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Leah

femalePatriarchal

Meaning: “Weary; or wild cow

The elder daughter of Laban and first wife of Jacob; though unloved, she bore six of the twelve tribal patriarchs, including Levi and Judah.

L

Biography

Leah, the elder daughter of Laban, became Jacob's first wife through her father's deception and lived in the shadow of her more-loved sister Rachel. Yet God honored the unloved wife, and through her came the priestly tribe of Levi and the royal, messianic tribe of Judah.

The unloved wife

Laban substituted Leah for Rachel on the wedding night, and Jacob, discovering the deceit, served another seven years for Rachel (Genesis 29:23–28). Scripture says plainly, "Leah was hated" — yet "the LORD saw that Leah was hated, [and] he opened her womb" (Genesis 29:31).

Mother of tribes

Leah bore Jacob six sons — Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun — and a daughter, Dinah. Her words at Judah's birth, "now will I praise the LORD" (Genesis 29:35), name the tribe from which both King David and Jesus Christ would come.

Honored in the end

Though less loved in life, Leah was buried in the cave of Machpelah, the patriarchal tomb, alongside Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebekah (Genesis 49:31) — and Ruth's blessing remembers her with Rachel as one who "did build the house of Israel" (Ruth 4:11).

Life Timeline

1929 BC

Given to Jacob in marriage by Laban’s deception

Genesis 29:23
1927 BC

Bears Judah, ancestor of David and Christ

Genesis 29:35

On the Bible timeline

Leah belongs to the The Patriarchs era (c. 2100 – 1800 BC).

  1. c. 2091 BCThe Call of Abraham
  2. c. 1898 BCJoseph Sold into Egypt

Family Tree

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Themes & lessons from Leah

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Leah appears.

Jacob23×Leah16×Rachel10×Laban9×Zilpah8×Children6×Wages6×Betrothal4×Wife3×Reuben2×Tribes of Israel, the2×Zebulun, the Tribe Of2×Chiding1×Father-in-Law1×Husbands1×Presents1×Reuben, the Tribe Of1×Tent1×

People they appear with

Jacob14×
Rachel13×
Zilpah6×
Laban5×
Reuben3×
Gad2×
Asher2×
Issachar2×
Zebulun2×
Joseph2×
Dinah2×
Esau1×
Judah1×
Simeon1×
Levi1×
Abraham1×
Sarah1×
Isaac1×
Rebekah1×

Places in their story

Padan-aram2×

Scripture Appearances

32 verses in 2 books
Genesis31 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 29:23

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 29:30

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. Reuben: that is, See a son

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. Gad: that is, A troop, or, company

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. Happy: Heb. In my happiness Asher: that is, Happy

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 30:16

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. Issachar: that is, An hire

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. Zebulun: that is, Dwelling: Gr. Zabulon

Genesis 31:4

And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,

Genesis 31:14

And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?

Genesis 31:33

And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.

Genesis 33:1

And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.

Genesis 33:2

And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.

Genesis 33:7

And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

Genesis 34:1

And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.

Genesis 35:23

The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:

Genesis 35:26

And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.

Genesis 46:15

These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padanaram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three.

Genesis 46:18

These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls.

Genesis 49:31

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

Ruth1 verse

Ruth 4:11

And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: do thou: or, get thee riches, or, power be famous: Heb. proclaim thy name

Frequently asked about Leah

Who was Leah in the Bible?

The elder daughter of Laban and first wife of Jacob; though unloved, she bore six of the twelve tribal patriarchs, including Levi and Judah.

What does the name Leah mean?

The name Leah means “Weary; or wild cow”.

What did Leah do in the Bible?

Leah served as matriarch.

Who were Leah's children?

Leah's children include Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah.

Who were Leah's parents?

Leah was the child of Laban.

Where does Leah appear in the Bible?

Leah is mentioned 32 times across 2 books: Genesis, Ruth.

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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