Genesis 29:32

Genesis 29:32 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, "Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me."
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”

Context of Genesis 29:32

30So Jacob consummated his marriage and lived with Rachel [as his wife], and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he served with Laban for another seven years. 31Now when the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He made her able to bear children, but Rachel was barren. Leah conceived and gave birth to a son and named him Reuben (See, a son!), for she said, “Because the Lord has seen my humiliation and suffering; now my husband will love me [since I have given him a son].” 33Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son and said, “Because the Lord heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon (God hears). 34She conceived again and gave birth to a son and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me [as a companion], for I have given him three sons.” Therefore he was named Levi.

Genesis 29:32 word by word

וַתַּ֤הַר לֵאָה֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ רְאוּבֵ֑ן כִּ֣י אָֽמְרָ֗ה כִּֽי־רָאָ֤ה יְהוָה֙ בְּעָנְיִ֔י כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה יֶאֱהָבַ֥נִי אִישִֽׁי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Leahלֵאָהlê'âh · LeahH3812
• conceivedהָרָהhârâh · to conceiveH2029
• and bareיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
• a sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• and she calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call byH7121
• his nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• Reubenרְאוּבֵןre'ûbên · ReubenH7205
• forכִּיkîy · forH3588
• she saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• hath lookedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• upon my afflictionעֳנִי‛ŏnîy · afflictionH6040
• my husbandאִישׁ'îysh · man: husbandH376
• will loveאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157

Cross-references for Genesis 29:32

• Genesis 35:22While Israel was living in that land, Reuben [his eldest son] went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard about it. Now Jacob had twelve sons—
• Genesis 37:21Now Reuben [the eldest] heard this and rescued him from their hands and said, “Let us not take his life.”
• Genesis 42:22Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Now the accounting for his blood is required [of us for we are guilty of his death].”
• Genesis 46:8Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.
• Genesis 49:3“Reuben, you are my firstborn; My might, the beginning of my strength and vigor, Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power [that should have been your birthright].
• 1 Chronicles 5:1Now [we come to] the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—for Reuben was the eldest, but because he defiled his father’s bed [with Bilhah his father’s concubine], his birthright was given to [Manasseh and Ephraim] the sons of Joseph [the favorite] son of Israel, so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright.
• Exodus 3:7The Lord said, “I have in fact seen the affliction (suffering, desolation) of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters (oppressors); for I know their pain and suffering.
• Exodus 4:31So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord was concerned about the Israelites and that He had looked [with compassion] on their suffering, then they bowed their heads and worshiped [the Lord].
• Deuteronomy 26:7Then we cried out to the Lord, the God of our fathers for help, and He heard our voice and saw our suffering and our labor and our [cruel] oppression;
• 1 Samuel 1:11She made a vow, saying, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction (suffering) of Your maidservant and remember, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life; a razor shall never touch his head.”
• 2 Samuel 16:12Perhaps the Lord will look on the wrong done to me [by Shimei, if he is acting on his own]; and [in that case perhaps] the Lord will this day return good to me in place of his cursing.”
• Psalms 25:18Look upon my affliction and my trouble, And forgive all my sins.
• Psalms 106:44Nevertheless He looked [sympathetically] at their distress When He heard their cry;
• Luke 1:25“This is how the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor on me, to take away my disgrace among men.”

Commentaries on Genesis 29:32

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32She called his name Reuben - ראובן reuben, literally, see ye or behold a son; for Jehovah hath looked upon, ראה raah, beheld, my affliction; behold then the consequence, I have got a son!Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-35Verses 1-35 - Jacob‘s Marriage 6. רחל rāchēl Rachel, “a ewe.” 16. לאה lê'âh Leah, “wearied.” 24. זלפה zı̂lpâh Zilpah, “drop?” 29. בלהה bı̂lhâh Bilhah, “timidity.” 32. ראוּבן re'uvbēn Reuben, “behold a son.” A paronomasia in allusion to the phrase בעניי ראה be‛ānyı̂y rā'âh Derivatives and compounds, being formed by the common speaker, are sometimes founded upon resemblance in sound, and not always on precise forms of the original sentence which…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 31-35Verses 31-35 The names Leah gave her children, expressed her respect and regard, both to God and to her husband. Reuben, or See a son, with this thought, Now will my husband love me; Levi, or joined, expecting, Now will my husband be joined unto me. Mutual affection is both the duty and comfort of the married relation; and yoke-fellows should study to recommend themselves to each other, 1Co 7:33, 34. She thankfully acknowledges the kind providence of God…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 32The LORD has seen my affliction: The name Reuben (from the Hebrew re’uben) sounds like the Hebrew phrase ra‘ah be‘onyi, which means “he has seen my affliction.” Leah felt that God had seen her suffering and had comforted her when her son was born, and she hoped that Jacob would now love her. Jacob did not notice her suffering, but God did (compare 16:14; 24:62; 25:11). The name was a reminder of God’s care and help.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 32-3532-35. son ... his name Reuben--Names were also significant; and those which Leah gave to her sons were expressive of her varying feelings of thankfulness or joy, or allusive to circumstances in the history of the family. There was piety and wisdom in attaching a signification to names, as it tended to keep the bearer in remembrance of his duty and the claims of God.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 29:32

• Childlessness
• Children
• Family
• Jacob
• Leah
• Polygamy
• Reuben
• Thankfulness
• Wife

In the dictionaries

• Leah
• Reuben
• Serve
• Wages
• Archaeology; Archaeology and Criticism
• Father
• Genealogy
• Genesis
• Heir
• Marriage

Commentaries on Genesis 29

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings