Genesis 29:30-32
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
30 Jacob then consummated his marriage with Rachel also, and he loved her more than Leah. Thus he served Laban another seven years.(A)
Jacob’s Children.[a] 31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he made her fruitful, while Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben;[b] for she said, “It means, ‘The Lord saw my misery; surely now my husband will love me.’”(B)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 29:31–30:24 The note of strife, first sounded between Jacob and Esau in chaps. 25–27, continues between the two wives, since Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah (29:30). Jacob’s neglect of Leah moves God to make her fruitful (29:31). Leah’s fertility provokes Rachel. Leah bears Jacob four sons (Reuben, Levi, Simeon, and Judah) and her maidservant Zilpah, two (Gad and Asher). Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah bears two (Dan and Naphtali). After the mandrakes (30:14–17), Leah bears Issachar and Zebulun and a daughter Dinah. Rachel then bears Joseph and, later in the land of Canaan, Benjamin (35:18).
- 29:32 Reuben: the literal meaning of the Hebrew name is disputed. One interpretation is re’u ben, “look, a son!”, but here in Genesis (as also with the names of all the other sons of Jacob), it is given a symbolic rather than an etymological interpretation. Name and person were regarded as closely interrelated. The symbolic interpretation of Reuben’s name, according to the Yahwist source, is based on the similar-sounding ra’a be‘onyi, “he saw my misery.” In the Elohist source, the name is explained by the similar-sounding ye’ehabani, “he will love me.”
Genesis 29:30-32
New International Version
30 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah.(A) And he worked for Laban another seven years.(B)
Jacob’s Children
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved,(C) he enabled her to conceive,(D) but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.(E) She named him Reuben,[a](F) for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery.(G) Surely my husband will love me now.”
Footnotes
- Genesis 29:32 Reuben sounds like the Hebrew for he has seen my misery; the name means see, a son.
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