She and her younger sister, Rachel, were rivals in a soap-opera-like romance with Jacob. In fact, the promise of a Savior was carried not through Rachel's Joseph but through Leah's Judah, whose descendants would include David, Israel's great king, and Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah. Trying to change the world one abode at a time… starting with my own. After Jacob had merely seen Rachel, he displayed an incredible feat of strength, rolling the stone from the well. May you find some insight from these related scripture quotes!To find the full context of shorter scripture quotes, click on "Chapter" above each verse. But both women made the same mistake as Sarah, offering their maidservants to Jacob during times of barrenness. That seems logical since a contrast is made with her beautiful sister Rachel. The two sisters competed throughout their lives for Jacob's affection. God does not love us because we are beautiful or handsome, brilliant or successful. Despite being used by the men in her life, in the end she praises God for His blessings on her. She is also mentioned in Ruth 4:11. Story of Leah in the Bible. ‘God hearkened to Leah’- the Bible stresses the true source of Leah’s blessing. When his first 7 years were complete he demanded he have his wife so he could lay with her. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field. 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." No disclaimers. By the time she gets to Judah, we see her mindset has shifted to giving God praise alone for His goodness to her. Fun online educational games and worksheets are provided free for each Bible story. He is the author of "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges. Sign up for our email list to walk through the Bible with us! Part of the beauty of the story of Leah in the Bible is that even though she wasn’t the attractive “star” of her family—God still used her in a phenomenal way. Who was Leah in the Bible? Not that he could marry her and be together, but that he could lay with her. How she must have felt when her father tricked Jacob. (NIV), Genesis 49:29-31Then he gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people. The upshot is that Leah eventually bears a total of six sons and a daughter for Jacob. "LEAH" in the KJV Bible. How difficult must life have been for her? What does the Bible say about Leah? Then, when she births his sixth son, Zebulun, she no longer asks for love for her husband, just that he dwell with her (the word for honor means ‘to reside, dwell with’). Leah's story in the Bible is told in Genesis chapters 29-31, 33-35, 46, and 49. “You aren’t pretty enough.” “I need you to do something for me before I will show you love.” “I like her more than you.”. While nothing is inherently wrong with beauty or being attracted to your significant other, it is wrong to lust after and uphold beauty as the ultimate standard for worth. When Jacob found out he had been tricked, he labored another seven years for Rachel. Welcome! And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. As the mother of Judah, Leah was part of the ancestry that led to the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. The older one was named Leah, and the … Leah in the Bible is the older daughter of Laban and Jacob's first wife. In the long run, Leah was recognized by the Jewish people as an important person in their history, as this verse from the book of Ruth shows: At the end of Jacob's life, he requested to be buried beside Leah (Genesis 49:29-31), suggesting that he'd come to recognize the virtue in Leah and had grown to love her as deeply as he loved Rachel. | Who does your heart follow? Yet, there’s a lot we can learn from Leah in the Bible. "Leah" - discussed most often in the books of Genesis (27) and Ruth (1). The problem is Jacob loves her younger sister Rachel. She went through deep, emotional turmoil but learned through it that God was faithful and worthy to be praised in spite of her circumstances. Levi sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for “attached”. 3 Minute Read Have you read a good book, fiction or non-fiction about Rachel? (NIV), Jack Zavada is a writer who covers the Bible, theology, and other Christianity topics. Her son, Judah, became the father of the tribe that birthed both King David and eventually Jesus, the Messiah. She was unloved by her husband Jacob. 32 Instances - Page 2 of 2 Expand or Limit Your Search Results: All KJV books Old Testament only New Testament only Apocrypha only (?) Leah was the oldest daughter of Laban, Rebekah’s brother. It’s never too late to start…. God loves us unconditionally, with a pure, passionate tenderness. Follow along with the blog: Examples of Family Problems in the Bible. Leah bore more children, a highly honored achievement in ancient Israel. Jacob’s lack of love for Leah is even clearer in today’s passage. (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." However, perhaps this is why we now find, that during this time of emotional hardship for Leah -- the Sacred Record revealing, that Rachel was now found to be barren, for she couldn't have any kids of her own at this time. The story of Leah's family is recorded in Genesis 25—35. You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Jacob’s uncle, Laban, had two daughters. Take note of the lessons from Leah in the Bible as there are many. The Bible describes it this way in Genesis 29:32-34 (NASB): Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Such an example to live by. Yet chosen and loved by God. Leah, not Rachel, was destined to be his first and last wife. After Jacob tricked his father and stole his brother’s birthright ( Genesis 27:1–29 ), he was forced to flee to the home of his uncle Laban in Harran. Leah and her sister Rachel, whose names mean “cow” and “ewe,” give Jacob many sons; and their father gives him actual live-stock Leah is described as having “soft (lovely) eyes” ( … Already, we are seeing a pattern here. Still, this is a sad situation for Leah. As Jacob's wife, Leah bore him six sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. Leah, the eldest, had eyes that were “delicate.” Rachel, with whom Jacob fell in love, was Laban’s younger daughter; and she “was beautiful of form and appearance” (Genesis 29:16-17). The only birth where her heart was solely focused on God and His faithfulness, her husband was not even mentioned in the naming. The Lord showed compassion on Leah as He saw she was not loved. Rachel and Leah Bible Study – Nicki Koziarz . A man named Jacob went to work for his Uncle Laban. Genesis 35:23 | View whole chapter | See verse in context There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. If you have ever heard a phrase along those lines, you can probably relate to Leah. She can be found in the Bible Timeline between 1754-1704 BC.… Leah: The Unloved Wife A wedding is supposed to be a joyful occasion; and Jacob’s wedding promised to be no exception. Laban had two daughters. Leah wouldn’t be the first woman in history to think that, now, would she? Zilpah bears a son and Leah names him Gad, which means “a … Leah mistakenly thinks that somehow having a baby will endear her to Jacob and cause him to love her, especially since Rachel can’t give him children. Because He Lives, Sue . So imagine, to her dismay, when she not only is used to trick Jacob, but how outraged he is that she isn’t the one he wanted. Because of this, God gave special attention to Leah, and enabled her to … But then Rachel makes it a personal competition between herself and Leah. Genesis 29 tells the story of Jacob and Leah… and her sister, Rachel. Discover the top Bible verses about Leah from the Old and New Testaments. She turns to God, seeking His favor and asking for His help in receiving favor from her husband. Leah was born in the town of Paddan-Aram, the oldest daughter of Laban, sister of Rachel, and niece of Rebekah. The name Leah means weary. There are so many lessons from Leah in the Bible! Leah was the mother of six of Jacob’s sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar , Zebulun, and Judah; Judah was the ancestor of King David and, according to the New Testament, of Jesus. Genesis 49:31 | View whole chapter | See verse in context There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. Alongside her husband, the father of Israel, she would be revered as a mother of Israel. I’ve spent many years thinking about poor, physically flawed Leah. Don’t forget to download your copy of our Family Bible Plan. Through no fault of her own, she was not one of the "beautiful people" and it caused her a lifetime of heartache. Leah is the elder daughter of Laban and the wife of Jacob, father of twelve sons who will become the twelve tribes of Israel. Yet Leah was eclipsed by her younger sister, Rachel, who was "lovely in form and beautiful." She is also someone many people can identify with. Zebulun means “habitation”, from the root meaning “to reside; dwell with”. Because Leah’s 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. What other lessons do you see from the story of Rachel in the Bible? Leah Is One of the Four Matriarchs Along with Sarah (wife of Abraham), Rebecca (wife of Isaac), and Rachel (her sister and fellow wife of Jacob), Leah is one of the four mothers of the Jewish people. Follow along with the blog: God Remembered Sarah and He Remembers You. Leah's name is variously said to mean "wild cow," "gazelle," "wearied," and "weary" in Hebrew. “God has given me wages because I gave my servant to my husband.”