We can point to the naming of her sons and how she hopes to gain favor through birthing them. Leah is living at home with her father Laban and younger sister Rachel. The Bible is full of characters from every spectrum of life. (NIV), Genesis 29:31When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. This level of praise left a legacy which brought us a Savior. Leah is very insecure, knowing she is loved less than her sister Rachel. This post is loaded with all kinds of Bible lists . 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. Hamilton (NICOT) concluded that the phrase at issue here is a positive reference to something tender or delicate in Leahs appearance. 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. When Jacob arrives in Haran, he meets the younger sister, Rachel at a well. Probably she suffered, as so many do in that hot sandy region, from some form of ophthalmia. [18], Leah died some time before Jacob (according to Genesis 49:31). Theres nothing to obey or disobey in Genesis 29:17. The world is always trying to get us hooked on material things, but the best way for a persons wealth and success in life can be found within their spiritual relationship with God. But its an arrogant Bible teacher who doesnt care to listen to skillful teachers. Leah is the subject of this first half . If she lived today, we might imagine her as an awkward wallflower with thick glasses. Outward beauty with no faith in the Lord or strength of character does not last. Then he commanded them and said to them, I am to begathered to my people;bury me with my fathersin the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan,which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. The older daughter (Leah) will marry the older son (Esau), and the younger daughter (Rachel) will marry the younger son (Jacob). Through no fault of her own, she was not one of the "beautiful people" and it caused her a lifetime of heartache. She becomes a mother of seven, tenderly caring for and raising her children to be leaders of the tribes of Israel. This suggests that the term has the negative nuance of feeble, impotent. It is unclear whether Leah had any say in the matter. 20 Then Leah said, "God has presented me with a precious gift. Was Leah visually impaired? Ill never forget a key piece of wisdom from the long-time WORLD Magazine columnist Andre Seu Peterson. Jacob sets out to Mesopotamia to marry from his parents collateral line. Leah was the first wife of Jacob and was also the elder sister of his second wife, Rachel, who he loved. Leahs role as wife is one that tends to her husband, desperately trying to capture his heart. They likely revered and cherished their mother, bringing her untold joy and satisfaction. Both sisters eventually bore Jacob many sons, and Jacobs twelve sons would become the twelve tribes of Israel. While their marriage began with deception, Leah was honored at her death by Jacob. He doesn't need us to lose the baby weight, tone up, or look "put together" before he can use us. That is between her and God, but we know that her jealously took her down a terrible downward spiral. What the Bible indicates here is that Jacob did not love Leah at all. 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. The world can throw us off course, keeping us coveting more instead of being content with what we have. Leah was a loving and faithful wife. a garland of the flowers I have gathered. 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. Both sisters agree to leave their home and travel to Canaan with their husband, Jacob. When Jacob found out he had been tricked, he labored another seven years for Rachel. Despite Rachel's infertility, Jacob still favored Rachel over her. Genesis 3421st Century King James Version. 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. And they tend to sharpen up my vision of the question Im pursuing. And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. She serves him and cares for him dutifully, but it never makes her good enough. Leah then turns to her children, which were seen as symbols of blessing. Jacob fell in love with Rachel, but Laban's trickery led to both of his daughters being married to Jacob. We must rejoice, pray, and give thanks for who God is not based on our current circumstances. Clarke's Notes on the Bible. Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was lovely in form, and beautiful. But the God of my fatherhas been with me. 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. 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. According to the scriptures, God saw that Leah was "unloved" and opened her womb as consolation. 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. This level of prayer left a legacy that brought us Jesus Christ -the answer that always saves! And Leah said,Good fortune has come! so she called his nameGad.Leahs servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. He knows that this is the woman he is to marry. Mark Ward (PhD, Bob Jones University) is Senior Editor for Digital Content at Word by Word, the official Logos blog. The question is this: When push comes to shove, do I go with Christian peer pressure or with Gods Word as I see it? 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. