Leah

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Hebrew Lē’āh (לֵאָה), meaning uncertain; often linked with “weary” or “wild cow” in later proposals
• Period/Era: Patriarchal Period
• Main References: Genesis 29–33; 35:23; 46:15; 49:31
• Key Connections: Daughter of Laban; first wife of Jacob; sister of Rachel; mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun

Who was Leah?

Leah was given to Jacob in marriage through Laban’s deception at Paddan-aram.
She became the mother of six sons who later formed major tribes of Israel.
Her story is set within the covenant family narratives centered on Abraham’s descendants.

Key Events & Achievements

• Event 1: Married to Jacob after Laban substituted her for Rachel (Genesis 29:23–25).
• Event 2: Bore six sons, including Levi and Judah, shaping priestly and royal tribal lines (Genesis 29:31–35; 30:17–20).
• Event 3: Buried in the family tomb at Machpelah with the patriarchs and matriarchs (Genesis 49:31).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Leah’s place in Israel’s genealogy shows how covenant family history advanced through complex household realities in the patriarchal period.

Key Verse

"When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless." — Genesis 29:31, NIV