Genesis 29:16-30:20
Leah (Heb. Lê’âh, possibly “cow” or “weary”). She was the eldest daughter of Laban, who by deception was given to Jacob instead of Rachel, her younger sister, for whom she had served 7 years. She was less attractive than her sister, but she had “delicate eyes” * (Gen 29: 16-26). She was the mother of 6 of Jacob’s sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun, and Dinah, a daughter (cps 31-35; 30: 17-21). She was buried in the family tomb at Machpelah (49:31). In Rth 4:11 Leah is mentioned along with Rachel as the honorable foundress of Israel.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
Laban’s sister and Jacob’s first wife (Gen 29:21-30); mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah (Gen 29:31-35; Gen 30:17-21). Loyal to Jacob (Gen 31:14-16), she returned with him to Canaan, where she, upon her death, was buried at Machpelah (Gen 49:31). Two of her sons (Levi and Judah) were progenitors of prominent tribes in Israel.
Through Judah came Jesus Christ (Gen 49:10; Mic 5:2; Mat 2:6; Heb 7:14; Rev 5:5; compare Rth 4:11).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
(Gazelle). Jacob’s wife. Daughter of Laban. Rachel’s older sister. “L.’s eyes were delicate,” but Jacob fell in love with Rachel and served seven years for her. At the time of the wedding, however, Laban tricked Jacob into marrying him to L., saying afterwards that it was not customary to marry “the younger before the older.” † œLaban gave his maidservant Zilpah to his daughter L. for a maidservant † (Gen 29: 16-26). L. was the mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun and Dinah. When she had stopped giving birth and because of her rivalry with Rachel † she œtook Zilpah her maidservant and gave her to Jacob for a wife † (Gen 30: 9). Thus Gad and Asher were born. L.’s married life was marred by Jacob’s love for her sister. The names she gave her children reflect that situation. When Jacob decided to leave Laban L. supported him (Gen 31:14-16). Jewish tradition highlights the fact that L.’s sufferings were offset by the fact that she had more children and that the priestly line came from one of them, Levi, and the royal line from another, Judah.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
tip, BIOG WOMAN MUAT
vet, = “fatigued”. She eldest daughter of Laban; she was not as beautiful as Raquel, her younger sister, and she had “delicate eyes”. Leah was given to Jacob in marriage, instead of Rachel, for whom Jacob had served seven years. Laban’s reason was that in his social environment the younger could not be given in marriage before the older. Leah bore Jacob the following children: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and also Dinah, the sister (Gen. 29:16-35; 30:17-21). At her death she was buried in the cave of Machpelah (Gen. 49:31), the tomb also of Sarah, Abraham, Isaac and Rebekah, and later of Jacob (Gen. 23:19; 25: 9-10; 35 :9;50:13).
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
“And Lea’s eyes were delicate, but Raquel had a pretty countenance and a beautiful appearance.” Genesis 29: 17
Read: Genesis 29:16-35. Lea receives the curious comment that her eyes were tender; however, when comparing her, with a “but”, with Rachel, who is said to be beautiful, we can deduce that she could not be compared to her sister. Lea she would have common features, without her having to be ugly. But she was considered unattractive in her own eyes.
Being a beautiful young woman can be dangerous for her. But it is not a reason for the one who is not to feel neglected. This lack of beauty can be compensated by a rich nature, a warm heart, tenderness and affection. We know that there are common faces that can hide angelic features. But this lack of beauty can be a concern for a young woman. “Why can’t I be more beautiful?” This desire is not in itself sinful, but very human. The scriptures from time to time use the expression “beautiful in countenance.” In doing so, the Bible confirms that the characteristic of beauty is one of the blessings in our human life.
But we must also say that Scripture offers consolation to the Leas. Leah, who was not attractive, actually receives a richer blessing than the beautiful Rachel. Rachel had only two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Of these, Joseph was sold into slavery and gave birth to one of the sullied tribes of Israel. As for the tribe of Benjamin, it was almost totally wiped out because of a terrible national sin that it incurred. Leah can claim to be the mother of Judah, and Judah of David and of Christ.
This is not said in praise of Leah as a woman. We know that Laban’s economic, social and moral position was far inferior to Bethuel’s. When Eliezer called Rebekah, she was still able to go as a free daughter. But things had quickly taken a turn for the worse in Padan-Aran. It shows that Laban practically sold Leah. Jacob had to work seven years to win Leah. Furthermore, Laban deceived Jacob, and Leah was his accomplice, since Jacob wanted to marry his sister Rachel. It is evident that the moral tone of the family had degenerated as evidenced by the fact that she later took advantage of the mandrakes that his son Rubén had brought from the field to make his sister jealous.