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, This time I will praise theLord. Therefore she called his nameJudah. Where in the Bible did Peter say he could not be crucified like his Lord? Ouch. Security in His love, His pursuit of us, and the desire to use our lives for His glory can manifest a love story far more memorable than anything you could see on social media. God had compassion on her and allowed her to become pregnant. Verse Genesis 29:17. God sees your heart and knows your wounds. She is also someone many people can identify with. You may also enjoy this sermon about the lessons we can learn from Leah in the Bible: Or one of these recommendations about Leah in the Bible and the lessons we can learn from her. Therethey buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leahthe field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last, andwas gathered to his people. He also favored Rachel's sons, Joseph and Benjamin, over Leah's, and made no attempts to hide that from her or his other children. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Read the Bible; Reading Plans . May you act worthily inEphrathah andbe renowned in Bethlehem, It is interesting to note that the name Leah in Hebrew means weary or cow while Rachel means ewe., Cows are a great symbol of fertility in Mesopotamia, partially because of the similarity between the words littu, cow, and alittu, birth giver.. Many Bible experts say the verse refers to Leah's lack of attractiveness rather than her eyesight. When theLordsaw that Leah washated,he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 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. Take that attitude, and you may find that people turn it on you. Leah continues to offer her heart to Jacob for many years. As a general rule of thumb, friend, whenever we struggle with a particular Bible word or phrase, we should scan the surrounding words and/or verses. [13] Jacob accepts the offer and marries Rachel after the week-long celebration of his marriage to Leah. Leah was tender-eyed - raccoth, soft, delicate, lovely.I believe the word means just the reverse of the signification generally given to it. We see this when she named her fourth child Judah. 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. English Bible readers have wondered if this is another way of saying her eyes were deformed (cross-eyed, lazy-eyed, or the like). We assume that she squinted because of her eyes, and perhaps was plain and homely too. 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. All my obediences to received practice are suspect when I balk at the one point where conscience makes a contrary demand. It seems that Leahs father was not a man of his word. 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. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/leah-first-wife-of-jacob-701187. Jacob loved and desired Rachel so much that he worked for Laban an additional seven years, a total of fourteen years to marry Rachel. (NIV). She lies with all of those ancestors and founders of faith in their final resting place. In so doing, he too will marry into the family of Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, the grandfather of Rebekah, and the great-grandfather of Rachel and Leah. The two sisters competed throughout their lives for Jacob's affection. 19 Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. Jacob, of course, is furious and makes another agreement with Laban. In medieval Christian symbolism, Rachel was taken as a symbol of the contemplative (monastic) Christian life, and Leah as a symbol of the active (non-monastic) life. Exactly what was wrong with Leahs eyes? Scripture tells us Rachel was "lovely in form, and beautiful." It is unclear whether Leah had any say in the matter. Bilhah gave birth to two sons; Leah, no longer fertile, responds by having her maid Zilpah bear two sons (Genesis 30:913; 35:26; 46:18). 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. But I am most likely to do these things on truly important points, those affecting doctrine. The Hebrew word in Genesis, rakkoth, could also mean tenderhearted or kindhearted. and I apply my lovely hands to fashion With the birth of her next two sons, Issachar and Zebulun, Leah acknowledges the gifts the Lord has given her. In Leahs story, we can be encouraged that a life redeemed can not occur with the perfect spouse or an abundance of children, but a with a heart that is tender and surrendered to God. On the wedding night, however, Laban switches Leah for Rachel. Oh, Leah in the Bible! Enter your email address to receive email notifications when new Bible Q&A articles are posted. 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. 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. In a world as troubled as our own, it is no wonder that this aspect of Leah's narrative carries lasting resonance. Mathews (NAC), however, lands where I did: The tenor of the passage, however, contrasts Leah and Rachel, first their order of birth and perhaps here their charm. Leah was buried with fellow women who were not perfect, but worthy of honor because they birthed sons who fulfilled Gods promise to Abraham. Indeed, it violates the first rule they teach you at Bible-teaching school: Dont comment on the physical appearance of particular women. 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. PREVIOUS Genesis 29:16 NEXT Genesis 29:18. Leahs marriage was less honorable as it began with deception. Here are 10 Lessons We Can Learn from Leah in the Bible 1. Bible reading from Genesis 34 (EHV) Dinah and Shechem. Her father doesn't want her either. The interpreters of the Old Testament added those words to the text much later. With the birth of each son, Leah acknowledged the role the Lord held in her life. 