. Leah was uncomely when compared to her lovely sister, but what she lacked in beauty she made up for in loyalty to Jacob as a wife, and as a good mother to his children. Her story illustrates that God often chooses to fulfill his plans and purposes by using those who are overlooked by others. The stone on the well’s mouth was large, and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place over the mouth of the well. “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.”. The oldest daughter of Laban, she was plain looking and may have had poor eyesight, but she was dutiful and virtuous. Women in the Bible: Leah. How heartbreaking that the Bible clearly says Leah was unloved. She is also mentioned in Ruth 4:11. (NIV). Her second place status does not change, but God carried the family line through her son, Judah. Leah's story in the Bible is told in Genesis chapters 29-31, 33-35, 46, and 49. Children's Bible Lessons, Leah unloved wife of Jacob, for elementry and middle school students. Her mindset has shifted to praising God for His goodness to her, and recognizing she may never have the love of her husband. Even though her husband Jacob favored Rachel, Leah remained committed, enduring this unfairness through faith in God. Follow along with the blog: Creation Days and Noah Flood Facts. Answer: Leah was the daughter of Laban, the sister of Rachel, a wife of Jacob, and the mother of seven of Jacob’s children. Leah was born in the town of Paddan-Aram, the oldest daughter of Laban, sister of Rachel, and niece of Rebekah. She turns to Him, seeking healing from her brokenness. No excuses. Leah was not as beautiful as her sister Rachel. Leah’s story starts in Genesis 29. Bible Study Online Leah Was Still Blessed - In Spite of Jacob's Treatment? Many Bible experts say the verse refers to Leah's lack of attractiveness rather than her eyesight. While Rachel is attractive, Leah is not. This quiz was inspired by the story “The girl no one wanted” in Sally Lloyd-Jones’ children’s book: The Jesus Storybook Bible.. Let’s see whether you can score 10/10 for the Leah Bible … Leah, like her younger sister, Rachel, is an interesting character. He never loves her as much as he loves Rachel, but then her dignity and status rest on what God has … Genesis 29:23But when evening came, he (Laban) took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and Jacob lay with her. She was also the sister of Rachel and the wife of Jacob. This was a job that was done by multiple shepherds. Leah fell short of the conventional standard of beauty in the ancient world. Leah was a loving and faithful wife. We read soon after this how her self-esteem was affected. (NIV), Genesis 29:31When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. "Leah" - mentioned in 2 books and occurs 28 times in the Holy King James Bible (KJV) All we have to do for his love is accept it. 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.". When Bilhah gives two sons to Rachel, Leah decides to follow suit and give her maid Zilpah to Jacob as wife. Susan Nelson. But let’s look through her responses after each child was born. Make that "tender" (KJV), "delicate" (NKJV), or "pretty" (NLT) eyes. Then he was completely overcome with emotions and started weeping. The Bible’s original love triangle: Jacob, Leah, and Rachel Tricked by his father-in-law into marrying his true love’s sister, Jacob waited 14 years before he could be with Rachel. After this, we see he is willing to work hard to earn her as his bride. It was noted that Jacob’s “…love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah.” (Genesis 29:30). Leah's name is variously said to mean "wild cow," "gazelle," "wearied," and "weary" in Hebrew. While I’m inexplicitly drawn to Rachel, I just feel sorry for Leah. I have always found the story of Leah to be so fascinating. Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel … [he] came near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth…. The Bible just goes right out and says it: Rachel was hot. Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for “praise”. This fault of hers is a symbol for those of us who try to earn God's love rather than simply receive it. However, the Lord loves Leah even when Jacob does not. Jacob worked for Rachel's father Laban seven years for the right to marry Rachel. Leah, also spelled Lia, in the Old Testament (primarily in Genesis), first wife of Jacob (later Israel) and the traditional ancestor of five of the 12 tribes of Israel. Reuben sounds like the Hebrew for “he has seen my misery”; the name means “see, a son.”, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.”