However, Lea had one thing. God had miraculously put faith in her heart. At first she was selfish faith. When she was born Rubén she praised God because she had been looked upon with favor. When she received Simeon she was glad of her because God had comforted her from the hatred that she had been the victim of. When she was born Levi she rejoiced because her husband would love her. But when Judah was born she had already defeated the selfishness of her heart and she had replaced it with sincere thanks: “Now,” she said, “I will praise the Lord.”
Leah did not do it by herself, but it was God who did it in her heart. Rachel did not do the same. The glory of the Lord is expressed neither in the name of Joseph nor in that of Benjamin. The praise of the Lord is only in Judah, because Judah means “He who praises God.”
It is evident, the wonderful government of God operating in all these things. In his sovereignty he created beautiful Rachel and Leah with ordinary features. As a result, there was practically a tragedy between the two sisters. It was not Rachel but Leah who gave birth to Judah and with it the ancestor of the mother of Christ. Praise to God comes from Leah, not from Rachel.
It follows that God does not see things with the same eyes as men. There are two kinds of beauty. There is the beauty that God gives at birth, and that withers like a flower. And there is the beauty that God bestows when in his grace men are born again. This kind of beauty does not wither, but blooms forever.
Suggested Questions for Study and Discussion:
1- Does God’s blessing consist in the external beauty of the body? If not, what was Leah’s blessing?
2- Is it a sin to desire external beauty?
3- Can Leah and Jacob’s arranged marriage possibly be considered a punishment for Jacob, for his previous sin?
4- What is God’s lesson for us, that we see in Leah’s life?
Source: Women of the Bible
(possibly related to an Akkadian word meaning “cow”, or to an Arabic term meaning “wild cow”).
Eldest daughter of Laban, Abraham’s great-nephew. Since Laban was the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s mother, Jacob and Leah were cousins. (Ge 22: 20-23; 24:24, 29; 29:16) Leah was not as beautiful as her younger sister, Rachel; she especially stands out that her eyes had no shine, that is, they lacked life. (Ge 29:17) In the case of Eastern women, bright eyes are considered a special attribute of beauty. (Compare Ca 1:15; 4:9; 7:4.)
Leah became Jacob’s first wife, because Laban cheated on him when he gave her to him at night instead of Rachel, who was actually the one Jacob loved. He protested that she had been duped, but Laban argued that it was not the custom to give the younger in marriage before her firstborn. It is likely that Leah wore a veil, in accordance with the ancient Eastern custom of veiling the bride, which must have contributed to the success of the ruse. Jacob had served seven years with Rachel in mind; however, in payment for this work he received Leah. Later, he was granted to Raquel —once he had stayed a week with Lea—; however, he had to work seven more years to pay for it. (Ge 29:18-28)
The account says that Leah was “hated” (Ge 29:31, 33), but it also shows that after finally getting Rachel, Jacob “expressed more love for Rachel than for Leah.” (Ge 29:30) Surely Jacob had no malicious hatred for Leah, but he loved Rachel, his favorite wife, more. He continued to care for Lea and fulfilled her marital debt. Therefore, Jacob † ˜hated † ™ Leah in the sense that he loved her less than Rachel. (See HATE.)
Leah was the mother of seven of Jacob’s children, six boys—Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun—and a girl, Dinah. (Ge 29:32-35; 30:16-21) Accordingly, at Ruth 4:11 Leah is mentioned along with Rachel among those who “built the house of Israel.” Leah had the honor of being the mother of Levi, the founder of the priestly tribe of Israel, and of Judah, the father of the royal tribe of the nation.
Leah and her children accompanied Jacob when he left Paddan-aram and returned to Canaan, the land of his birth. Ge 31: 11-18) Before meeting Esau on the road, Jacob distributed the children to Leah, Rachel, and her maidservants as a measure of protection. First, he put the maidservants and her children; then Lea and her family, and behind them all, Raquel and José. (Ge 33:1-7) Leah’s sons accompanied Jacob to Egypt, but the Bible account does not say that she did so. (Ge 46:15) When, where, and under what circumstances Leah died are not specified; she may have died in Canaan. Whatever the case, the patriarch had her body brought to the family’s burial place: the cave in the field of Machpelah. Jacob’s instructions regarding her own remains show that his desire was to be buried in the same place where Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Leah had been buried. (Ge 49:29-32.)
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
(heb. lē˒â, ‘wild cow’ ). She eldest daughter of Laban the Aramean. Through her father’s deception, she became Jacob’s wife, because of the local custom that forbade the younger daughter to marry before the older one (Gen. 29:21–30). It is natural that she was jealous of her sister Rachel, who was more attractive than her.
As the mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun and Dinah, she was hailed, along with Rachel, as “builders” of the house of Israel (Rt. 4.11). Both sided with Jacob against Laban, and when they went to meet Esau, she was placed in the middle of the procession.
She was buried at Machpelah, Hebron, presumably before Jacob’s transfer to Egypt (Gen. 49.31).
MB
Douglas, J. (2000). New Biblical Dictionary: First Edition. Miami: United Bible Societies.
Source: New Dictionary…