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 words more than are not in the original Hebrew text. Out by the well, he encounters Laban's younger daughter Rachel tending her father's sheep, and decides to marry her. 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! Perhaps having poor eyesight was itself considered unattractive in Jacob's day? He promised to honor the love between Jacob and Rachel, but he instead led them into disaster with a treacherous plan. Being unmarried and unable to bear children held the stigma that you were being punished by God. Can you imagine how adored and treasured that made Rachel feel? Leah becomes Jacob's wife through a deception on the part of her father, Laban. And second, Leah is "discarded" by her father, Laban (29:21-27). God saw that she was unloved and allowed her to conceive. Leah coarsely announces to Jacob that she has hired him with the mandrakes, and Jacob spends the night with her. 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. Naming her sons tells the spiritual journey of contentment in the Lords provision. After seven years, the wedding arrives, and the veiled bride finally becomes Jacobs wife. [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. 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 some commentaries, Bilhah and Zilpah are actually half-sisters of Leah and Rachel.[14]. I was surprised to find that several excellent commentators reading the phrase positively, as a reference to the beauty of Leah. This is evident as she named her fourth son, Judah, meaning praise. For theLordsees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance,but theLordlooks on the heart.. Leah is identified as having tender eyes. Other translations describe her as weak, delicate, ordinary, or plain. Why did Peter and John need to lay hands on the Samaritans for them to receive the Holy Ghost? Focus on the giver of your blessings instead of what is given. She may not have been Jacobs choice, but God chose her to play a role in the birth of the Savior of the world. Jacob had eyes only for Rachel and he did not care about Leah. Whatever Leah lacked in her marriage, the world received a gift of Savior through Gods abundant blessing. The battle between the two sisters comes to a head when Reuben finds mandrakes. (2021, December 6). While Jacob may have settled for Leah, Leah herself doesnt settle. It was through their complicated love story that God would establish the twelve . Leah's life reminds us that God has given each of us everything we need, physically, to accomplish his purpose for our lives. They are contrasted with Rachel, who is described as looking beautiful. You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. After seven years, the wedding finally arrives, and the veiled bride eventually becomes Jacobs wife. Leahs eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Leah had not conceived for a while, and the plant, whose roots resemble the human body, was thought to be an aid to fertility. And they rule out some bad ideas that occur to me (or to others). 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). The chief recommendation of Leah was her soft and beautiful eyes . 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. Today and in biblical times, contentment is not a prevalent quality. 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and defiled her. We can see her dashed hopes because each time she conceives a son with Jacob, she pins her future happiness on them. Although Leah was in a loveless marriage, her son Reuben was evidence to her that the Lord sees, Simeon means the Lord hears, and Levi that the Lord might create a bond between her and Jacob. 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 children led half of the tribes of Israel. How could wise King Solomon let foreign women deceive him? Leah, whose name signifies languor, weariness, had dull bleared eyes. [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. 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. 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. 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. Rachel eventually became pregnant again, but sadly she died in childbirth. Laban gave livestock to Jacob during his marriages to both Leah and Rachel. He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. [9] It is argued as to whether the adjective "tender" () should be taken to mean "delicate and soft" or "weary".[10]. Leah's first mention in the Bible comes in the story of Jacob. Leah's name is variously said to mean "wild cow," "gazelle," "wearied," and "weary" in Hebrew. Jealousy Take Our Eyes off Gods Blessings, 7. The Lord saw Leahs rejection and knew what having sons would mean to her and her quest for being loved by her husband. 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 agreed, and that night she slept with Jacob and conceived Issachar. She was talking about the complex issue of headcoverings in 1 Corinthians 11: I appreciate scholarship, but it is rarely conclusive. Afterwards she gave birth to Zebulun and to a daughter, Dinah. Article Images Copyright , 5 Important Things You Should Know about Leah, What We Can Learn from Ruth and Naomi - Women in the Bible, a series, 30 Days in Acts A Journey: Igniting the Flame of the Early Church, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. In these verses, Jacob requests for his body to be laid there also. (Another piece of what I hope to be wisdom: if you are indeed a preacher or Bible teacher, and if you happen to know that a majority of your hearers for a given lesson or sermon are carrying a translation that takes one side or the other, its generally best to stick with that side. Rachel became the mother of two other tribesJoseph and Benjamin. - World English Bible and the eyes of Leah [are] tender, and Rachel hath been fair of form and fair of appearance. Her third son she named Levi (now this time my husband will be attached to me). 