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Leah
Less loved by her husband, she became the mother of priests and kings.
Old and New Testament · Patriarchal era · Genesis, Ruth · Also known as Wife of Jacob, Daughter of Laban
About Leah
Leah was Laban’s older daughter. Jacob loved her younger sister Rachel, but on the wedding night Laban gave him Leah instead. Jacob loved Rachel more, "and when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb." The names she gave her sons show her longing to be loved, until with her fourth son she said, "Now will I praise the LORD," and named him Judah. She bore six of Jacob’s twelve sons and a daughter, Dinah. Through Levi came Israel’s priests, and through Judah came King David and Jesus.
"Hated" in Genesis 29:31 (KJV) means loved less, as verse 30 shows. Leah’s sons Levi and Judah became the ancestors of Israel’s priests and its royal line. When Ruth married Boaz, the townspeople blessed her to be "like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel."
The story
The wrong bride
"Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured." After seven years’ work for Rachel, Laban brought Leah to Jacob in the dark. "In the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me?"
Genesis 29:16-25
The LORD saw
"When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb." She named her first son Reuben: "Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me." Then Simeon, "Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated," and Levi: "Now this time will my husband be joined unto me."
Genesis 29:31-34
Now will I praise the LORD
With her fourth son, Leah’s words changed: "Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah." Later she bore Issachar and Zebulun, and a daughter, Dinah.
Genesis 29:35; 30:17-21
Buried with the patriarchs
At the end of his life, Jacob asked to be buried in the cave of Machpelah: "There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah."
Genesis 49:29-31
Key moments
- Given to Jacob: In place of Rachel. (Genesis 29:23-25)
- Reuben is born: "The LORD hath looked upon my affliction." (Genesis 29:32)
- Judah is born: "Now will I praise the LORD." (Genesis 29:35)
- Mother of six sons: And a daughter, Dinah. (Genesis 35:23)
- Buried at Machpelah: With the patriarchs. (Genesis 49:31)
Questions about Leah
In meetBible these answers are given in Leah’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Did Jacob love you?
Genesis says Jacob "loved also Rachel more than Leah," and that the LORD saw "that Leah was hated," meaning loved less. You can hear my hope in my sons’ names: "now therefore my husband will love me," and "Now this time will my husband be joined unto me." Scripture doesn’t say Jacob’s love for me grew, but it does say the LORD saw me and heard me.
Why did you name your son Judah?
With my first three sons I spoke of my affliction and my hope that my husband would love me. With my fourth I said, "Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah." The name sounds like the Hebrew word for praise. Scripture doesn’t explain the change in me, only the words.
Are you an ancestor of Jesus?
Yes, through my son Judah. Matthew’s list begins, "Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren." King David came from Judah’s tribe, and so did Jesus. Through my son Levi came the priests, including Moses and Aaron.
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with Genesis 29–30.