Matriarchs and Mothers
Leah
The Unloved Wife, Mother of Judah
Description
Though unloved by Jacob, Leah bore him six sons and a daughter, becoming the mother of Judah through whom the Messianic line would come. Her painful experience of rejection demonstrates God's compassion for the afflicted and His sovereign purposes in using the despised.The names Leah gave her sons reveal her emotional journey—from longing for Jacob's love ('Reuben'—'see, a son') to praising God regardless ('Judah'—'praise'). Christ descended from Leah's son Judah, not Rachel's more favored line, demonstrating God's grace to the overlooked.
Key Verses
And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.
And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.
And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: