61 Jacob's Marriages

Laban had two daughters, Leah the eldest and Rachel whom Jacob has just met. Leah’s name means “cow or strong woman” in Hebrew and we have seen that Rachel’s name means “ewe lamb.” This again shows us the disposition of Laban and his wife toward each daughter by the characterization of the names they gave them. Leah was tender-eyed or as the Hebrew states, “weak-eyed.” Much diversity surrounds this term in the various scriptural contexts where it appears. Some say that she had poor vision and others say that she had cried her eyes out with the prospect of possibly having to marry Esau or some other equally undesirable man (Bereshit Rabbah 70: 16). The Hebrew word is rakkot רַכּוֹת . It can refer to a tender nature or genuine poor eyesight. Since the eyes are the gateway to the soul it would seem that Leah’s poor eyesight gave insight into her tender delicate nature. She was not attractive as Rachel but had a tender delicate nature. Interestingly, she was not so good-looking since bright eyes, with fire in them, are regarded as the height of beauty in Mesopotamian women. Because of her appearance though she was not sought after for marriage. Her father knew she was the more difficult woman to place in an arranged marriage. Rachel was beautiful and well favored, meaning in face and figure with no physical deformities. We must remember that God looks on the inside and not on the outside (I Samuel 16: 7). Ones physical appearance is not the basis for a lasting satisfying godly marriage.