Focused Passage

Genesis 29:31-35

The LORD Brings Jacob to Laban, Exposes Him Through Reversal, and Begins Building the Covenant Family Through Leah and Rachel

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

31 When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.

32 And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”

33 Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon.

34 Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.

35 And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 31

Cross-references

Genesis 30:22 Classic cross-references Genesis 30:1 Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 2:21 Classic cross-references Psalms 127:3 Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 1:5 Classic cross-references

Original words

When the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular saw וַיַּ֤רְא H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular that כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction Leah לֵאָ֔ה H3812 Noun - proper - feminine singular was unloved שְׂנוּאָ֣ה H8130 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular He opened וַיִּפְתַּ֖ח H6605 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker her womb רַחְמָ֑הּ H7358 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular but Rachel וְרָחֵ֖ל H7354 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular [was] barren עֲקָרָֽה׃ H6135 Adjective - feminine singular

Verse 32

Cross-references

Exodus 3:7 Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 1:11 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 26:7 Classic cross-references Ruth 4:11 Classic cross-references 1 Chronicles 5:1 Classic cross-references

Original words

And Leah לֵאָה֙ H3812 Noun - proper - feminine singular conceived וַתַּ֤הַר H2029 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular and gave birth to וַתֵּ֣לֶד H3205 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular a son בֵּ֔ן H1121 Noun - masculine singular and she named him וַתִּקְרָ֥א H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular . . . שְׁמ֖וֹ H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Reuben רְאוּבֵ֑ן H7205 Noun - proper - masculine singular for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction she said אָֽמְרָ֗ה H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular The LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular has seen רָאָ֤ה H7200 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular my affliction בְּעָנְיִ֔י H6040 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular . . . כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction Surely כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction my husband אִישִֽׁי׃ H376 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular will love me יֶאֱהָבַ֥נִי H157 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular now עַתָּ֖ה H6258 Adverb

BSB notes

Reuben means Look, a son and also sounds like the Hebrew for He has seen my misery.

Verse 33

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 21:15 Classic cross-references Genesis 34:25 Classic cross-references Genesis 49:5 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 48:24 Classic cross-references Genesis 30:18 Classic cross-references

Original words

Again עוֹד֮ H5750 Adverb she conceived וַתַּ֣הַר H2029 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular and gave birth to וַתֵּ֣לֶד H3205 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular a son בֵּן֒ H1121 Noun - masculine singular and she said וַתֹּ֗אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Because the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction has heard שָׁמַ֤ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular that כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction I אָנֹ֔כִי H595 Pronoun - first person common singular am unloved שְׂנוּאָ֣ה H8130 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular He has given וַיִּתֶּן־ H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular me לִ֖י Preposition | first person common singular this [son] זֶ֑ה H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular as well גַּם־ H1571 Conjunction - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker So she named him וַתִּקְרָ֥א H7121 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular . . . שְׁמ֖וֹ H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Simeon שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃ H8095 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

Simeon probably means one who hears.

Verse 34

Cross-references

Exodus 32:26 Classic cross-references Genesis 49:5 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 33:8 Classic cross-references Exodus 2:1 Classic cross-references Genesis 34:25 Classic cross-references

Original words

Once again עוֹד֮ H5750 Adverb [Leah] conceived וַתַּ֣הַר H2029 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular and gave birth to וַתֵּ֣לֶד H3205 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular a son בֵּן֒ H1121 Noun - masculine singular and she said וַתֹּ֗אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Now עַתָּ֤ה H6258 Adverb at last הַפַּ֙עַם֙ H6471 Article | Noun - feminine singular my husband אִישִׁי֙ H376 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular will become attached יִלָּוֶ֤ה H3867 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular to me אֵלַ֔י H413 Preposition | first person common singular because כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction I have borne יָלַ֥דְתִּי H3205 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular him ל֖וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular three שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה H7969 Number - masculine singular sons בָנִ֑ים H1121 Noun - masculine plural So עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . כֵּ֥ן H3651 Adverb he was named קָרָֽא־ H7121 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular . . . שְׁמ֖וֹ H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Levi לֵוִֽי׃ H3878 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

Levi sounds like the Hebrew for being attached to or feeling affection for.

Verse 35

Cross-references

1 Chronicles 5:2 Classic cross-references Genesis 49:8 Classic cross-references Matthew 1:2 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 33:7 Classic cross-references Genesis 35:26 Classic cross-references

Original words

And once more ע֜וֹד H5750 Adverb she conceived וַתַּ֨הַר H2029 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular and gave birth to וַתֵּ֣לֶד H3205 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular a son בֵּ֗ן H1121 Noun - masculine singular and said וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular This time הַפַּ֙עַם֙ H6471 Article | Noun - feminine singular I will praise אוֹדֶ֣ה H3034 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular So עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . כֵּ֛ן H3651 Adverb she named him קָרְאָ֥ה H7121 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular . . . שְׁמ֖וֹ H8034 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Judah יְהוּדָ֑ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular Then Leah stopped וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד H5975 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular having children מִלֶּֽדֶת׃ H3205 Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct

BSB notes

Judah sounds like the Hebrew for praise.

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