31
YHWHיְהוָהsawוַיַּרְאthatכִּיLeahלֵאָהwas hated,שְׂנוּאָהand he openedוַיִּפְתַּחher womb;אֶת רַחְמָהּbut Rachelוְרָחֵלwas barren.עֲקָרָה
Genesis 29:31
Study it in the app“YHWH saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.”
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 29:31, word by word
- YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- sawיַּרְאyar
realize
To realize: "he saw that it was good".
Where else “yar” appears- Leahלֵאָהlea
Leah
Leah, elder daughter of Laban and Jacob's first wife; mother of six of his sons and of Dinah.
Where else “lea” appears- was hatedשְׂנוּאָהsenua
love less
To love one less than another, even without hating him outright.
Where else “senua” appears- and he openedיִּפְתַּחyiftach
open
To open a door, mouth or eyes.
Where else “yiftach” appears- her wombרַחְמָrachma
womb
The part of a mother's body where the child grows before birth.
Where else “rachma” appears- but Rachelרָחֵלrachel
Rachel
Rachel, younger daughter of Laban, Jacob's beloved wife; mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Her name means "ewe".
Where else “rachel” appears- was barrenעֲקָרָהakara
barren
Barren: unable to have children.
Where else “akara” appears
Translation note
“Hated” translates the ordinary Hebrew word for hating; here it designates the less loved wife (29:30; compare Deuteronomy 21:15).
The context
30He went in to Rachel also, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah; and he served with him yet another seven years.
31 · This verse (above)
32Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because YHWH has seen my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
To study Genesis 29 in a group
1. What it says
What happened when Jacob’s seven years of service were over, and what did he say to Laban (vv. 20-28)?
2. What it means
What irony is there in Jacob, who deceived his father, now being deceived by Laban (v. 25)?
3. How I live it
How can you stay honest with others even when the opposite would suit you better?