9 Worthwhile Lessons We Can Learn from Leah in the Bible
Oh, Leah in the Bible! The Bible is a treasure trove of stories and events from every spectrum. We get to meet great leaders like David or evil kings such as Solomon in this book that has it all: humor mixed with sadness too! The women throughout these pages are just as diversified – some strong ones who have changed history; others powerless victims whose lives have been forever changed.
In the Bible, we first meet Leah in the Bible as a character in the Book of Genesis who has experienced great heartbreak. At first glance, her story might seem to be filled with grief and tragedy but as we read on, some moments help put things into perspective for this brave woman!
Before we dive into some lessons we can learn from Leah in the Bible, let’s review her story.
The Story of Leah in the Bible
Jacob sets out to Mesopotamia to marry from his parents’ collateral line. His father, Isaac, had married a first cousin, once removed; Jacob will marry his matrilineal first cousins and his paternal second cousins, once removed. In so doing, he too will marry into the family of Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, the grandfather of Rebekah, and the great-grandfather of Rachel and Leah. Jacob meets Rachel at a well (compare the stories of Zipporah and Rebekah) and falls in love.
9 Worthwhile Lessons We Can Learn from Leah in the Bible
9 Worthwhile Lessons We Can Learn from Leah in the Bible
Jacob arrives in Haran and meets the younger sister, Rachel, at a well. This is the same spring water his mother Rebekah drew from before she married Isaac.
We could imagine Jacob’s infatuation with Rachel was “love at first sight,” as they almost certainly would not have been granted time for deep conversation or solitary walks across the pastureland of Haran. But Jacob’s willingness to labor seven years for her demonstrates feelings deeper than flattery or casual interest. Deep down, most women long to captivate a lover this way, to be pursued and cherished by a committed heart. We’re made to yearn for belonging and completion.
When he meets the stunning shepherdess, Jacob is overcome with joy. He knows that this is the woman he is to marry. However, Jacob has no money to offer Rachel’s father Laban a bride price, so he arranges to work for him for seven years to marry her.
After seven years, the wedding finally arrives, and the veiled bride eventually becomes Jacob’s wife. In the light of day and the absence of a veil, the following day, the truth is revealed.
Laban tricked Jacob and had replaced Leah with her older sister Leah. Jacob, of course, is furious and makes another agreement with Laban. He will work another seven years for Laban so that he can marry Rachel.
How could anyone be so heartless? It seems that Leah’s father was not a man of his word. He promised to honor the love between Jacob and Rachel, but he instead led them into disaster with a treacherous plan.
It is unclear whether Leah had any say in the matter. In biblical times, women had little control over their lives.
We know that she was the lesser loved of the two wives, “he loved Rachel more than Leah” (Genesis 29:30 ESV). Leah never seems to gain the affections of Jacob, yet her life is evidence of God’s devotion to her.
So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.
GENESIS 29:30 (ESV)
Many of the stories about Leah in the Bible center around her turbulent relationship with her sister, Rachel, as they are both Jacob’s wives. Jacob clearly prefers Rachel, and God compensates Leah by making her fertile while Rachel remains barren.
And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
GENESIS 29:32 (ESV)
Both sisters eventually bore Jacob many sons, and Jacob’s twelve sons would become the twelve tribes of Israel. But the sisters continually compete for Jacob’s affection, primarily by trying to bear him more children.
Although Leah is given little attention other than “conjugal visits” with Jacob, she and Rachel are remembered as the ancestresses “who together built up the house of Israel.”
Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem,
RUTH 4:11 (ESV)
It is interesting to note that the name Leah in Hebrew means “weary” or “cow” while Rachel means “ewe.”
Cows are a great symbol of fertility in Mesopotamia, partially because of the similarity between the words littu, “cow,” and alittu, “birth giver.”
Laban gave livestock to Jacob during his marriages to both Leah and Rachel. I find this quite interesting, don’t you?
Leah is very insecure, knowing she is loved less than her sister Rachel. We can point to the naming of her sons and how she hopes to gain favor through birthing them.
She names her first son Reuben. For the verb raʾah, “to see” and the fact that God has seen Leah’s sorrow and the noun ben, “son.”
And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
GENESIS 29:32 (ESV)
Her second son she named Simeon (“the Lord has heard that I am hated”),
She conceived again and bore a son and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon.
