לֵאָה (le.ah)
le.ah
Leah
N:N-F-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 32 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-F-P
Word Overview
The name Leah, appearing thirty-two times in the Hebrew Bible, derives from a root meaning "weary" or "tired." This etymology is woven into her personal narrative, particularly when she bears Jacob’s first son and names him Reuben, expressing a hope that her husband will now love her despite her exhaustion. The name thus carries a tone of human vulnerability and longing for acceptance.
Leah was the elder daughter of Laban and the first wife of Jacob. Although she was initially given to Jacob in place of his beloved sister Rachel, she became a central matriarch of Israel. She gave birth to six sons, including Levi and Judah, whose lineages would become foundational to the tribe of Israel and the Davidic monarchy.
Her story highlights the complex dynamics of family life in the patriarchal era. The sources note her significant role in Genesis, where her struggles for affection and her eventual fruitfulness are detailed alongside those of Rachel. In Ruth 4:11, she is invoked as a model of fertility and blessing, linking her personal history to the broader hope for the nation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Leah comes from a root meaning "weary," which fits her story of longing for love in a difficult family situation. She was not Jacob's first choice, yet God saw her pain and blessed her with many children. Her life shows that being overlooked by people does not mean being forgotten by God.
Leah’s journey from feeling unloved to becoming a mother of tribes who shaped Israel offers comfort to anyone who feels invisible or tired. She found her worth not in Jacob’s affection, but in God’s faithfulness. Her story reminds us that our value is secure in God’s eyes, regardless of how others treat us.
When we face seasons of exhaustion or rejection, Leah’s example encourages us to trust that God sees our affliction. He can bring good out of painful circumstances, turning weariness into a legacy of blessing for future generations.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 32 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Leah26×
- to/ Leah2×
- [was] Leah2×
- more than/ Leah1×
- and/ like/ Leah1×
- and/ Leah1×
- and/ <to>/ Leah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לֵאָ֔ה10×
- לֵאָ֖ה5×
- לֵאָ֗ה4×
- לֵאָה֙2×
- לֵאָ֑ה2×
- מִ/לֵּאָ֑ה1×
- לֵאָֽה\׃1×
- לֵאָ֤ה1×
- לֵאָ֣ה1×
- לֵאָ֜ה1×
- לֵאָ֛ה1×
- לְ/לֵאָ֥ה1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 29:31
Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
This verse establishes the divine pivot in Leah's story, showing that God actively intervenes when she is treated with neglect.
-
Genesis 29:32
Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
Leah names her first son Reuben based on her hope for acceptance, revealing her deep emotional vulnerability and desire for connection.
-
Genesis 30:20
Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good dowry. Now my husband will live with me, because I have borne him six sons.” She named him Zebulun.
Here Leah declares that God has given her a good dowry, marking a shift from seeking validation to recognizing God's provision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Leah mean?
Why is Leah important in the Bible?
How does Leah's story relate to feeling overlooked?
Every Occurrence (32 verses across 2 books)
Genesis 31 verses
Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Genesis 29:17Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
Genesis 29:23In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her.
Genesis 29:24Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant.
Genesis 29:25In the morning, behold, it was Leah! He said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for…
Genesis 29:30He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.
Genesis 29:31Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
Genesis 29:32Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because Yahweh has looked at my affliction;…
Genesis 30:9When Leah saw that she had finished bearing, she took Zilpah, her servant, and gave her to Jacob as a wife.
Genesis 30:10Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a son.
Genesis 30:11Leah said, “How fortunate!” She named him Gad.
Genesis 30:12Zilpah, Leah’s servant, bore Jacob a second son.
Genesis 30:13Leah said, “Happy am I, for the daughters will call me happy.” She named him Asher.
Genesis 30:14Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother, Leah. Then…
Genesis 30:16Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, “You must come in to me; for I have…
Genesis 30:17God listened to Leah, and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son.
Genesis 30:18Leah said, “God has given me my hire, because I gave my servant to my husband.” She named him Issachar.
Genesis 30:19Leah conceived again, and bore a sixth son to Jacob.
Genesis 30:20Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good dowry. Now my husband will live with me, because I have borne him six sons.”…
Genesis 31:4Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock,
Genesis 31:14Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
Genesis 31:33Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two female servants; but he didn’t find them.…
Genesis 33:1Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. He divided the…
Genesis 33:2He put the servants and their children in front, Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.
Genesis 33:7Leah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves. After them, Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed…
Genesis 34:1Dinah, the daughter of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
Genesis 35:23The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
Genesis 35:26The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.
Genesis 46:15These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the souls of his sons…
Genesis 46:18These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob, even sixteen souls.
Genesis 49:31There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, and there I buried Leah: