◄ Genesis 29:35 ►
And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, "This time I will praise the LORD." So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.
Study Bible
And she conceived again
The phrase indicates the continuation of God's blessing upon Leah, Jacob's first wife. In the Hebrew context, the ability to conceive was seen as a direct blessing from God, a sign of favor and divine intervention. Leah's repeated conceptions highlight God's compassion towards her, despite her less favored status compared to her sister Rachel. This reflects the biblical theme that God often chooses the overlooked or marginalized to fulfill His purposes.

and gave birth to a son
The birth of another son to Leah is significant in the patriarchal society of ancient Israel, where sons were seen as a source of strength and legacy. Each son born to Leah further solidified her position within Jacob's family and contributed to the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the stars.

and she said, 'This time I will praise the LORD.'
Leah's declaration marks a pivotal moment in her spiritual journey. The Hebrew word for "praise" is "yadah," which implies a deep, heartfelt acknowledgment of God's goodness. This statement reflects Leah's shift from seeking her husband's affection to finding her worth and joy in the Lord. It serves as an inspirational reminder for believers to find their identity and satisfaction in God rather than in human relationships.

So she named him Judah
The name "Judah" is derived from the Hebrew word "yadah," meaning "praise." Judah's birth is prophetically significant, as he becomes the ancestor of the tribe from which King David and ultimately Jesus Christ, the Messiah, would come. This highlights God's sovereign plan and the importance of Judah in the biblical narrative, emphasizing that God's purposes often unfold through unexpected and humble beginnings.

Then Leah stopped having children
This phrase indicates a pause in Leah's childbearing, which can be seen as a natural conclusion to this chapter of her life. It suggests a period of rest and reflection for Leah, who has now borne four sons. In the broader biblical context, this cessation underscores the theme of God's timing and provision, reminding believers that seasons of life are orchestrated by God for His greater purposes.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Leah
The first wife of Jacob, Leah is often seen as the less favored wife compared to her sister Rachel. Despite this, she is blessed with several children, including Judah.

2. Judah
The fourth son of Leah and Jacob. His name means "praise," reflecting Leah's decision to praise the LORD despite her circumstances.

3. Jacob
The patriarch who fathered the twelve tribes of Israel. His relationship with Leah and Rachel is central to the account of Genesis.

4. The LORD
The covenant God of Israel, whom Leah praises upon the birth of Judah.

5. Birth of Judah
This event is significant as Judah becomes the ancestor of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ.
Teaching Points
Praise in Adversity
Leah's decision to praise the LORD despite her less favored status teaches us to find reasons to praise God even in difficult circumstances.

Significance of Names
The naming of Judah reflects a shift in Leah's focus from her struggles to her relationship with God. Names in the Bible often carry deep spiritual significance.

God's Sovereignty
Leah's account reminds us that God's plans and purposes prevail, often in unexpected ways. Judah's lineage leads to the Messiah, showing God's sovereign hand in history.

Contentment in God's Blessings
Leah's journey encourages believers to find contentment in the blessings God has given, rather than comparing themselves to others.

Legacy of Faith
The birth of Judah and his role in the lineage of Christ underscores the importance of faithfulness and the legacy we leave for future generations.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Leah's response to the birth of Judah reflect a change in her perspective, and what can we learn from this about finding joy in God's blessings?

2. In what ways does the account of Leah and Judah demonstrate God's ability to use unexpected people and circumstances to fulfill His purposes?

3. How can Leah's decision to praise the LORD in Genesis 29:35 inspire us to cultivate a habit of praise in our own lives, especially during challenging times?

4. What significance does the naming of Judah have in the broader account of the Bible, and how does it connect to the promises made to Abraham and Jacob?

5. How can we apply the lessons from Leah's life to our own relationships, particularly in dealing with feelings of inadequacy or comparison?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 49:8-10
This passage contains Jacob's blessing over Judah, prophesying leadership and kingship, which connects to the Messianic line.

Matthew 1:1-3
The genealogy of Jesus Christ traces back to Judah, highlighting the fulfillment of God's promises through Leah's son.

Psalm 34:1
This verse emphasizes praising the LORD at all times, similar to Leah's declaration of praise upon Judah's birth.
Sermons
Leah and Rachel: Their Trims and CompensationsT. H. Leale.Genesis 29:29-35
LessonsG. Hughes, B. D.Genesis 29:29-35
Worth Better than BeautyM. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.Genesis 29:29-35
Jacob Among His Mother's KindredR.A. Redford Genesis 29
People
Bilhah, Haran, Jacob, Laban, Leah, Levi, Nahor, Rachel, Rebekah, Reuben, Simeon, Zilpah
Places
Paddan-aram
Topics
Bare, Bear, Beareth, Bearing, Birth, Bore, Ceased, Ceaseth, Child, Conceived, Conceiveth, Judah, Named, Praise, Stopped
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Genesis 29:31-35

     5044   names, giving of
     7266   tribes of Israel

Genesis 29:32-35

     5095   Jacob, life

Library
The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Dispensation of the Divine Favours Reconciled with the Goodness of God.
O God, whose thunder shakes the sky, Whose eye this atom globe surveys, To thee, my only rock, I fly; Thy mercy in thy justice praise. Then why, my soul, dost thou complain? Why drooping seek the dark recess? Shake off the melancholy chain, For God created all to bless.--CHATTERTON. In the preceding part, we considered the doctrine of predestination, under the name of necessity, in its relation to the origin of evil. We there endeavoured to show that it denies the responsibility of man, and …
Albert Taylor Bledsoe—A Theodicy, or, Vindication of the Divine Glory

Jesus Works his First Miracle at Cana in Galilee.
^D John II. 1-11. ^d 1 And the third day [From the calling of Philip (John i. 43). The days enumerated in John's first two chapters constitute a week, and may perhaps be intended as a contrast to the last week of Christ's ministry ( John xii. 1). It took two days to journey from the Jordan to Cana] there was a marriage [In Palestine the marriage ceremony usually began at twilight. The feast after the marriage was at the home of the bridegroom, and was sometimes prolonged for several days (Gen. xxix. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Epistle v. To Theoctista, Sister of the Emperor.
To Theoctista, Sister of the Emperor. Gregory to Theoctista, &c. With how great devotion my mind prostrates itself before your Venerableness I cannot fully express in words; nor yet do I labour to give utterance to it, since, even though I were silent, you read in your heart your own sense of my devotion. I wonder, however, that you withdrew your countenance, till of late bestowed on me, from this my recent engagement in the pastoral office; wherein, under colour of episcopacy, I have been brought …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Question of the Contemplative Life
I. Is the Contemplative Life wholly confined to the Intellect, or does the Will enter into it? S. Thomas, On the Beatific Vision, I., xii. 7 ad 3m II. Do the Moral Virtues pertain to the Contemplative Life? S. Augustine, Of the City of God, xix. 19 III. Does the Contemplative Life comprise many Acts? S. Augustine, Of the Perfection of Human Righteousness, viii. 18 " Ep., cxxx. ad probam IV. Does the Contemplative Life consist solely in the Contemplation of God, or in the Consideration …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

Departure from Ireland. Death and Burial at Clairvaux.
[Sidenote: 1148, May (?)] 67. (30). Being asked once, in what place, if a choice were given him, he would prefer to spend his last day--for on this subject the brothers used to ask one another what place each would select for himself--he hesitated, and made no reply. But when they insisted, he said, "If I take my departure hence[821] I shall do so nowhere more gladly than whence I may rise together with our Apostle"[822]--he referred to St. Patrick; "but if it behoves me to make a pilgrimage, and …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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