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Leah

femalePatriarchal

Meaning: “Weary / Wild cow

Leah was Jacob's first wife, the mother of six sons and a daughter, including Judah and Levi, ancestors of the priesthood and kingship of Israel.

L

Life Timeline

1908 BC

Given to Jacob in marriage in Leah's stead — deception by Laban

Genesis 29:21-26
1907 BC

Bears Reuben

Genesis 29:31-32
1906 BC

Bears Simeon, Levi

Genesis 29:33-34
1905 BC

Bears Judah

Genesis 29:35
1900 BC

Bears Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah

Genesis 30:14-21

Themes & lessons from Leah

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Leah appears.

Jacob33×Leah19×Rachel17×Laban15×Wages15×Betrothal13×Children9×Zilpah6×Father-in-Law3×Wife3×Presents2×Reuben2×Weeks2×Zebulun, the Tribe Of2×Cave1×Marriage1×Reuben, the Tribe Of1×Simeon, the Tribe Of1×

People they appear with

Rachel28×
Jacob16×
Laban8×
Zilpah4×
Reuben2×
Bilhah1×
Simeon1×
Levi1×
Judah1×
Gad1×
Asher1×
Issachar1×
Zebulun1×
Dinah1×
Rebekah1×

Scripture Appearances

34 verses in 1 book
Genesis34 verses

Genesis 29:16

And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

Genesis 29:17

Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

Genesis 29:18

And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

Genesis 29:19

And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

Genesis 29:20

And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

Genesis 29:21

And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

Genesis 29:22

And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

Genesis 29:23

And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

Genesis 29:24

And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

Genesis 29:25

And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

Genesis 29:26

And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

Genesis 29:27

Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

Genesis 29:28

And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

Genesis 29:29

And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

Genesis 29:30

And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

Genesis 29:31

And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

Genesis 29:32

And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

Genesis 29:33

And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

Genesis 29:34

And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

Genesis 29:35

And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

Genesis 30:9

When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

Genesis 30:10

And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a son.

Genesis 30:11

And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.

Genesis 30:12

And Zilpah Leah’s maid bare Jacob a second son.

Genesis 30:13

And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

Genesis 30:14

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 30:15

And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.

Genesis 30:16

And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

Genesis 30:17

And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

Genesis 30:18

And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

Genesis 30:19

And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.

Genesis 30:20

And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

Genesis 30:21

And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

Genesis 49:31

There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

Frequently asked about Leah

Who was Leah in the Bible?

Leah was Jacob's first wife, the mother of six sons and a daughter, including Judah and Levi, ancestors of the priesthood and kingship of Israel.

What does the name Leah mean?

The name Leah means “Weary / Wild cow”.

What did Leah do in the Bible?

Leah served as (none), of the tribe of Hebrew.

Where does Leah appear in the Bible?

Leah is mentioned 34 times across 1 book: Genesis.

What can we learn from Leah?

The story of Leah touches on themes of jacob, leah, rachel, laban — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Leah's life.

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