GENESIS 39:33 (ESV)
Her third son she named Levi (“now this time my husband will be attached to me”),
Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
GENESIS 39:34 (ESV)
Leah continues to offer her heart to Jacob for many years. She serves him and cares for him dutifully, but it never makes her “good enough.” Leah then turns to her children, which were seen as symbols of blessing. If not marital love, surely children would complete her. Sons and daughters could make her worthy. We can see her dashed hopes because each time she conceives a son with Jacob, she pins her future happiness on them.
Jacob continues to show favoritism toward Rachel, but after Leah’s third child is born, Leah seems to have a change of heart. Instead of pining after Jacob and regarding herself as a disappointment, instead of hoping that her children would bestow worth upon her, with her fourth pregnancy, Leah proclaims, “This time I will praise the Lord.”
The fourth son she names Judah. Judah means acknowledgment (‘hoda’ah,’ as in ‘modeh ani’). Judah’s representation also includes the four letters of the Divine name Havaya. The name “Judah” in Hebrew is Yehudah. It is based on the word root “Hodaah,” connoting “Give Thanks, Praise.”
And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.
GENESIS 39:35 (ESV)
At this point, Rachel is incredibly jealous and gives her handmade Bilhah to Jacob. Bilhah gave birth to two sons;
Leah, no longer fertile, responds by having her maid Zilpah bear two sons (Genesis 30:9–13; 35:26; 46:18).
Oh, man! What family drama!
Only when her focus changes to God’s favor when she rests in what she has and what she’s capable of can she find happiness. Later in the story, her words change from a piteous “woe is me” attitude to “what good fortune!” and “how happy I am!”.
And Leah said, “Good fortune has come!” so she called his name Gad.Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son.
GENESIS 30:11-12 (ESV)
The battle between the two sisters comes to a head when Reuben finds mandrakes. Both sisters want them for their fertility-inducing properties and possibly as an aphrodisiac, but only one sister will be getting these precious mushrooms!
The sisters strike a deal. Leah will give Rachel the mandrakes in return for a night with Jacob. Leah coarsely announces to Jacob that she has “hired” him with the mandrakes, and Jacob spends the night with her.
In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?”
Rachel said, “Then he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.” When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night. And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.
GENESIS 30:14–17 (ESV)
The deal between the sisters helps Leah become pregnant, for she gives birth to two more sons—Issachar (“God has given me my hire”) and Zebulun (“now my husband will honor me”)—and a daughter, Dinah.
And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Leah said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar.
And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun.Afterward, she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah.
GENESIS 30:17–21 (ESV)
The Story of Leah in the Bible Continues
When Jacob asks the sisters to come with him back home to Canaan, they are unhappy that their father gave them nothing of what he received as bridewealth during his years of service to their father.
Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”
So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock wasand said to them, “I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. You know that I have served your father with all my strength, yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me.If he said, ‘The spotted shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped.
Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’”
Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house? Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money.
GENESIS 31:3–15 (ESV)
Both sisters agree to leave their home and travel to Canaan with their husband, Jacob. They go together, but Leah is still second best despite her many children.
Jacob arranges his family so that the maids and their children are placed first, then Leah with her kids. Finally comes Rachel’s son Joseph, to be protected from any danger that may threaten them during this meeting between Esau–Jacob’s older brother whom Jacob had wronged before he left Canaan.
Even after Rachel’s death, Jacob continues to favor Joseph.
Here are 10 Lessons We Can Learn from Leah in the Bible
1. Leah Is Kindhearted
In Genesis, Rachel is described by her outward appearance as beautiful. Leah is identified as having “tender eyes.” Other translations describe her as weak, delicate, ordinary, or plain.
The Hebrew word in Genesis, rakkoth, could also mean tenderhearted or kindhearted. Leah’s role as a wife tends to her husband, desperately trying to capture his heart. She becomes a mother of seven, tenderly caring for and raising her children to be leaders of the tribes of Israel.
In 1 Samuel, when the prophet Samuel anoints David over his older and stronger brothers as God instructs him not to “not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 SAMUEL 16:7 (ESV)
God chose and elevated those whose hearts are pure before him. Leah’s tender heart made her the perfect candidate to fulfill Jacob’s First Wife duties by bearing him many sons!
God sees your heart and knows your hurts, disappointments, and wounds. Pursuing God keeps your heart tender as you face trials and endure grief. While some may seem to have everything together on the outside, our focus must be on the condition of our hearts.God sees your heart and knows your hurts, disappointments, and wounds. Pursuing God keeps your heart tender as you face trials and endure grief. While some may seem to have everything together on the outside, our focus must be on…CLICK TO TWEET
2. While Seemingly Second, Leah Is First
Although Jacob overlooked Leah’s position in the family, God gave her the position of being the first daughter, the first wife, and the first mother to Jacob’s first son. Her marriage began with scandal, but her role in her family gave her honor and respect in the community.
