32
Leahלֵאָהconceivedוַתַּהַרand boreוַתֵּלֶדa son,בֵּןand she calledוַתִּקְרָאhis nameשְׁמוֹReuben,רְאוּבֵןforכִּיshe said,אָמְרָה“BecauseכִּיYHWHיְהוָהhas seenרָאָהmy affliction;בְּעָנְיִיforכִּיnowעַתָּהmy husbandאִישִׁיwill love me.”יֶאֱהָבַנִי
Genesis 29:32
Study it in the app“Leah 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.””
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 29:32, word by word
- 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- conceivedתַּהַרtahar
conceive
Become pregnant, conceive; figuratively, conceive a plan.
Where else “tahar” appears- and boreתֵּלֶדteled
bear
To bring a child into the world, giving birth after pregnancy.
Where else “teled” appears- a sonבֵּןben
son
The male born of a father and mother; in the plural, also sons and daughters.
Where else “ben” appears- and she calledתִּקְרָאtikra
name
To give someone a name.
Where else “tikra” appears- his nameשְׁמshem
name
The word by which a person, place or thing is called and recognized.
Where else “shem” appears- Reubenרְאוּבֵןreuven
Reuben
Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob and Leah; also the tribe that came from him. The name sounds like "look, a son!".
Where else “reuven” appears- she saidאָמְרָהamra
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “amra” appears- 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- has seenרָאָהraa
see
To see with one's eyes.
Where else “raa” appears- my afflictionעָנְיִanyi
affliction
Affliction, suffering, misery.
Where else “anyi” appears- my husbandאִישִׁishi
husband
Literally "her man": the one married to her.
Where else “ishi” appears- will love meיֶאֱהָבַyeehava
love
To care for someone from the heart and seek their good.
Where else “yeehava” appears
Translation note
“Reuben” (Reuven) sounds like “look, a son!” and like “he has seen my affliction” (raa be-onyi).
The context
31YHWH saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
32 · This verse (above)
33She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because YHWH has heard that I am hated, he has given me this one too.” And she called his name Simeon.
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?