The Meaning of Genesis 29:31 Explained

Genesis 29:31

KJV: And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

YLT: And Jehovah seeth that Leah is the hated one, and He openeth her womb, and Rachel is barren;

Darby: And when Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.

ASV: And Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb. But Rachel was barren.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when the LORD  saw  that Leah  [was] hated,  he opened  her womb:  but Rachel  [was] barren. 

What does Genesis 29:31 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God formed Jacob"s family, the ancestors of the tribes of Israel, as He had promised Jacob at Bethel. Unfortunately Jacob and his wives lived in envy and friction over how God chose to bless them. The real issue of the two sisters" conflicts in this pericope is the same as that of the brothers Esau and Jacob"s struggle. Who will take the lead and be first, and who will have to serve?
"Jacob had planned to take Rachel as his wife, but God intended him to have Leah. Thus in two major reversals in Jacob"s life, we can begin to see the writer"s theme taking shape. Jacob sought to marry Rachel, but Laban tricked him. Then Jacob sought to build a family through Rachel, but she was barren; and God opened Leah"s womb." [1]
This record of Jacob"s children, the center of the Jacob story structurally, is important for at least three reasons.
1.It shows God"s faithfulness in providing descendants as He had promised.
"Now the account centers on the fulfillment of Yahweh"s promise to be with Jacob and to bless him." [2]
2.It gives the origins and circumstances surrounding the births of the tribal heads of Israel.
"The theme of the Pentateuch is not difficult to discern. It is the story of the birth and adolescence of a nation." [3]
3.It explains much of the tribal rivalry that follows in Israel"s history.
The section culminates with the birth of Joseph ( Genesis 30:24), which proved to be the cue for Jacob to return home ( Genesis 30:25).

Context Summary

Genesis 29:21-35 - Jacob Marries Leah And Rachel
The chief lesson of this paragraph is its illustration of the awful nemesis which accompanies wrongdoing. No thoughtful person can watch the events of history or experience without realizing that we are already standing before the judgment-seat of God, and that His sentences are in process of being executed. Jacob deceived his father, and was himself deceived. "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." What disappointments there are in life! We think that we are to be dowered with Rachel, and lo! Leah is substituted; but in after-days Jacob spoke of Reuben as his might, the beginning of his dignity and excellency. The names of Leah's sons suggest the blessings that accrue through heartbreak. For the Leahs of the world there are great compensations. God remembers and hears them. Brokenhearted and forsaken, they live again in the lives of those whom they have borne either naturally or spiritually. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 29

1  Jacob comes to the well of Haran
9  He becomes acquainted with Rachel
13  Laban entertains him
18  Jacob covenants for Rachel
23  He is deceived by Laban with Leah
28  He marries also Rachel, and serves for her seven years more
32  Leah bears Reuben;
33  Simeon;
34  Levi;
35  and Judah

What do the individual words in Genesis 29:31 mean?

And when saw Yahweh that [was] unloved Leah then He opened - her womb but Rachel [was] barren
וַיַּ֤רְא יְהוָה֙ כִּֽי־ שְׂנוּאָ֣ה לֵאָ֔ה וַיִּפְתַּ֖ח אֶת־ רַחְמָ֑הּ וְרָחֵ֖ל עֲקָרָֽה

וַיַּ֤רְא  And  when  saw 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
שְׂנוּאָ֣ה  [was]  unloved 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, feminine singular
Root: שָׂנֵא  
Sense: to hate, be hateful.
לֵאָ֔ה  Leah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: לֵאָה  
Sense: daughter of Laban, first wife of Jacob, and mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah.
וַיִּפְתַּ֖ח  then  He  opened 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּתַח 
Sense: to open.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
רַחְמָ֑הּ  her  womb 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: רֶחֶם  
Sense: womb.
וְרָחֵ֖ל  but  Rachel 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רָחֵל  
Sense: daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
עֲקָרָֽה  [was]  barren 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: עָקָר  
Sense: barren, sterile.