God used her marriage for His glory even though it wasn’t an ideal situation.
Romans 8:28 says,
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
ROMANS 8:28 (ESV)
God had a specific calling for Leah and her life, whether Jacob favored her. God placed her first and blessed her abundantly.
God also has a calling on your life and will make all circumstances work together for your good.
3. Leah Displays Contentment
Today and in biblical times, contentment is not a prevalent quality. With the birth of each son, Leah acknowledged the role the Lord held in her life.
Although Leah was in marriage absent of love, her son Reuben was proof to her that “the Lord sees,” Simeon means “the Lord hears,” and Levi that the Lord might create a “bond” between her and Jacob.
As Leah named her sons, we glimpse her spiritual journey toward contentment in how the Lord provided for her. Jacob did not see, hear, or attach himself to Leah, but the Lord filled the void Jacob created in Leah’s life.
This is evident as she named her fourth son, Judah, meaning praise. Leah was content to praise the Lord for the blessings in her life, even if her husband did not love her the way he loved her sister. With the birth of her next two sons, Issachar and Zebulun, Leah acknowledges the gifts the Lord has given her.
James 1:16-17 says:
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change
JAMES 1:16-17 (ESV)
The world is always trying to get us hooked on material things, but the best way for a person’s wealth and success in life can be found within their spiritual relationship with God. Focus your attention solely on Him as He gives you all that matters most—contentment!
4. Leah Is a Matriarch
After being unloved and unwanted, Leah was blessed by God with six sons. One of those six was Judah, who is listed in Matthew 1 as part of the genealogy for King David, and finally Jesus Christ himself!
She may not have been Jacob’s choice, but God chose her to play a role in the birth of the Savior of the world.
Whatever Leah lacked in her marriage, the world received a gift of Savior through God’s abundant blessing.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says,
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18 (ESV)
Our circumstances cannot determine the level of our joy, consistency of our prayers, and abundance of our thanks.
In the time of her trials, Leah chose to praise and be thankful for God’s role in her life. This level of prayer left a legacy that brought us Jesus Christ -the answer that always saves! We must rejoice even when things seem difficult or impossible because we have an incredible Savior who is faithful no matter what happens.
5. Unfading Beauty is Not on the Outside
Have you ever felt rejected, left out, or ignored? It can be clear that Jacob’s favoring of Rachel was taken by Leah as a clear sign of rejection. Of course, Laban is to blame for this situation, but most of us can agree that Leah felt rejected or less than.
In the Bible, “we read early in the story that “Leah’s eyes were weak”, but “Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.” (Genesis 29:17)
Ouch. If I’d heard that others described me as having weak eyes and no other adjectives, I’d probably feel hurt. Wouldn’t you?
Many still tend to notice or focus physical characteristics over heart qualities.
“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”
1 PETER 3:3-4 (ESV)
I love this verse as it reminds me that God sees the heart, the spirit inside us, as more valuable than any outward beauty.
As I age, I have the grey hair coming in, the smile lines, and even some bags under my eyes. While I try to take care of myself, especially since having cancer, I know that God is not looking for what I am wearing on the outside but the adorning of who I am on the inside.
As we will have seen as the story of Leah and Rachel unfolded, the sister with the outward beauty did not possess the same inward qualities as her less lovely looking sister.
So, what lessons can we learn from this? Outward beauty with no faith in the Lord or strength of character does not last.
As we saw in the case of Rachel, the security one would expect a person to have that is seen as beautiful in form and appearance was temporary as her jealousy grew.
6. Jealousy Take Our Eyes off God’s Blessings
Jealousy can be an ugly feeling that we all share. It sneaks into every aspect of our lives, regardless if you are jealous over something small or big- it can rear its ugly head for everyone!
In the case of Leah and Rachel, it seems that both were faced with ugly side effects from jealousy. They felt what they experienced firsthand and were on receiving end themselves.
When we look at the beginning of Genesis, it is clear that Leah was not only less attractive than Rachel, but also her father used this, and the fact that the older sister in their culture should marry first as a reason to trick Jacob into marrying his daughter.
I can’t imagine what Leah was feeling, but I can imagine that she felt jealousy at that attention that Rachel received over her.
So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years.
GENESIS 29:30 (ESV)
God, of course, saw this and allowed Leah to have four sons.
