning of tender eyed. Rachel is said to be beautiful and well favoured. Butopposite of Rachels appearanceLeah is tender eyed. That is, Leah had eyes that were not special looking. According to this story, Leah was destined to marry Jacob's older twin brother, Esau. Leah, however, is described as having "weak eyes." As Rabbi Sarah Mack writes in T'Ruah, the Hebrew word in that passage could be translated in several ways, and the contextual clues here don't really help. Leah is a matriarch of her people and of Christ. 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. The chief recommendation of Leah was her soft and beautiful eyes . 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. Leah never seems to gain the affections of Jacob, yet her life is evidence of Gods devotion to her. Did Jesus Pray the Lords Prayer for Himself or for Us? At the time, Leah only knew that her fourth son evoked praise to God and named him Judah. However, Leah found favour in the eyes of God, He blessed her with children, while Rachel remained barren for a time. New King James Version Leah's eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. The sisters strike a deal. 3 And his soul cleaved unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved . When there is particular difficulty regarding a certain interpretation, I may offer some hedging, or I may walk listeners through some of the interpretive options. Jacob worked for Rachel's father Laban seven years for the right to marry Rachel. Clarke's Notes on the Bible. It is unclear whether Leah had any say in the matter. With the birth of her next two sons, Issachar and Zebulun, Leah acknowledges the gifts the Lord has given her. Were made to yearn for belonging and completion. [19] She is thought to be buried in the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron alongside Jacob. Learn Religions, Dec. 6, 2021, learnreligions.com/leah-first-wife-of-jacob-701187. - World English Bible and the eyes of Leah [are] tender, and Rachel hath been fair of form and fair of appearance. 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. Leah's first mention in the Bible comes in the story of Jacob. Can God really use even me? Ouch. Laban is willing to give Rachel's hand to Jacob as long as he works seven years for her. Love in the Bible: From God's Love to the Most Romantic Scriptures, A Profile of Abraham of the Jewish Nation, Meet Eve: The First Woman, Wife, and Mother of All the Living, 20 Bible Verses for Your Christian Wedding Ceremony, 13 Thank You Bible Verses to Express Your Appreciation, Meet Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. 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. This level of praise left a legacy which brought us a Savior. Many still tend to notice or focus physical characteristics over heart qualities. Leah in the Bible by John Foster Sometimes a woman of faith can feel unloved by her husband. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, This time I will praise theLord. Therefore she called his nameJudah. While Leah and Rachel competed for Jacobs attention, Leah is honored in her death as the first wife of Jacob. And they rule out some bad ideas that occur to me (or to others). "[11] Hearing this, Leah spent most of her time weeping and praying to God to change her destined mate. Perhaps she just looked listless, dull? We do know that she was the lesser loved of the two wives, he loved Rachel more than Leah (Genesis 29:30 CSB). (NIV). When Jacob arrives in Haran, he meets the younger sister, Rachel at a well. I love this verse as it reminds me that God sees the heart, the spirit inside us, as more valuable than any outward beauty. Later in the story, her words change from a piteous woe is me attitude to what good fortune! and how happy I am!. We meet great leaders and evil kings. 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. Story of Leah in the Bible Leah's name is variously said to mean "wild cow," "gazelle," "wearied," and "weary" in Hebrew. The Hebrew word is rakkoth could also be translated to tenderhearted. The women in the Bible are just as diverse as the men. To add to the big name parade, Waltke agrees with Wenham. 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. Today and in biblical times, contentment is not a prevalent quality. 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. I did get at least as far as Genesis 29 as an elementary schooler in my somewhat desultory attempts at Bible reading. Only when her focus changes to Gods favor when she rests in what she has and what shes capable of can she find happiness. and I apply my lovely hands to fashion 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. So, he puts on a wedding feast (29:22), making it look as though he is fulfilling his end of the bargain. The NLT opts for There was no sparkle in Leahs eyes. And two translations (NRSV, GNT) actually see the word as positive, translating it as lovely. So whos right? He created us to have our hearts race and get those butterflies in our stomachs when pursued in a romantic relationship. The Bible is a treasure trove of stories and events from every spectrum. If Id heard that others described me as having weak eyes and no other adjectives, Id probably feel hurt. 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. Sons and daughters could make her worthy. In biblical times, women had little control over their lives. We first learn that she was unloved and unfavored with a tender heart versus an attractive body. Have you ever felt rejected, left out, or ignored? What is the significance of The Parable of the Good Samaritan? Leah's life reminds us that God has given each of us everything we need, physically, to accomplish his purpose for our lives. The 66 books of the Bible list is a very handy printable when you read the Bible. 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. 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. Even some translators have confessed trouble with this expression. God also has a calling on your life and will make all circumstances work together for your good. Good Samaritan one of those sons was Judah who was listed in Matthew 1 in the.. Turns toward God to her lonely was she that even the Lord took notice of it and blessed with... To me ( or to others ) stories of Zipporah and Rebekah ) and falls in love can not the. For Logos Live and is an active YouTuber weak eyes and no other,. Well ( compare the stories of Zipporah and Rebekah ) and falls in love wife Rachel and meets younger... 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The text as I see it and his wife Sarah were buried and! Genesis 29:17 sixth son and Zebulun, Leah is Kindhearted in Genesis, Rachel became.., Yet her life is evidence of Gods devotion to her Rachel remained barren for a time Leah agreed and! Out some bad ideas that occur to me ( or to others ) ). Seems to gain the affections of Jacob, Yet her life is evidence of Gods to... Stomachs when pursued in a romantic relationship the daughter of Jacob one day have. Judah, meaning praise at Bible reading that is, Leah spent most of next. Side, because Leah was destined to marry Jacob 's older twin brother, Esau as readers to Christ...
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