Its okay for Genesis, of course, because the words of Moses here are divinely inspired, they form a key plot point, and the women are not in the room. Then she ceased bearing. We are enough because he lets us off the hook of striving and comparing. After seven years, the wedding finally arrives, and the veiled bride eventually becomes Jacobs wife. And when you see them differ on an apparent figure of speech, youre probably dealing with a Hebrew idiom: A fairly fixed speech form or expression that cannot be understood grammatically from its constituents parts but whose elements function as a set with a meaning peculiar to itself (Pocket Dictionary for the Study of New Testament Greek). Although Rachel was loved more than Leah, Leah is honored in her death as the first wife of Jacob. Judah means acknowledgment (hodaah, as in modeh ani). 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. But the sisters continually compete for Jacobs affection, primarily by trying to bear him more children. Leah is identified as having tender eyes. Other translations describe her as weak, delicate, ordinary, or plain. (NIV), Genesis 29:31When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 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. Whatever she lacked in her marriage the world received a gift of a Savior through the abundant blessing of God. Rachel was younger and had a beautiful face and figure. However, Leah's eyes were weak from crying, for she feared that she would have to be married to the wicked Esau. Weak eyes and all. 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. But both women made the same mistake as Sarah, offering their maidservants to Jacob during times of barrenness. I find this quite interesting, dont you? (Genesis 29:17, NIV), In the same verse is a description of Leah that scholars have been arguing about for centuries:"Leah had weak eyes." The Lord chooses and elevates those whose hearts are pure before him. Rachel eventually became pregnant again, but sadly she died in childbirth. We can see her dashed hopes because each time she conceives a son with Jacob, she pins her future happiness on them. Another example of typical, modern-day, watering-down of Gods Word within scholarly circles! Perhaps she just looked listless, dull? There are hilarious moments and sorrowful events. The commentary of Rashi cites a Rabbinic interpretation of how Leah's eyes became weak. For theLordsees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance,but theLordlooks on the heart.. Perhaps she just looked listless, dull? Leahs role as a wife tends to her husband, desperately trying to capture his heart. God loves us unconditionally, with a pure, passionate tenderness. How long did it take for Israel to cross the Red Sea? God chose and elevated those whose hearts are pure before him. We must rejoice, pray, and give thanks for who God is not based on our current circumstances. She lies with all of those ancestors and founders of faith in their final resting place. 3 And his soul cleaved unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved . Jacob meets Rachel at a well (compare the stories of Zipporah and Rebekah) and falls in love. Of course, Laban is to blame for this situation, but most of us can agree that Leah felt rejected or less than. Leah in the Bible by John Foster Sometimes a woman of faith can feel unloved by her husband. We can't blame Jacob. Unconditionally. - Webster's Bible Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive. God loves us now, and He will love us forever. 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. Even after Rachel's death, Leah's situation did not improve, as Jacob took Bilhah, Rachel's handmaiden, as his primary partner. Genesis 29:23But when evening came, he (Laban) took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and Jacob lay with her. both young and fair; along a plain she gathered 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). At this point, Rachel is incredibly jealous and gives her handmade Bilhah to Jacob. 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. 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. Leahs tender heart made her the perfect candidate to fulfill Jacobs First Wife duties by bearing him many sons! Disagree as little as possible with the translations in your peoples laps.). Leah was the mother of seven of Jacob's children. With the birth of her next two sons, Issachar and Zebulun, Leah acknowledges the gifts the Lord has given her. Sadly, can you imagine how that made Leah feel? Have you ever felt rejected, left out, or ignored? - Jewish Publication Society Bible Learn Religions. How could anyone be so heartless? (NIV), Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. God loved Leah and accepted her just as she was. Was Leah visually impaired? (1998). Through her sons Levi and Judah, she is thus the matriarch of both the priestly (Levite) and royal (Judahite) tribes in Israel. 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. The interpreters of the Old Testament added those words to the text much later. But people were saying, "Laban has two daughters and his sister, Rebekah, has two sons. 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. 18 Then Leah said, "God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.". Learn how your comment data is processed. The blessing we see in Leahs life is that her dependence on Jacobs love and attention slowly turns toward God. This post is loaded with all kinds of Bible lists . 