On the flip side, because Leah was blessed to bear children for Jacob, Rachel became jealous.
“When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I shall die!”
GENESIS 30:1 (ESV)
God did eventually bless Rachel with a child, but because she wanted more, as jealousy often spurs, she felt it wasn’t enough that she wasn’t enough.
Can you relate to that? You pray for something over and over again. The blessing is received, yet you want more.
Rachel eventually became pregnant again, but sadly she died in childbirth.
Perhaps her relentless jealousy killed Rachel. The stress, the internal rage. We don’t know. That is between her and God, but we know that her jealously took her down a terrible downward spiral.
We learn from Rachel that if we aren’t grateful for our blessings and trust that God is enough, jealousy will always make us want more.
7. God Pursues Us, even if No One Else Does
God designed women to be pursued. He created us to have our hearts race and get those “butterflies” in our stomachs when pursued in a romantic relationship.
Jacob loved and desired Rachel so much that he worked for Laban an additional seven years, a total of fourteen years to marry Rachel.
Can you imagine how adored and treasured that made Rachel feel? Sadly, can you imagine how that made Leah feel?
Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
GENESIS 29:34 (ESV)
Feeling overlooked or not good enough can be a deep hurt and can snowball into feelings of being less than, forgotten, or the fear of not being wanted.
God had a special place in his heart for Leah. God saw that she was unloved and allowed her to conceive.
“When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
GENESIS 29:31 (ESV)
The Lord saw Leah’s rejection and knew what having sons would mean to her and her quest for being loved by her husband.
Her security eventually turns from her husband to her heavenly Father. He continued to pursue her heart, even if no one else did.
The blessing we see in Leah’s life is that her dependence on Jacob’s love and attention slowly turns toward God.
We see this when she named her fourth child Judah.
“ And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.”
GENESIS 29:35 (ESV)
8. Leah Was an Honored Woman
Although Rachel was loved more than Leah, Leah is honored in her death as the first wife of Jacob.
She’s buried in a place of honor alongside Jacob, at the site of his ancestors, including Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah. Her children led half of the tribes of Israel. They likely revered and cherished their mother, bringing her untold joy and satisfaction.
Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place.
There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.
GENESIS 49:29-33 (ESV)
While their marriage began with deception, Leah was honored at her death by Jacob. She lies with all of those ancestors and founders of faith in their final resting place.
God ensures Leah a life of honor because He is her Lord. In Leah’s story, we can be encouraged that a life redeemed can not occur with the perfect spouse or an abundance of children but with a heart that is tender and surrendered to God.
9. The Comparison Trap
We see “Pinterest-worthy” homes, beautiful women smiling for their selfies, happy couples posting photos on Facebook. Sometimes it is difficult not to compare ourselves to these picture-perfect women. Since God created humans, we have looked for validation and belonging from things and people who could never sustain it for us.
At some level, we can all relate to the depressing comparison that Leah felt.
While Jacob may have “settled for” Leah, Leah herself doesn’t settle. She learns to set aside her idols of marriage, children, and family and set her sights on higher things than her circumstances. It’s then that God demonstrates how He faithfully cherishes and He faithfully pursues.
We are enough because he lets us off the hook of striving and comparing. What an enormous relief that is! If we never accomplish another impressive thing, his love for us anyway will suffice as a blessed assurance.
Despite her years of worry, disappointment, and feelings that she’s “not enough,” Leah goes on to be the mother of six sons, including one (Judah) named in Christ’s lineage.
May we be reminded that God’s plan for our lives doesn’t always end up with us being Miss Universe, the most popular, or having the nicest house on the block.
We won’t be promised a trial-free life but what God gives us is so much more. Security in His love, His pursuit of us, and the desire to use our lives for His glory can manifest a love story far more memorable than anything you could see on social media.
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God loves us now, and He will love us forever. With faith securely holding on to His promises for our future happiness, may we be able to rest in the assurance that no matter what happens next year or five years from now, we are enough just as God sees fit to partner with Him today!
You may also enjoy this sermon about the lessons we can learn from Leah in the Bible:https://www.youtube.com/embed/0IsFPjJO0zk?feature=oembed
Or one of these recommendations about Leah in the Bible and the lessons we can learn from her.
Leah Unveiled: Your Best Life Later, Discovering Identity Stronger than the Struggle by Michelle Kelso Kafe
Rachel & Leah – Bible Study Book: What Two Sisters Teach Us about Combating Comparison by Nicki Koziarz