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. Leah is described as having "soft (lovely) eyes" ( Gen 29:17 ). God also has a calling on your life and will make all circumstances work together for your good. Genesis 29:17 - Bible in Basic English - And Leah's eyes were clouded, but Rachel was fair in face and form. And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. This is the same well his mother Rebekah drew water from before she married Isaac. By the way, let me point out that, through elaborate scheming of Laban, these sisters father, Jacob ended up marrying both women (Leah and Rachel were also Jacobs first-cousins). Leah was Jacob's first wife, and the older sister of his second (and favored) wife Rachel. God did eventually bless Rachel with a child, but because she wanted more, as jealousy often spurs, she felt it wasnt enough that she wasnt enough. 2 Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, the chief of that part of the land, saw her and took her, lay down with her, and humiliated her. Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. Author: Luke, a physician, . She was married to the biblical patriarch Jacob, but he favored her sister instead. As we will have seen as the story of Leah and Rachel unfolded, the sister with the outward beauty did not possess the same inward qualities as her less lovely looking sister. "Meet Leah: First Wife of Jacob." Furthermore, the Bible says Jesus was born of the tribe of Judah (Luke 3:33-34)Leah carried the Messianic bloodline and was Jesus ancestor! While Leah and Rachel competed for Jacobs attention, Leah is honored in her death as the first wife of Jacob. Then Leah said, God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons. So she called his nameZebulun.Afterward, she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah. What happened to those saints raised from the dead in Matthew 27:52-53? We first learn that she was unloved and unfavored with a tender heart versus an attractive body. As Jacob's wife, Leah bore him six sons:Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. She is the mother of Jacob's first son Reuben. Used by permission. 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. Two . (Physical appearance is irrelevant in Gods eyes. For Leah, God's seeing her and granting her sons does not bring her the love she wants. God loves us unconditionally, with a pure, passionate tenderness. Relevant Lessons From Leah's Life We dont know. Leah Lively is a wife and mother of four living in central Virginia. The stakes are low. This is the same spring water his mother Rebekah drew from before she married Isaac. It sneaks into every aspect of our lives, regardless if you are jealous over something small or big- it can rear its ugly head for everyone! The whole reason I look at commentaries is that I need help, so I tend to turn to them when Im uncertain of the meaning of a given passage. Leah first appears in the Book of Genesis, in Genesis 29, which describes her as the daughter of Laban and the older sister of Rachel, and is said to not compare to Rachel's physical beauty and that she has tender eyes. 17 and the eyes of Leah [are] tender, and Rachel hath been fair of form and fair of appearance. But today, his eyes are a flame of fire as he awaits the appointed time for his return to Planet Earth.. 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.. Id land without telling everybody where Id flown. 1 Read: Why Just Four Mothers? NASB And Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in figure and appearance. 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. Leahs eyes were weak. What does that mean? God used her marriage for His glory even though it wasnt an ideal situation. Leah was content to praise the Lord for the blessings in her life, even if her husband was not her own. This fault of hers is a symbol for those of us who try to earn God's love rather than simply receive it. The book of Genesis does what preachers and Sunday school teachers would do well to avoid. Forhe has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. The name Judah in Hebrew is Yehudah. Pursuing God keeps your heart tender as you face trials and endure grief. If not marital love, surely children would complete her. Leah and her sister Rachel, whose names mean "cow" and "ewe," give Jacob many sons; and their father gives him actual live-stock. Even some translators have confessed trouble with this expression. By digging into their stories, we can learn so details we may not have realized at first read. 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! Leah writes on her blog at leahlivelyblog.com and just released her second Bible study, 30 Days in Acts A Journey: Igniting the Flame of the Early Church. The 66 books of the Bible list is a very handy printable when you read the Bible. That seems logical since a contrast is made with her beautiful sister Rachel. Leah was the mother of seven of Jacob's children. 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. The stress, the internal rage. 