Leah (Genesis 29:16–17; Genesis 29:23–28; Genesis 29:30–35; Genesis 30:9–13; Genesis 30:14–16; Genesis 30:17–21; Genesis 31:4–16; Genesis 31:33–35; Genesis 33:1–7; Genesis 34:1; Genesis 35:23; Genesis 46:15; Genesis 49:29–32; Ruth 4:11)

Elder Daughter of Laban, Mother of Six Sons of Jacob

The elder daughter of Laban, brought to Jacob in the evening in place of Rachel, whom the LORD saw to be hated and who bore Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun and Dinah, and gave Zilpah to Jacob; Genesis records her burial only in Jacob's words.

Genesis introduces her in one verse: “And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel” (Genesis 29:16). The next verse says “Leah’s eyes were tender; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored” (Genesis 29:17). After Jacob had agreed to serve seven years for Rachel, Laban “took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her” (Genesis 29:23), and in the morning “behold, it was Leah” (Genesis 29:25). Jacob then went in also to Rachel and “loved also Rachel more than Leah” (Genesis 29:30).

“And Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren” (Genesis 29:31). Leah bore Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah, and the text gives her own words at each naming, among them “This time will I praise Jehovah” (Genesis 29:35). When she saw that she had left off bearing, she gave Zilpah her handmaid to Jacob, and Zilpah bore Gad and Asher (Genesis 30:9-13). “God hearkened unto Leah” (Genesis 30:17), and she bore Issachar, Zebulun, and a daughter, Dinah. She and Rachel are heard together when Jacob calls them to the field: “whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do” (Genesis 31:16). When Jacob met Esau, “Leah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves” (Genesis 33:7).

Scripture does not record her death. Her burial appears only in Jacob's charge to his sons, as he names those laid in the cave of Machpelah: “and there I buried Leah—” (Genesis 49:31). The only other book that names her is Ruth, where the people in the gate say, “Jehovah make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel” (Ruth 4:11).

Strengths

• Gives God the credit at her sons’ namings
• Heard by God
• Bids Jacob do what God said
• Builds the house of Israel with Rachel

Themes

• The hated wife
• The LORD sees and opens
• Sisters and rivalry
• Names that carry words
• Building the house of Israel

The elder given in place of the younger (Genesis 29:16–28)

Laban has two daughters, Leah the elder and Rachel the younger; in the evening he brings Leah to Jacob, and when Jacob finds in the morning that it is Leah, Laban answers that the younger is not given before the first-born.

The LORD sees that Leah is hated (Genesis 29:30–35)

Jacob loves Rachel more than Leah; the LORD sees that Leah is hated and opens her womb, and she bears Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah, giving a reason at each naming.

The LORD sees that Leah is hated

Jacob “went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah” (Genesis 29:30). “And Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren” (Genesis 29:31).

Of the first son the text says, “she called his name Reuben: for she said, Because Jehovah hath looked upon my affliction: for now my husband will love me” (Genesis 29:32). Of the second, she “said, Because Jehovah hath heard that I am hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon” (Genesis 29:33). Of the third, she “said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi” (Genesis 29:34).

“And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, This time will I praise Jehovah: therefore she called his name Judah; and she left off bearing” (Genesis 29:35).

Zilpah given to Jacob (Genesis 30:9–13)

Seeing that she has left off bearing, Leah gives her handmaid Zilpah to Jacob, and Zilpah bears Gad and Asher, whom Leah names.

The mandrakes (Genesis 30:14–16)

Reuben brings mandrakes to his mother Leah; Rachel asks for some, and when Leah answers her, Rachel grants her a night with Jacob for them, and Jacob lies with Leah that night.

The mandrakes

“And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes” (Genesis 30:14).

Leah answered her: “Is it a small matter that thou hast taken away my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also?” (Genesis 30:15) Rachel said, “Therefore he shall lie with thee to-night for thy son’s mandrakes” (Genesis 30:15).

“And Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for I have surely hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night” (Genesis 30:16). The text narrates the exchange without comment.

Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah (Genesis 30:17–21)

God hearkens to Leah and she bears a fifth son and a sixth, naming each with a stated reason; afterwards she bears a daughter, Dinah.

Rachel and Leah answer Jacob (Genesis 31:4–16; Genesis 31:33–35)

Jacob calls Rachel and Leah to the field to tell them God has been with him; the two answer together about their father's house, and Laban later searches Leah's tent.

Rachel and Leah answer Jacob

“And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, and said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as beforetime; but the God of my father hath been with me” (Genesis 31:4-5).

The reply is given to the two sisters together: “And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? Are we not accounted by him as foreigners? for he hath sold us, and hath also quite devoured our money” (Genesis 31:14-15).

They end: “For all the riches which God hath taken away from our father, that is ours and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do” (Genesis 31:16).

When Laban overtook Jacob and searched, he “went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two maid-servants; but he found them not” (Genesis 31:33).

Bowing before Esau (Genesis 33:1–7)

As Esau comes with four hundred men, Jacob divides the children among Leah, Rachel and the handmaids, and Leah and her children come near and bow.

There I buried Leah (Genesis 49:29–32)

Scripture records no death for Leah; Jacob, charging his sons to bury him at Machpelah, says that there he buried her.

There I buried Leah

Genesis gives no account of Leah's death. Her burial is named only in Jacob's words, when he charged his sons: “I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite” (Genesis 49:29).

“There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah—” (Genesis 49:31). Nothing more is said of it; no date or circumstance is given.

Jacob (Genesis 29:23–25; Genesis 30:16; Genesis 49:31)

Laban brought her to Jacob in the evening; she bore him six sons and a daughter, and he says he buried her at Machpelah.

Rachel (Genesis 29:16–17; Genesis 30:14–15; Genesis 31:14–16; Ruth 4:11)

Her younger sister, whom Jacob loved more and who asked her for her son's mandrakes; the two answered Jacob together, and the people in the gate name them together.

Laban (Genesis 29:16; Genesis 29:23–24; Genesis 31:14–15)

Her father, who brought her to Jacob in the evening and gave her Zilpah as a handmaid; she and Rachel said he had sold them.

Zilpah (Genesis 29:24; Genesis 30:9–13)

The handmaid Laban gave to Leah, whom Leah gave to Jacob to wife and who bore Gad and Asher.

Her sons and Dinah (Genesis 29:32–35; Genesis 30:17–21; Genesis 34:1; Genesis 35:23; Genesis 46:15)

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun and her daughter Dinah, named in the order she bore them.

The LORD (Genesis 29:31; Genesis 30:17)

The text says he saw that Leah was hated, opened her womb, and hearkened to her.

Major sections

• Genesis 29–30
• Genesis 31
• Genesis 33
• Genesis 35:23
• Genesis 46:15
• Genesis 49:29–32
• Ruth 4:11

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