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32 Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben;[a] for she said, “It means, ‘The Lord saw my misery; surely now my husband will love me.’”(A) 33 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “It means, ‘The Lord heard that I was unloved,’ and therefore he has given me this one also”; so she named him Simeon.[b] 34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, since I have now borne him three sons”; that is why she named him Levi.[c] 35 Once more she conceived and bore a son, and she said, “This time I will give thanks to the Lord”; therefore she named him Judah.[d] Then she stopped bearing children.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 29:32 Reuben: the literal meaning of the Hebrew name is disputed. One interpretation is re’u ben, “look, a son!”, but here in Genesis (as also with the names of all the other sons of Jacob), it is given a symbolic rather than an etymological interpretation. Name and person were regarded as closely interrelated. The symbolic interpretation of Reuben’s name, according to the Yahwist source, is based on the similar-sounding ra’a be‘onyi, “he saw my misery.” In the Elohist source, the name is explained by the similar-sounding ye’ehabani, “he will love me.”
  2. 29:33 Simeon: in popular etymology, related to shama‘, “he heard.”
  3. 29:34 Levi: related to yillaweh, “he will become attached.”
  4. 29:35 Judah: related to ’odeh, “I will give thanks, praise.”

32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.(A) She named him Reuben,[a](B) for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery.(C) 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,(D) he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.[b](E)

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

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](H) Then she stopped having children.(I)

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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.

18 Leah then said, “God has given me my wages for giving my maidservant to my husband”; so she named him Issachar.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 30:18 Issachar: explained by the terms, sekari, “my reward,” and in v. 16, sakor sekartika, “I have hired you.”

18 Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.”(A) So she named him Issachar.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 30:18 Issachar sounds like the Hebrew for reward.

20 and Leah said, “God has brought me a precious gift. This time my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons”; so she named him Zebulun.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 30:20 Zebulun: explained by the terms, zebadani…zebed tob, “he has brought me a precious gift,” and yizbeleni, “he will honor me.”

20 Then Leah said, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor,(A) because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 30:20 Zebulun probably means honor.

23 The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun;

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23 The sons of Leah:(A)

Reuben the firstborn(B) of Jacob,

Simeon, Levi, Judah,(C) Issachar and Zebulun.(D)

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