Leah

the one who praised the Lord

Who was Leah?

Laban’s older daughter and Rachel’s sister. Laban gave her to Jacob as his wife instead of Rachel. Genesis 29:16, 23-25
Jacob loved Rachel more. The Lord saw that Leah was less loved and gave her children. Genesis 29:30-31
She was the mother of six of Jacob’s sons, among them Levi and Judah, and of a daughter, Dinah. Genesis 29:32-35; Genesis 30:17-21

From: From Haran, in Mesopotamia Genesis 29:4, 16
Feast day: December 24: Commemoration of all the holy ancestors of Jesus Christ

What the Bible says

Genesis 29:16, 23-25

¹⁶Now he had two daughters, the name of the elder was Lia: and the younger was called Rachel. ²³And at night he brought in Lia his daughter to him, ²⁴Giving his daughter a handmaid, named Zelpha. Now when Jacob had gone in to her according to custom when morning was come he saw it was Lia: ²⁵And he said to his father in law: What is it that thou didst mean to do? did not I serve thee for Rachel? why hast thou deceived me?

Genesis 29:30-31

³⁰And having at length obtained the marriage he wished for, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and served with him other seven years. ³¹And the Lord seeing that he despised Lia, opened her womb, but her sister remained barren.

Genesis 29:32-35; Genesis 30:17-21

³²And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me. ³³And again she conceived and bore a son, and said: Because the Lord heard that I was despised, he hath given this also to me: and she called his name Simeon. ³⁴And she conceived the third time, and bore another son: and said: Now also my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons: and therefore she called his name Levi. ³⁵The fourth time she conceived and bore a son, and said: now will I praise the Lord: and for this she called him Juda. And she left bearing.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Leah

Before Jesus. She was Laban’s older daughter. Her younger sister was named Rachel. Genesis 29:16
With Jesus. Jacob worked seven years for Rachel. But on the wedding night, Laban brought him Leah. Genesis 29:20-23
With Jesus. That day, Laban gave Leah a slave to serve her. Her name was Zilpah. Genesis 29:24
With Jesus. In the morning, Jacob saw that it was Leah and protested to Laban. Laban said that there they did not marry off the younger daughter before the older. Genesis 29:25-26
With Jesus. Laban asked Jacob to finish the wedding week with Leah. Then he gave him Rachel as well, in exchange for another seven years of work. Genesis 29:27-28
With Jesus. Jacob loved Rachel more. The Lord saw that Leah was less loved and gave her children. Genesis 29:30-31
With Jesus. She had Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. When Judah was born, she said she would praise the Lord. Genesis 29:32-35
With Jesus. Through her slave Zilpah she took Gad and Asher as her own. Then she had Issachar, Zebulun and a daughter, Dinah. Genesis 30:9-21
Afterward. Together with Rachel, she told Jacob to do what God had commanded him: go back to Canaan. Genesis 31:4, 13-16
Afterward. When Jacob met his brother Esau, Leah and her children came forward and bowed down before Esau. Genesis 33:7
Afterward. She died before Jacob. Jacob buried her in the cave of Machpelah, alongside Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah. Genesis 49:31

Words of Leah

“The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me.” Genesis 29:32

When her first son, Reuben, was born.

“Now will I praise the Lord.” Genesis 29:35

When her fourth son, Judah, was born.

“God hath endowed me with a good dowry: this turn also my husband will be with me, because I have borne him six sons.” Genesis 30:20

When her sixth son, Zebulun, was born.

“But God hath taken our father’s riches, and delivered them to us, and to our children: wherefore do all that God hath commanded thee.” Genesis 31:16

Together with Rachel, when Jacob told them that God was asking him to go back to his own land.

What they were like

She was the older of Laban’s two daughters. Genesis 29:16
About her eyes, the Hebrew text uses a difficult word. The Douay-Rheims says “blear eyed”; other translations say “dull” or “weak.” Genesis 29:17; NAB note on Gn 29, 17
She told God what she was going through: her sons’ names tell the story. Genesis 29:32-35

The greatest thing they did

The Lord saw that she was less loved and gave her children. Genesis 29:31
She was the mother of Levi and Judah. From Levi come Moses and Aaron; from Judah, King David. Exodus 6:16-20; Ruth 4:18-22
In the Book of Ruth, the people of Bethlehem remember her: with Rachel, she built up the house of Israel. Ruth 4:11

Not to be confused with

Rachel: They were sisters, daughters of Laban, and both were Jacob’s wives. Leah was the older and had six sons; Rachel, the younger, was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin. Genesis 29:16; Genesis 35:23-24

In the Church today

Feast day: December 24, Commemoration of all the holy ancestors of Jesus Christ (commemoration). Roman Martyrology, December 24

What people ask

Why did Laban give Jacob Leah instead of Rachel?

Laban said that in his country the younger daughter was not married before the older. A NAB note points out that Jacob, who had deceived his father and his brother, was deceived this time by his uncle. Genesis 29:25-26; NAB note on Gn 29, 25

Did Jacob love Leah?

Genesis says he loved her less than Rachel. Leah gave her first sons names that speak of her longing to be loved. Genesis 29:30-34

Is Leah an ancestor of Jesus?

Yes. She was the mother of Judah, and Matthew places Judah in the genealogy of Jesus. Genesis 29:35; Matthew 1:2-3

Who descends from Leah?

Six of the 12 tribes of Israel. From her son Levi come Moses and Aaron; from Judah, King David. Genesis 35:23; Genesis 49:28; Exodus 6:16-20; Ruth 4:18-22

Where is Leah buried?

In the cave of Machpelah, with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah. Jacob asked to be buried there too. Genesis 49:29-31

How many children did Leah give Jacob?

Six sons and a daughter, Dinah. When Zebulun, the sixth, was born, Leah said that God had given her a great gift. Genesis 30:19-21

Where was Leah from?

From Haran, in the land of Paddan-aram, where her father Laban lived. Her children were born there. Genesis 29:4-5; Genesis 46:15

What she suffered Jacob loved her less than Rachel. Genesis 29:30-31 She lived through a long rivalry with Rachel: Leah reproached Rachel for taking her husband. Genesis 30:15 Little known…

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Who Leah is connected to

Jacob · husband and wife
Rachel · sisters
Judah · mother and son
Jesus · ancestor of Jesus

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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