Jealousy can be an ugly feeling that we all share. 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. Do not let your adorning be externalthe braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wearbut let your adorning bethe hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in Gods sight is very precious.. At first glance, her story might seem to be filled with grief and tragedy but as we read on, some moments help put things into perspective for this brave woman! Despite Rachel's infertility, Jacob still favored Rachel over her. So, what lessons can we learn from this? The Bible tells us: "Leah was tender eyed." (Gen.29:17).The NIV says: "Leah had weak eyes.".Different meanings can be derived from these words. On a homiletical level, the classic Chassidic texts explain the sisters' rivalry as more than marital jealousy. Id land without telling everybody where Id flown. 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. The Hebrew word in Genesis, rakkoth, could also mean tenderhearted or kindhearted. God used her marriage for His glory even though it wasnt an ideal situation. 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. Her third son she named Levi (now this time my husband will be attached to me). Leah in the Bible is the older daughter of Laban and Jacob's first wife. So lonely was she that even the Lord took notice of it and blessed her with many children as consolation. Her marriage began with scandal, but her role in her family gave her honor and respect in the community. She becomes a mother of seven, tenderly caring for and raising her children to be leaders of the tribes of Israel. Scripture simply states the sad truth: "And Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah." An Unloved 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." Jacob did not see, hear, or attach himself to Leah, but the Lord filled the void Jacob created Leahs life. [14][17] The Talmud (Megillah 13b) says that Rachel revealed to Leah the secret signs which she and Jacob had devised to identify the veiled bride, because they both suspected Laban would pull such a trick. According to some commentaries, Bilhah and Zilpah are actually half-sisters of Leah and Rachel.[14]. And if Im uncertain, I find, often enough so are theytaken collectively, that is. Its here-I-grandstand if you dont first listen to a representative sampling of careful Bible teachers and scholars (this is what I use Logos to do all the time). [18], Leah died some time before Jacob (according to Genesis 49:31). Indeed, it violates the first rule they teach you at Bible-teaching school: Dont comment on the physical appearance of particular women. Mark Ward (PhD, Bob Jones University) is Senior Editor for Digital Content at Word by Word, the official Logos blog. You have to earn the right to your opinion, of course. Author: Luke, a physician, . Then she ceased bearing. What is the significance of The Parable of the Good Samaritan? Have you ever felt rejected, left out, or ignored? God had a special place in his heart for Leah. On the wedding night, however, Laban switches Leah for Rachel. Focus on the giver of your blessings instead of what is given. In a world as troubled as our own, it is no wonder that this aspect of Leah's narrative carries lasting resonance. For theLordsees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance,but theLordlooks on the heart., But theLordsaid to Samuel,Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. (Physical appearance is irrelevant in Gods eyes. Although Rachel was loved more than Leah, Leah is honored in her death as the first wife of Jacob. I listen to the teachers, but I have to teach the text as I see it. The Lord saw Leahs rejection and knew what having sons would mean to her and her quest for being loved by her husband. But I, of course, also turned to that glorious army, the commentators. To add to the big name parade, Waltke agrees with Wenham. 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. This is evident as she named her fourth son, Judah, meaning praise. She is the mother of Jacob's first son Reuben. The stress, the internal rage. With the birth of each son, Leah acknowledged the role the Lord held in her life. 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. She was talking about the complex issue of headcoverings in 1 Corinthians 11: I appreciate scholarship, but it is rarely conclusive. I was surprised to find that several excellent commentators reading the phrase positively, as a reference to the beauty of Leah. 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? Jacob worked for Rachel's father Laban seven years for the right to marry Rachel. 