What does Anathema Maranatha mean in 1 Corinthians 16:22? (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." God also has a calling on your life and will make all circumstances work together for your good. Rachel became the mother of two other tribesJoseph and Benjamin. The oldest daughter of Laban, she was plain looking and may have had poor eyesight, but she was dutiful and virtuous. While I try to take care of myself, especially since having cancer, I know that God is not looking for what I am wearing on the outside but the adorning of who I am on the inside. God loved Leah and accepted her just as she was. They are contrasted with Rachel, who is described as looking beautiful. 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. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, This time I will praise theLord. Therefore she called his nameJudah. Disagree as little as possible with the translations in your peoples laps.). You have to earn the right to your opinion, of course. Its then that God demonstrates howHefaithfully cherishes andHefaithfully pursues. God loves us unconditionally, with a pure, passionate tenderness. What the Bible indicates here is that Jacob did not love Leah at all. 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. The next morning, in the light of day and the absence of a veil, the truth is revealed. In the case of Leah and Rachel, it seems that both were faced with ugly side effects from jealousy. The sisters strike a deal. PREVIOUS Genesis 29:16 NEXT Genesis 29:18. This fits just fine with the traditional KJV rendering of tender, which could be positive or negative. What an enormous relief that is! [18], Leah died some time before Jacob (according to Genesis 49:31). Many of the stories about Leah in the Bible center around her turbulent relationship with her sister, Rachel, as they are both Jacobs wives. 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). God sees your heart and knows your hurts, disappointments, and wounds. This page/post may contain affiliate links. NIV Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. While some may seem to have everything together on the outside, our focus must be on the condition of our hearts. This is the same well his mother Rebekah drew water from before she married Isaac. Unconditionally. 17 and the eyes of Leah [are] tender, and Rachel hath been fair of form and fair of appearance. 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. Clarke's Commentary. They send forth an uncertain sound. Leah Lively is a wife and mother of four living in central Virginia. Jacob's first wife was second in his heart. And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". 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. - World English Bible and the eyes of Leah [are] tender, and Rachel hath been fair of form and fair of appearance. Leahs eyes were weak. What does that mean? Leah responded by offering her handmaid Zilpah to Jacob, and named and raised the two sons (Gad and Asher) that Zilpah gave birth to. Pursuing the Lord keeps your heart tender as you face trials and endure grief. - Webster's Bible Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive. Jacob did not see, hear, or attach himself to Leah, but the Lord filled the void Jacob created in Leahs life. StudyLght .org . Rachel and Leah, painting by James Tissot. Leah was a loving and faithful wife. 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. It is interesting to realize that the ugly wife actually contributed more to the formation of the nation Israel than the beautiful one! They go together, but Leah is still second best despite her many children. Jacob worked for Rachel's father Laban seven years for the right to marry Rachel. 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? Therefore, Leah and Rachel each wanted to have as many of those sons as possible, going so far as to offer their handmaids as proxies to Jacob so they could have a share in the upbringing of their handmaids' sons, too. Jacob continues to show favoritism toward Rachel, but after Leahs third child is born, Leah seems to have a change of heart. The King James Version renders it as "tender eyed," while the New Living Translation says "There was no sparkle in Leah's eyes," and the Amplified Bible says "Leah's eyes were weak and dull looking.". - Genesis 29:17 is a Hebrew pun : The eyes of Weary () were weak. At some level, we can all relate to the depressing comparison that Leah felt. 3 And his soul cleaved unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved . Hamilton (NICOT) concluded that the phrase at issue here is a positive reference to something tender or delicate in Leahs appearance. Then theLordsaid to Jacob,Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock wasand said to them,I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. While Jacob may have settled for Leah, Leah herself doesnt settle. 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. Leah was the mother of seven of Jacob's children. Leahs eyes, in their views, were either weak in power or color (Kidner) or in sparkle or fire (Wenham). Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful. In biblical times, women had little control over their lives. CSB Leah had tender eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful. While their marriage began with deception, Leah was honored at her death by Jacob. Oh, Leah in the Bible! Rachel envied Leah's tearful prayers, by which she merited to marry the tzaddik and bear six of his twelve sons. 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. Genesis 29:17 Most of us have read the passage above about Jacob's wives as describing Leah's bad eyesight. But its an arrogant Bible teacher who doesnt care to listen to skillful teachers. Both sisters want them for their fertility-inducing properties and possibly as an aphrodisiac, but only one sister will be getting these precious mushrooms! 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 born in the town of Paddan-Aram, the oldest daughter of Laban, sister of Rachel, and niece of Rebekah. The Lord saw Leahs rejection and knew what having sons would mean to her and her quest for being loved by her husband. To add to the big name parade, Waltke agrees with Wenham. New King James Version Leah's eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. 