Lexical Definition
לֵאָה Lêʼâh (lay-aw') Leah N:N-F-P
from לָאָה; weary
Leah.
- § Leah = "weary"
- Leah, a wife of Jacob
1) daughter of Laban, first wife of Jacob, and mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah
Extended Information
- A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.16
- daughter of: Laban (לָבָן)
- sister of: Rachel (רָחֵל); married to Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל)
- mother of: Reuben (רְאוּבֵן), Simeon (שִׁמְעוֹן), Levi (לֵוִי), Judah (יְהוּדָה), Issachar (יִשָּׂשכָר), Zebulun (זְבוּלוּן) and Dinah (דִּינָה)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
לֵאָה34 proper name, feminine Leah, elder daughter of Laban, and wife of Jacob (perhaps = wild-cow, Arabic 
, (
) [compare רָחֵל ewe], DlProl. 80 RSK 219 and (doubtfully) NöZMG xl. 1886, 167; also GrayHeb. Names, 96; others as HptGGN 1883, 100 compare Assyrian li'at, in sense mistress; on possibly relation of לֵאָה to לִוֵי see לִוֵי); — mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun and Dinah; Gen 29:16; Gen 29:17; Gen 29:23; Gen 29:24; Gen 29:25; Gen 29:30; Gen 29:31; Gen 29:32 (compare vGen 29:33 vGen 29:34 vGen 29:35) Gen 30:9 + 15 t. Gen 31:32; Gen 33:1; Gen 33:2; Gen 33:7; Gen 34:1; Gen 35:23; Gen 35:26; Gen 46:15; Gen 46:18; Gen 49:31; Ruth 4:11 ᵐ5 Λ(ε)ια.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 29:16 · 29:17 · 29:23 · 29:24 · 29:25 · 29:30 · 29:31 · 29:32 · 29:33 · 29:34 · 29:35 · 30:9 · 31:32 · 33:1 · 33:2 · 33:7 · 34:1 · 35:23 · 35:26 · 46:15 · 46:18 · 49:31 |
| Ruth | 4:11 |
Profile
Female • Sister of Rachel • Wife of Jacob; mother of six sons and Dinah
Woman living at the time of the Patriarchs
Leah, the first wife of Jacob and mother of six of his sons and his daughter Dinah (Gen.29-30; 35.23).
- A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.16;
- only referred to as Leah לֵאָה;
- daughter of Laban לָבָן;
- a sister of Rachel רָחֵל;
- wife of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל;
- mother of Reuben רְאוּבֵן, Simeon שִׁמְעוֹן, Levi לֵוִי, Judah יְהוּדָה, Issachar יִשָּׂשכָר, Zebulun זְבוּלוּן and Dinah דִּינָה.
Leah was the elder daughter of Laban, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's mother (Gen.29.16). Israel (or 'Jacob') agreed to work for Laban for seven years to marry Rachel, Leah's younger sister (Gen.29.18). However, Laban deceived Jacob and gave him Leah instead, requiring him to work another seven years for Rachel (Gen.29.23-28). Leah bore Jacob six sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, as well as a daughter, Dinah (Gen.29.32-35; 30.17-21). Despite being the less favored wife, Leah hoped to gain Jacob's affection through childbearing (Gen.29.32). Leah accompanied Jacob when he left Laban's household and reconciled with his brother Esau (Gen.31.4,14; 33.1-2,7). She is last mentioned as being buried with Jacob in the cave of Machpelah (Gen.49.31). Leah's sons became the ancestors of six of the twelve tribes of Israel (Gen.35.23; 46.15; 49.1-28).
All entries for Leah: לֵאָה