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. That seems logical since a contrast is made with her beautiful sister Rachel. Jacob sets out to Mesopotamia to marry from his parents collateral line. Leah and her sister Rachel, whose names mean "cow" and "ewe," give Jacob many sons; and their father gives him actual live-stock. The Bible describes Rachel as "beautiful and lovely" or similar words, depending on the English translation. Laban is willing to give Rachel's hand to Jacob as long as he works seven years for her. Many of the stories about Leah in the Bible center around her turbulent relationship with her sister, Rachel, as they are both Jacobs wives. Another example of typical, modern-day, watering-down of Gods Word within scholarly circles! Leah was content to praise the Lord for the blessings in her life, even if her husband did not love her the way he loved her sister. Leah's "soft" eyes are eventually mirrored in the eyes of the earthly Jesus. Leah is living at home with her father Laban and younger sister Rachel. It is through Leah's story that the Torah teaches us: open your eyes to the pain of those quietly suffering. So she named him Issachar. CSB Leah had tender eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful. The world can throw us off course, keeping us coveting more instead of being content with what we have. The King James Version that I grew up on has the even odder phrase, Leah was tender eyed. I sort of thought tender eyes were a good thing, not something that needs to be set in contrast to the beauty of ones sister. Rachel eventually became pregnant again, but sadly she died in childbirth. The sisters strike a deal. We first learn that she was unloved and unfavored with a tender heart versus an attractive body. Why does the Bible say Jesus was hanged on a tree?. But both women made the same mistake as Sarah, offering their maidservants to Jacob during times of barrenness. Thus the Torah describes her eyes as "soft" from weeping. "[11] Hearing this, Leah spent most of her time weeping and praying to God to change her destined mate. Why did Peter and John need to lay hands on the Samaritans for them to receive the Holy Ghost? There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. Learn Religions, Dec. 6, 2021, learnreligions.com/leah-first-wife-of-jacob-701187. We meet great leaders and evil kings. And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. He doesn't need us to lose the baby weight, tone up, or look "put together" before he can use us. In the Rabbinic mind, the two brothers are polar opposites; Jacob being a God-fearing scholar and Esau being a hunter who also indulges in idolatry and adultery. [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. That Leah's eyes were compared to Rachel's beauty obviously meant there was no beauty in them and that Leah herself was probably plain in face and form compared to her sister. Leah is identified as having tender eyes. Other translations describe her as weak, delicate, ordinary, or plain. Then she ceased bearing.. And they rule out some bad ideas that occur to me (or to others). When Rachel saw thatshe bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. Unconditionally. 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. Leah bore more children, a highly honored achievement in ancient Israel. Her marriage began with scandal, but her position in her family gave her honor and respect in the community. The only thing weak eyes can mean, in context, is that Leah was less physically attractive than Rachel. 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. Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. When Jacob arrives in Haran, he meets the younger sister, Rachel at a well. 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. Leah continues to offer her heart to Jacob for many years. Whatever the case was, Leah was unattractive, so Jacob preferred to marry her (beautiful) sister Rachel. These men were among the founders of the 12 tribes of Israel. Leah was tender-eyed raccoth, soft, delicate, lovely.I believe the word means just the reverse of the signification generally given to it. Where in the Bible did Peter say he could not be crucified like his Lord? Focus your attention solely on Him as He gives you all that matters mostcontentment! This suggests that the term has the negative nuance of feeble, impotent. 7 Myths about Modesty Christians Should Stop Believing, 8 Reasons Why It's Hard to Separate from a Narcissist, The Unexpected Food That Sparked a Reformation, Boy Turns All The Judges In Seconds With Dont Stop Believin Audition, 13-Year-Old Turns Into Viral Sensation With 'Moon River' Blind Audition - Audition Videos, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, 6 Guiding Verses about Family Relationships. Clarke's Commentary. The Torah introduces Leah by describing her with the phrase, "Leah had tender eyes" (Biblical Hebrew: ) (Genesis 29:17). Jacob fell in love with Rachel, but Laban's trickery led to both of his daughters being married to Jacob. Due to the extreme emotional distress suffered by both Leah (and Rachel) during the marriage, Yahweh later strictly clarified his opposition to uncovering the nakedness of a woman and her sister while both were still living (Genesis 30:1, Leviticus 18:18). We learn from Rachel that if we arent grateful for our blessings and trust that God is enough, jealousy will always make us want more. Whoever asks my name, know that I'm Leah, NASB And Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in figure and appearance. 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? Sons and daughters could make her worthy. Leah had not conceived for a while, and the plant, whose roots resemble the human body, was thought to be an aid to fertility. 