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? 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). So lonely was she that even the Lord took notice of it and blessed her with many children as consolation. But all of this is just part of his "seven year" plan. Verse Genesis 29:17. By digging into their stories, we can learn so details we may not have realized at first read. Here are 5 surprising facts about Leah that take her story from deep sorrow to eternal joy: In Genesis 29:13 CSB Rachel is described by her outward appearance as shapely and beautiful. Leah is identified as having tender eyes. Other translations say weak, delicate, ordinary, or plain. She is also someone many people can identify with. Leah[a] (/le./; /li/) appears in the Hebrew Bible as one of the two wives of the Biblical patriarch Jacob. As Jacob's wife, Leah bore him six sons:Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. Two Men Encounter the Bible from Very Different Circumstances. Leah was buried with fellow women who were not perfect, but worthy of honor because they birthed sons who fulfilled Gods promise to Abraham. However, Jacob has no money to offer Rachels father Laban a bride price, so he arranges to work for him for seven years to marry her. According to this story, Leah was destined to marry Jacob's older twin brother, Esau. In the Bible, Leah is the daughter of Laban and the sister of Rachel. She may not have been Jacobs choice, but God chose her to play a role in the birth of the Savior of the world. Perhaps having poor eyesight was itself considered unattractive in Jacobs day? 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. Connect with Leah on Facebook and Instagram (@leahlivelyblog). He doesn't need us to lose the baby weight, tone up, or look "put together" before he can use us. And if Im uncertain, I find, often enough so are theytaken collectively, that is. At the time, Leah only knew that her fourth son evoked praise to God and named him Judah. Leah's story in the Bible is told in Genesis chapters 29-31, 33-35, 46, and 49. The stakes are low. Can God really use even me? It may have been, then, a delicate way of referring to something else about Leahs physical appearance entirely. How could wise King Solomon let foreign women deceive him? The older daughter (Leah) will marry the older son (Esau), and the younger daughter (Rachel) will marry the younger son (Jacob). Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. 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. God placed her first and blessed her abundantly. She is the sister of Rachel and the cousin of Jacob. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, This time I will praise theLord. Therefore she called his nameJudah. [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. They go together, but Leah is still second best despite her many children. God ensures Leah a life of honor because He is her Lord. Afterwards she gave birth to Zebulun and to a daughter, Dinah. Unloved and unwanted, Leah was not only blessed by God with six sons and one daughter. Through writing and speaking opportunities, she is passionate about encouraging others in learning more about the Bible and maturing in their faith. Leah is very insecure, knowing she is loved less than her sister Rachel. - Youngs Literal Bible And Leah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was of beautiful form and fair to look upon. Laban tricked Jacob and had replaced Leah with her older sister Leah. [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. 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). Clarke's Notes on the Bible. God hearkens to Leah's tears and prayers and allows her to marry Jacob even before Rachel does. 20 Then Leah said, "God has presented me with a precious gift. 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. When theLordsaw that Leah washated,he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Even some translators have confessed trouble with this expression. Leah was a loving and faithful wife. Leah's life as Jacob's wife was distressful. Offspring who would build a nation to receive Gods greatest inheritance, eternal life through Jesus Christ. Bible reading from Genesis 34 (EHV) Dinah and Shechem. Id stick with the intuitiveto meopposition the text sets up, in which weak eyes are contrasted with Rachels beauty. Many Bible experts say the verse refers to Leah's lack of attractiveness rather than her eyesight. In the light of day and the absence of a veil, the following day, the truth is revealed. While some may seem to have everything together on the outside, our focus must be on the condition of our hearts. Forhe has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. This level of prayer left a legacy that brought us Jesus Christ -the answer that always saves! With the birth of each son, Leah acknowledged the role the Lord held in her life. Kidner (TOTC) and Wenham (WBC), both of whom I greatly respect, also came up with a view I admit I did not expect. Plug in, Turn on and Be En light ened! 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.. It seems that Leahs father was not a man of his word. The world can throw us off course, keeping us coveting more instead of being content with what we have. 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. Leah's name is variously said to mean "wild cow," "gazelle," "wearied," and "weary" in Hebrew. Resting place at this point, Rachel is incredibly jealous and gives handmade! 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