Jacob’s Children

31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved,(A) he enabled her to conceive,(B) but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.(C) She named him Reuben,[a](D) for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery.(E) Surely my husband will love me now.”

33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved,(F) he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.[b](G)

34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me,(H) because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.[c](I)

35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah.[d](J) Then she stopped having children.(K)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 29:32 Reuben sounds like the Hebrew for he has seen my misery; the name means see, a son.
  2. Genesis 29:33 Simeon probably means one who hears.
  3. Genesis 29:34 Levi sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for attached.
  4. Genesis 29:35 Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for praise.

The Children of Jacob

31 When the Lord (A)saw that Leah was [a]unloved, He (B)opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. 32 So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name [b]Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely (C)looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.” 33 Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am [c]unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name [d]Simeon. 34 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called [e]Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name (D)Judah.[f] Then she stopped bearing.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 29:31 Lit. hated
  2. Genesis 29:32 Lit. See, a Son
  3. Genesis 29:33 Lit. hated
  4. Genesis 29:33 Lit. Heard
  5. Genesis 29:34 Lit. Attached
  6. Genesis 29:35 Lit. Praise