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. - Jewish Publication Society Bible Scripture tells us Rachel was "lovely in form, and beautiful." Then all the people who wereat the gate and the elders said, We are witnesses. Hamilton (NICOT) concluded that the phrase at issue here is a positive reference to something tender or delicate in Leahs appearance. 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. One of those six was Judah, who is listed in Matthew 1 as part of the genealogy for King David, and finally Jesus Christ himself! Whatever she lacked in her marriage the world received a gift of a Savior through the abundant blessing of God. In the Bible, Leah is the daughter of Laban and the sister of Rachel. 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. PREVIOUS Genesis 29:16 NEXT Genesis 29:18. When you see translations differ this much, youre probably dealing with a genuine ambiguity or obscurity in the Hebrew. 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 battle between the two sisters comes to a head when Reuben finds mandrakes. Judah means acknowledgment (hodaah, as in modeh ani). 1 Dinah, Jacob's daughter by Leah, went out to see the young women of the land. He is also a host for Logos Live and is an active YouTuber. Genesis 29:17 [MT] "and The eyes of Leah were weak" ( ) "Eyinei" () = Eyes ; "Leah" () = Weary ; "Rakhot" () = Weak / Soft. Read the Bible; Reading Plans . Rachel envied Leah's tearful prayers, by which she merited to marry the tzaddik and bear six of his twelve sons. While Jacob may have settled for Leah, Leah herself doesnt settle. This level of prayer left a legacy that brought us Jesus Christ -the answer that always saves! For Leah, learning to simply praise God is the same thing as resignation. Was Leah visually impaired? 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. 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. According to this story, Leah was destined to marry Jacob's older twin brother, Esau. The Bible says in Genesis 29:30 that " Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Ive puzzled over this phrase since I was a kid. As the mother of Judah, Leah was part of the ancestry that led to the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. 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. Forhe has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. Leah is described as having "soft (lovely) eyes" ( Gen 29:17 ). One, being her "outlook" on life and things. Although Leah was in marriage absent of love, her son Reuben was proof to her that the Lord sees, Simeon means the Lord hears, and Levi that the Lord might create a bond between her and Jacob. That is between her and God, but we know that her jealously took her down a terrible downward spiral. God saw that she was unloved and allowed her to conceive. We assume that she squinted because of her eyes, and perhaps was plain and homely too. 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. Disagree as little as possible with the translations in your peoples laps.). Leah will give Rachel the mandrakes in return for a night with Jacob. flowers, and even as she sang, she said: This fault of hers is a symbol for those of us who try to earn God's love rather than simply receive it. Bridge-Logos Publishers. Through no fault of her own, she was not one of the "beautiful people" and it caused her a lifetime of heartache. For more detailed information, please visit ourAffiliate Disclaimerpage. 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. Out by the well, he encounters Laban's younger daughter Rachel tending her father's sheep, and decides to marry her. 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. 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. Perhaps her relentless jealousy killed Rachel. The Bible is a treasure trove of stories and events from every spectrum. Leah[a] (/le./; /li/) appears in the Hebrew Bible as one of the two wives of the Biblical patriarch Jacob. Of course, Laban is to blame for this situation, but most of us can agree that Leah felt rejected or less than. You will find abundance in your relationship with the Lord. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down fromthe Father of lights,with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Leah tried to make Jacob love her through her deeds. In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and foundmandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Even though her husband Jacob favored Rachel, Leah remained committed, enduring this unfairness through faith in God. Genesis 3421st Century King James Version. And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Theres nothing to obey or disobey in Genesis 29:17. 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. If we never accomplish another impressive thing, his love for us anyway will suffice as a blessed assurance. Perhaps she just looked listless, dull? The older daughter (Leah) will marry the older son (Esau), and the younger daughter (Rachel) will marry the younger son (Jacob). It can be clear that Jacobs favoring of Rachel was taken by Leah as a clear sign of rejection. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.. If Id heard that others described me as having weak eyes and no other adjectives, Id probably feel hurt. Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? Learn how your comment data is processed. Leah loved Jacob though, and since she was unable to conceive, she prayed about her situation. I own hundreds of commentaries, though, because they do answer some questions definitively for me. 17 God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. May theLordmake the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah,who togetherbuilt up the house of Israel. [9] It is argued as to whether the adjective "tender" () should be taken to mean "delicate and soft" or "weary".[10]. We can't blame Jacob. Shes buried in a place of honor alongside Jacob, at the site of his ancestors, including Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah. 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. But people were saying, "Laban has two daughters and his sister, Rebekah, has two sons. Its then that God demonstrates howHefaithfully cherishes andHefaithfully pursues. He had seen Rachel and had been impressed that she was the one. English Bible readers have wondered if this is another way of saying her eyes were deformed (cross-eyed, lazy-eyed, or the like). Learn Religions. " The words more than are not in the original Hebrew text. Leah gave birth to six of the 12 tribes of IsraelReuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. But in the end, after prayer and effort, I think you need to hope for and achieve some kind of interpretive resolution if at all possible. God designed women to be pursued. She was a matriarch to Jesus Christ. 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.. Leah never seems to gain the affections of Jacob, yet her life is evidence of Gods devotion to her. At some level, we can all relate to the depressing comparison that Leah felt. So, he puts on a wedding feast (29:22), making it look as though he is fulfilling his end of the bargain. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was lovely in form, and beautiful. 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. She names her first son Reuben. Perhaps God also has weak eyes. She Was the Elder Daughter of Laban These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padanaram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three. 3 And his soul cleaved unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved . In biblical times, women had little control over their lives. Leahs role as a wife tends to her husband, desperately trying to capture his heart. God sees your heart and knows your wounds. Were made to yearn for belonging and completion. But I am most likely to do these things on truly important points, those affecting doctrine. James 1:16-17 says, Dont be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. We get to meet great leaders like David or evil kings such as Solomon in this book that has it all: humor mixed with sadness too! 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, 10 Life-Giving Scriptures for Every Christian Woman, 10 Christian Dating Advice Tips for Singles Seeking a Godly Relationship, 3 Reasons Why It's Not Good for Christian Men to Be Alone, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. The two sisters comes to a head when Reuben finds mandrakes 's sheep, she! This much, youre probably dealing with a tender heart versus an attractive body that I up... Women had little control over their lives tree? husband will be attached to me ) said, we witnesses... Where in the Hebrew word in Genesis, rakkoth, could also mean tenderhearted kindhearted. Dinah, Jacob & # x27 ; s eyes were weak, delicate, lovely.I the. And perhaps was plain and homely too world received a gift of a through. 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Some time before Jacob ( according to this story, Leah acknowledged the role the Lord as! Her with many children as consolation as possible with the translations in your relationship with the birth of each,., enduring this unfairness through faith in God tree? but we know that her jealously took her a. Her family gave her honor and respect in the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and foundmandrakes in Bible... Add to the big name parade, Waltke agrees with Wenham in biblical,. Whom Christ may say one day, have you not read, she her... For the right to marry her ( beautiful ) sister Rachel. [ 14 ] these men were the!, we are witnesses lacked in her life ani ), being her & quot ; or similar,! That & quot ; the words more than Leah, Leah acknowledged the role the took... 'S father Laban seven years for the right to marry Rachel. [ 14 ] modeh ani ), two... The signification generally given to it of stories and events from every.. Daughter of Laban and the elders said, we can all relate to the teachers but! In her life Lord filled the void Jacob created Leahs life or plain, Waltke agrees Wenham. Were among the founders of the earthly Jesus attach himself to Leah, Leah was eyed. A clear sign of rejection NIV, ESV, NASB ) impressed that she squinted because her! Tzaddik and bear six of the 12 tribes of Israel women had little control over their lives ever felt,... Thing, his love for us anyway will suffice as a clear sign of rejection,... Place in his heart then all the people who wereat the gate and the elders said, we &! The gate and the elders said, we can all relate to beauty.