1 Dinah, Jacob's daughter by Leah, went out to see the young women of the land. 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. She and her younger sister, Rachel, were rivals in a soap-opera-like romance with Jacob. 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. But all of this is just part of his "seven year" plan. Her marriage was not ideal, but God used it for His glory as she held an honored first position. Indeed, it violates the first rule they teach you at Bible-teaching school: Dont comment on the physical appearance of particular women. But people were saying, "Laban has two daughters and his sister, Rebekah, has two sons. 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. Even after Rachels death, Jacob continues to favor Joseph. Leah in the Bible is the older daughter of Laban and Jacob's first wife. Seeing that she was unable to conceive, Rachel offered her handmaid Bilhah to Jacob, and named and raised the two sons (Dan and Naphtali) that Bilhah gave birth to. Leah is living at home with her father Laban and younger sister Rachel. Judahs representation also includes the four letters of the Divine name Havaya. Leah is identified as having tender eyes. Other translations describe her as weak, delicate, ordinary, or plain. As we saw in the case of Rachel, the security one would expect a person to have that is seen as beautiful in form and appearance was temporary as her jealousy grew. In the Bible, Leah is the daughter of Laban and the sister of Rachel. 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. Leahs marriage was less honorable as it began with deception. It turns out his name is Jacob and he is looking for a worthy wife. God ensures Leah a life of honor because He is her Lord. The Bible describes Rachel as "beautiful and lovely" or similar words, depending on the English translation. 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! Leah never seems to gain the affections of Jacob, yet her life is evidence of Gods devotion to her. On the wedding night, however, Laban switches Leah for Rachel. God had a special place in his heart for Leah. James 1:16-17 says, Dont be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.. One, being her "outlook" on life and things. And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Perhaps she just looked listless, dull? Then Rachel said to Leah, Please give me some of your sons mandrakes.But she said to her, Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? We must rejoice even when things seem difficult or impossible because we have an incredible Savior who is faithful no matter what happens. However, Leah's eyes were weak from crying, for she feared that she would have to be married to the wicked Esau. Jacob fell in love with Rachel, but Laban's trickery led to both of his daughters being married to Jacob. God hearkens to Leah's tears and prayers and allows her to marry Jacob even before Rachel does. In Hebrews 11:17-18 CSB, it says Your (Abrahams) offspring will be called through Isaac.. (1998). She conceived a son,. You will find abundance in your relationship with the Lord. He is also a host for Logos Live and is an active YouTuber. How could wise King Solomon let foreign women deceive him? Leah in the Bible is the older daughter of Laban and Jacob's first wife. Why did Jesus say to throw the net on the right side? But Jacobs willingness to labor seven years for her demonstrates feelings deeper than flattery or casual interest. Rachel was younger and had a beautiful face and figure. The Rabbis found this weeping to be praiseworthy and declared that by merit of her prayers this fate was set aside, and she was married to Jacob. While others may appear to have everything together on the outside, focus on the condition of your heart. 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. **ATTENTION: Dear readers, as of late 2022, special-edition Q&A article #1000 is still in development. Laban is willing to give Rachel's hand to Jacob as long as he works seven years for her. You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. Jacob loved and desired Rachel so much that he worked for Laban an additional seven years, a total of fourteen years to marry Rachel. In fact, because of Jacob's rejecting her, God took pity on Leah and opened her womb. The Bible is full of characters from every spectrum of life. Enter your email address to receive email notifications when new Bible Q&A articles are posted. Leah Is a Matriarch Unloved and unwanted, Leah was not only blessed by God with six sons and one daughter. King James Bible Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. Whatever the case, her eyes were not attractive, and are mentioned as a detriment to her looks. Leahs heart was tender and created specifically to fulfill the task of Jacobs first wife and many sons. Naming her sons tells the spiritual journey of contentment in the Lords provision. Leah[a] (/le./; /li/) appears in the Hebrew Bible as one of the two wives of the Biblical patriarch Jacob. The book of Genesis does what preachers and Sunday school teachers would do well to avoid. 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. Leahs role as wife is one that tends to her husband, desperately trying to capture his heart. Leah (the woman nobody wants) is "disregarded" by her cousin, Jacob. 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. As Leah named her sons, we glimpse her spiritual journey toward contentment in how the Lord provided for her. God designed women to be pursued. Through no fault of her own, she was not one of the "beautiful people" and it caused her a lifetime of heartache. This level of praise left a legacy which brought us a Savior. Feeding the 4,000 and feeding the 5,000same or different? Leah and her sister Rachel, whose names mean "cow" and "ewe," give Jacob many sons; and their father gives him actual live-stock. Why did Peter and John need to lay hands on the Samaritans for them to receive the Holy Ghost? Leah becomes Jacob's wife through a deception on the part of her father, Laban. Why does the King James Bible say, pisseth against the wall?. The only thing weak eyes can mean, in context, is that Leah was less physically attractive than Rachel. Leah eventually has two more sons with Jacob, Issachar and Zebulon, and Jacob's only daughter, Dinah. Leah is a matriarch of her people and of Christ. 