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The Bible has been the most influential text in all of Western culture. It's difficult to understand medieval or early modern or much of modern literature without knowing it...

Prof. Barbara Newman, Northwestern University
from 2006 Bible Literary project

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It's not that it's impossible to read some writers without a Biblical background, but that you would miss a whole dimension to their work.

Prof. Steven Goldsmith, University of California at Berkeley
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

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I can only say that if a student doesn't know any Bible literature, he or she will simply not understand whole elements of Shakespeare, Sidney, Spenser, Milton, Pope, Wordsworth

Prof. Robert Kiely, Harvard University
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

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...there is truth in the remark. "without Tyndale[Bible translator], no Shakespeare"...

Prof. David Daniell, University College London
from The Bible in English

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You can't really study Western literature intelligently or coherently without starting with the Bible.

Prof. Gerald L. Bruns, University of Notre Dame
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

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...a familiar understanding of Christian doctrine in historical perspective thus contributes to a fuller appreciation of Shakespeare's art, but Shakespeare's art

Prof. Roland M. Frye
from Shakespeare and the Christian Doctrine

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In English tradition and also for an American tradition begun by Puritan writers, a knowledge of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament is even more crucial than classical references.

Prof. Ulrich Knoefplmacher, Princeton University
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

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There is no book more important for our culture than the Bible, and it is fundametal to the study of English literature and language.

Prof. David Jasper and Prof. Stephen Prickett
from the Bible and literature

Leah

Picture description: Jacob, Leah and Rachel
Picture copyright: V. Gilbert and Arlisle F. Beers

bible verse

Genesis 29:14

meaning

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.

gender

Female

example

Keywords

Jacob    Joseph    Laban    Leah    mistress    Rachel    ruler   

Related Information

NIV official site
Chinese Bible (???)

Search idiom or name
FIND THE ORIGIN OF IDIOMS

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!

What's in a name?

Common names such as Joseph and Rachel have their origins in the Bible. Want to know their stories before picking the right name for yourself? Click here to find out.