. Lessons from Leah in the Bible (Genesis 29-35) “You aren’t pretty enough.” “I need you to do something for me before I will show you love.” “I like her more than you.” If you have ever heard a phrase along those lines, you can probably relate to Leah. We read in verse 31 that she was “hated,” a word that in context means “loved less” (v. 30), not that Jacob maliciously detested her. Leah was offered in pity through her father’s deception just to appease his financial gains from having daughters. Leah was not. She was in a relationship in which she hoped birthing sons would acquire his love. When he met Rachel, he fell in love with her at first sight. Tell me in the comments below. (Exodus 7 - 13), https://anchoredabode.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/D-R.mp4, The One Word We Banned From Our House (Blog Post), Who do You Follow? “God has endowed me with a good endowment (‘dowry, gift’); now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.”. Commit today to read through the Bible! Leah was not noted for her beauty as her sister Rachel was, but for her weak, or delicate, eyes. Read through the biblical references of Leah to learn more about its meaning and significance. Issachar sounds llike the Hebrew for “reward”. Leah’s first mention in the Bible comes in the story of Jacob. 1 Read: Why Just Four Mothers? He had loved Rachel from the moment he saw her, and when Laban, Rachel and Leah’s father, asked him what wages he desired, without hesitation Jacob asked for Rachel as his wife. ", Love in the Bible: From God's Love to the Most Romantic Scriptures, Meet Ruth: Great Grandmother of King David, Bathsheba, Mother of Solomon, Wife of King David, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. “It seems that homely Leah was a person of deep-rooted piety and therefore better suited to become instrumental in carrying out the plans of Jehovah than her handsome, but worldly-minded, sister, Rachel.” 2. Follow along with the blog: Simple Lessons From the Life of Sarah. There are so many lessons from Leah in the Bible! Leah tried to make Jacob love her through her deeds. (2 Kings 12-18), It’s all in the Details | The small people and the small things (2 Kings 5-11), Evil People in the Bible are often influenced by those who are morally bankrupt (1 Kings 20 – 2 Kings 4). These men were among the founders of the 12 tribes of Israel. Laban tricked Jacob, however, substituting the heavily-veiled Leah on the dark wedding night. Still, Leah continually depends upon God. Genesis 34:1 | View whole chapter | See verse in context And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. Keep in mind, this is only after seeing her. Lessons from Leah in the Bible (Genesis 29-35), on Lessons from Leah in the Bible (Genesis 29-35), Follow along with the blog: Creation Days and Noah Flood Facts, Follow along with the blog: Examples of Family Problems in the Bible, Examples of Family Problems in the Bible (Genesis 22-28), Before Joseph Forgives his Brothers (Genesis 36-42), Before Joseph Forgives his Brothers (Genesis 36-42) - Anchored Abode, Joseph Provides Guidance for the Biblical Reconciliation Process, Insecure Moses Requests Relief (Genesis 50 - Exodus 6), Why did God send the 10 plagues? ~It is appreciated but not required that you follow my social media accounts, ~A new Anchored Abode podcast (iTunes) has been started, and I would love for subscribers and positive reviews (SoundCloud), ~I do ask that you use the Anchored Truth Tuesdays logo above on your site somewhere or on the post itself; if you click on the picture above a new window will open with html instructions, ~ Family friendly posts only (I reserve the right to delete any that are deemed inappropriate); with a direct link to a specific blog post, ~It is appreciated if you spread the blogging love to those around you in the Anchored community by visiting their sites, following them, or liking/sharing posts, ~We have a Pinterest group board, Anchored Truth Tuesdays, where all who link up are welcome to also upload their content–you’ll just need to like Anchored Abode first, and then request to join, ~By submitting a link, you are agreeing to be added to our email list as well as allowing the use of pictures/content as featured posts on our social media accounts. 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