Picture description: Jacob, Leah and Rachel
Picture copyright: V. Gilbert and Arlisle F. Beers
Genesis 29:14
It came from the Hebrew name לֵאָה (Le’ah) which might have been derived from the Hebrew word לְאָה (le’ah) referring to “weary”. In Assyrian, the name might carry a meaning of “mistress” or “ruler”. In the Old Testament, Leah was the daughter of Laban and the older sister of Rachel. Jacob wanted to marry Rachel, so he laboured for seven years as Laban promised him. However, much to his surprise, Jacob discovered on his wedding night that Laban had given him Leah instead of Rachel. As a result, Jacob was lured into labouring for another seven years until he could marry Rachel who later became the mother of Joseph.
Female
Jacob Joseph Laban Leah mistress Rachel ruler
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Chinese Bible (???)
A lot of phrases, such as "two-edged sword" and " an eye for an eye", are taken from the English Bible. Learning the stories behind these idioms is fun, and can help boost your vocabulary. Click here to find out now!