1 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. Whatever Leah lacked in her marriage, the world received a gift of Savior through Gods abundant blessing. Laban has instead placed Leah in Jacobs arms instead of the sought-after Rachel. Leah agreed, and that night she slept with Jacob and conceived Issachar. We wont be promised a trial-free life but what God gives us is so much more. How many daughters did Lot have? Leah gave birth to six of the 12 tribes of IsraelReuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Leah, the wife of Jacob, experienced this; but God heard her prayers and saw her plight. Leah was buried with fellow women who were not perfect, but worthy of honor because they birthed sons who fulfilled Gods promise to Abraham. For more detailed information, please visit ourAffiliate Disclaimerpage. 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. Contact Us (Mailing Address for Donations). Jacob meets Rachel at a well (compare the stories of Zipporah and Rebekah) and falls in love. 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. 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! In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and foundmandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Leah was the chosen vessel through which the Messiah would be born and her weak eyes and her appeal to Yahweh may be a clue that she had had an encounter with Yahweh at some point in her earlier life. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Meet Leah: First Wife of Jacob. Plug in, Turn on and Be En light ened! There was a physical difference between Leah and Rachel. Take that attitude, and you may find that people turn it on you. 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. Despite Rachel's infertility, Jacob still favored Rachel over her. Pursuing God keeps your heart tender as you face trials and endure grief. There are hilarious moments and sorrowful events. She becomes a mother of seven, tenderly caring for and raising her children to be leaders of the tribes of Israel. Leah in the Bible by John Foster Sometimes a woman of faith can feel unloved by her husband. He will marry Rachel quickly after his current wedding week is completed, then work for another seven years. 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.. Jacob, of course, is furious and makes another agreement with Laban. Being unmarried and unable to bear children held the stigma that you were being punished by God. Leah felt unloved. This post is loaded with all kinds of Bible lists . 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. Her father doesn't want her either. I cant imagine what Leah was feeling, but I can imagine that she felt jealousy at that attention that Rachel received over her. Story of Leah in the Bible 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. Leah is the subject of this first half . Learn Religions. And second, Leah is "discarded" by her father, Laban (29:21-27). Leahs role as a wife tends to her husband, desperately trying to capture his heart. 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. 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. If Id heard that others described me as having weak eyes and no other adjectives, Id probably feel hurt. (NIV). Privacy Policy | Bamboo on Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Here are 10 Lessons We Can Learn from Leah in the Bible, 6. We can't blame Jacob. How could wise King Solomon let foreign women deceive him? By digging into their stories, we can learn so details we may not have realized at first read. She lies with all of those ancestors and founders of faith in their final resting place. God used her marriage for His glory even though it wasnt an ideal situation. Read Genesis (YLT) Read Genesis 29:17 (YLT) in Parallel. The Bible says in Genesis 29:30 that " Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Afterwards she gave birth to Zebulun and to a daughter, Dinah. a garland of the flowers I have gathered. 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. 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. 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! Did Jesus Pray the Lords Prayer for Himself or for Us? At this point, Rachel is incredibly jealous and gives her handmade Bilhah to Jacob. Her third son she named Levi (now this time my husband will be attached to me). 19 Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. Id land without telling everybody where Id flown. God, of course, saw this and allowed Leah to have four sons. Jacob sets out to Mesopotamia to marry from his parents collateral line. One of those sons was Judah who was listed in Matthew 1 in the genealogy of King. That seems logical since a contrast is made with her beautiful sister 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. Through no fault of her own, she was not one of the "beautiful people" and it caused her a lifetime of heartache. Kidner (TOTC) and Wenham (WBC), both of whom I greatly respect, also came up with a view I admit I did not expect. Whoever asks my name, know that I'm Leah, "Meet Leah: First Wife of Jacob." 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 . Previous Post: The story of Leah in the Bible . This is evident as she named her fourth son, Judah, meaning praise. 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. Neither does he reject us because we don't meet the world's standards for being attractive. The 66 books of the Bible list is a very handy printable when you read the Bible. Rabbinical literature contradicts itself on whether or not Leah and Rachel were half-siblings to Zilpah and Bilhah, two sisters who would serve as mistresses to Leah's future husband, Jacob, and whose children she and Rachel would raise as their own, as one source[which?]

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