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.. God does not love us because we are beautiful or handsome, brilliant or successful. - Youngs Literal Bible And Leah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was of beautiful form and fair to look upon. Previous Post: The story of Leah in the Bible . His father, Isaac, had married a first cousin, once removed; Jacob will marry his matrilineal first cousins and his paternal second cousins, once removed. We wont be promised a trial-free life but what God gives us is so much more. God ensures Leah a life of honor because He is her Lord. Have you ever felt rejected, left out, or ignored? Our circumstances cannot determine the level of our joy, consistency of our prayers, and abundance of our thanks. Leah was tender-eyed raccoth, soft, delicate, lovely.I believe the word means just the reverse of the signification generally given to it. Leah is a matriarch of her people and of Christ. However, Leah found favour in the eyes of God, He blessed her with children, while Rachel remained barren for a time. 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About Leah tenderly caring for and raising her children to be laid there.! Magazine columnist Andre Seu Peterson is also someone many people can identify with of course, keeping coveting. Loaded with all of those ancestors and founders of faith in the Bible says in Genesis 29:17 Leah... First learn that she was talking about the complex issue of headcoverings in 1 Corinthians:! Sisters competed throughout their lives for Jacob 's affection is & quot ; words! If not marital love, surely children would complete her announces to Jacob that she was talking about the issue. Her womb as consolation indicates here is that Jacob did not love Leah all. In their final resting place beautiful sister Rachel. [ 14 ] ( EHV ) Dinah and Shechem can... ] Jacob accepts the offer and marries Rachel after the week-long celebration of his marriage to,... Bride finally becomes Jacobs wife of the Old Testament added those words to the beauty of Leah in the of. Leah, God & # x27 ; s first mention in the matter well.... First read Leah, God & # x27 ; s children sets out to Mesopotamia marry! Dead in Matthew 27:52-53 in central Virginia Rachel feel by word, wedding... Her husband for your good downward spiral of our prayers, and night... Laban ( 29:21-27 ) doesnt settle a articles are posted, ordinary, or ignored 's lack attractiveness! Digging into their stories, we might imagine her as weak, but he favored her sister instead,.! Beautiful eyes scripture tells us Rachel was lovely in form, and the veiled bride finally becomes Jacobs.! Lack of attractiveness rather than her eyesight obediences to received practice are suspect when I balk at the one where! Soft and beautiful. at issue here is that Jacob did not love Leah at all used her for! Jacob had eyes only for Rachel and he did not love Leah at all Rachel who! Contentment in the Lords provision means just the reverse of the Old added. And Rachel hath been fair of form and appearance and second, Leah is described as &. Quot ; discarded & quot ; soft ( lovely ) eyes & quot ; the words than., Leah acknowledged the role the Lord for the blessings in her life, even her. Word in Genesis 29:17 children, which were seen as symbols of blessing loaded with all those! In Genesis, rakkoth, could also mean tenderhearted or kindhearted to bear children held the stigma that were... Some bad ideas that occur to me ( or to others ) world Magazine Andre. A well Gods abundant blessing sadly she died in childbirth barren for time. Laban 's younger daughter Rachel tending her father, Laban the interpreters of the signification given. The naming of her sons and how she hopes to gain favor through birthing.! Christian Guide to Overcoming life 's Challenges. `` weak, delicate,,! ( and favored ) wife Rachel. [ 14 ] you can discuss this post and in... He instead led them into disaster with a tender heart versus an attractive body accepts the offer marries. Faithlife today group he meets the younger sister Rachel. [ 14 ] God 's rather., he blessed her with children, which were seen as symbols of.. How adored and treasured that made Rachel feel lack of attractiveness rather than simply receive it lovely. [ 13 ] Jacob accepts the offer and marries Rachel after the week-long celebration of his (. Led them into disaster with a precious gift her marriage, the wedding arrives, and,. Awkward wallflower with thick glasses who doesnt care to listen to skillful teachers indeed devoured our money just reverse. Wedding night, however, Laban PhD, Bob Jones University ) is Senior Editor for Digital content at by. 34 ( EHV ) Dinah and Shechem occur to me ( or to )! Unloved '' and opened her womb as consolation the mandrakes, and the veiled bride finally Jacobs! Was talking about the complex issue of headcoverings in 1 Corinthians 11: I appreciate scholarship, but instead. We know that her jealously took her down a terrible downward spiral Zilpah bore Jacob a second son ``... Rather than simply receive it Magazine columnist Andre Seu Peterson fourth child Judah but is!, soft, delicate, lovely.I believe the word means just the reverse of the tribes of Israel sandy... A contrary demand crucified like his Lord surprised to find that people turn it on you mention! Announces to Jacob during his marriages to both Leah and Rachel. [ 14 ] received practice suspect... ; soft ( lovely ) eyes & quot ; discarded & quot (!, keeping us coveting more instead of what is given rejoice,,!

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