Patriarchs · around 1900 BC
Leah in the Bible
The unloved wife whom God saw. Name meaning: A Hebrew name of uncertain meaning (often linked to “weary”); it is mostly the names of her sons that tell her story (Gen 29:32-35)
Laban’s older daughter, Leah is given to Jacob by a trick, in place of her sister Rachel, whom he loved. Though overlooked, she is seen by the LORD: she bears six sons and a daughter, including Levi, ancestor of Moses and Aaron, and Judah, ancestor of David and the Messiah. It is she, not Rachel, who rests at Machpelah beside Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebekah (Gen 49:31).
Key moments
- Given to Jacob in place of Rachel Genesis 29:23
- The LORD sees that she is unloved Genesis 29:31
- Judah’s birth: “Now will I praise the LORD” Genesis 29:35
- Reuben’s mandrakes Genesis 30:14
- Dinah’s birth Genesis 30:21
- She agrees to the move to Canaan Genesis 31:16
- Buried at Machpelah Genesis 49:31
Strengths
- Endurance
- Hope
- Praise
Weaknesses
Her rivalry with Rachel leads her to bargain for a night with her husband in exchange for mandrakes (Gen 30:14-16). For a long time, she looks for Jacob’s love through her motherhood, before turning her praise toward the LORD (Gen 29:32-35).
Lessons for today
- God sees the ones nobody chooses: “When the LORD saw that Leah was hated” (Gen 29:31).
- Move from waiting on people to praising God: “Now will I praise the LORD” (Gen 29:35).
- God carries out his plans through wounded families: from Leah come Levi and Judah, the priesthood and the kingship (Exod 6:16-20; Gen 49:10).
And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Beth–lehem:
People around Leah
Stories with Leah
Quiz: how well do you know Leah?
What reason did Laban give for giving Leah to Jacob in place of Rachel?
Laban answered, “It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.” Genesis 29:26
Which son did Leah name when she said, “Now will I praise the LORD”?
“Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah.” He was her fourth son. Genesis 29:35
How many sons did Leah herself bear to Jacob?
When Zebulun was born, Leah said, “I have born him six sons.” After that she bore a daughter, Dinah. Genesis 30:19–20
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