Leah
- Dates
- 1731–1665 BC
Name means "weary." She is the daughter of Laban and the older sister of Rachel. She has "weary" or "delicate" eyes and is less attractive. Laban deceives Jacob who marries her and Rachel. She becomes mother of six of Jacob's sons.
In detail
The elder daughter of Laban, who through a deception was given to Jacob in place of Rachel, her younger sister, for whom he had served 7 years. Leah was less attractive than her sister, having "tender" (Heb. rak, "weak") eyes (Gen 29:16—26). She became the mother of 6 of Jacob's sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, and of Dinah, a daughter (chs 31—35 30:17—21). She was buried in the family sepulcher of Machpelah (ch 49:31). In Ruth 4:11 Leah is mentioned equally with Rachel as an honored founder of Israel.
Bible passages
- Genesis 29:16
And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
- Genesis 49:31
There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.
Text of the King James Version.