"And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Leah Meaning in the Bible
Leah
girl
Leah means "Weary; Tender-eyed", a girl's name of Hebrew origin. Leah appears in the King James Bible, and Genesis 29:31 is the passage most often tied to it. Leah's story transforms her name's meaning from 'weary' to 'triumphant.' God sees the overlooked and unloved, and through them accomplishes His most glorious purposes. Worth comes from God, not human approval.
Is Leah in the Bible?
Yes — Leah appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 29:31.
Pronunciation:/LEE-uh/
OriginHebrew
MeaningWeary; Tender-eyed
What does Leah mean?
Leah is a girl name of Hebrew origin meaning "Weary; Tender-eyed". Leah means "weary" or is associated with "tender-eyed" in Hebrew.
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Editor’s reflection
Probably 'weary' — the unloved sister who mothered six of the twelve tribes.
Leah (לֵאָה) is most often derived from la'ah, 'to be weary, to grow faint.' Some scholars propose an Akkadian root meaning 'cow,' pairing neatly with Rachel's 'ewe.' Genesis 29:17 offers the famous ambiguous line: 'Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.' The Hebrew rakkot can mean weak, soft, or delicate, and translators have argued over it for centuries.
The naming of her sons is the emotional spine of Genesis 29–30 and worth reading in sequence. Reuben: 'the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.' Simeon: 'the LORD hath heard that I was hated.' Levi: 'now this time will my husband be joined unto me.' Three sons, three attempts to buy affection. Then Judah: 'Now will I praise the LORD' — and she stopped counting.
That fourth name is the turn. Judah is the tribe of David and of Christ; Levi is the priestly tribe. The two lines that carry Israel's kingship and its worship both descend from the wife nobody chose. Genesis makes the point without editorial comment, which is far more effective than if it had explained itself.
Leah is buried with Jacob in the cave of Machpelah alongside Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah — Rachel is not (Genesis 49:31). As a modern name Leah is short, warm, and top-50 in the US, and it consistently outperforms its own reputation as the overlooked sister.
“And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah.”
Why parents choose Leah today
- •Mother of six tribes, including Levi the priests and Judah the kings
- •Ancestress of both King David and Jesus Christ
- •One syllable in Hebrew, two in English — soft and unfussy
- •Buried with the patriarchs at Machpelah, unlike Rachel
What does Leah mean in the Bible?
Leah means "Weary; Tender-eyed" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Leah means "weary" or is associated with "tender-eyed" in Hebrew. She was Jacob's first wife — married to him through her father Laban's deception — and despite being unloved compared to her sister Rachel, Leah became the mother of six of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Leah's story is one of finding identity and worth in God despite human rejection. Scripture says, "When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb" (Genesis 29:31). God saw her pain and blessed her abundantly. She named her sons with declarations of hope: Reuben ("see, a son"), Judah ("praise").
Through Judah, Leah's son, came the royal line of David and ultimately Jesus Christ. The woman who was "unloved" became an ancestor of the Savior — a profound demonstration of how God exalts the humble and overlooked.
Where does Leah appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Leah is connected to 1 key passage in the King James Bible, beginning with Genesis 29:31. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah."
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What are the variants and nicknames of Leah?
Leah has 2 recorded variants, short forms, and translations across languages and biblical traditions.
Common nicknames
Lea
Lia
Which books of the Bible mention Leah?
Leah is mentioned across 2 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Leah?
Leah's story transforms her name's meaning from 'weary' to 'triumphant.' God sees the overlooked and unloved, and through them accomplishes His most glorious purposes. Worth comes from God, not human approval.
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Leah:
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Word Meaning
Grace (Chen) (חֵן (chen))
Favor, charm, and gracious acceptance — finding kindness in another's eyes.
Strong's
Strong's H2580 — Grace (Chen)
חֵן (chen) • Favor, charm, and gracious acceptance — finding kindness in another's eyes.
What names are related to Leah?
Names like Leah
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Weary; Tender-eyed" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Jedidiah
"Beloved of the LORD"
boy
Abishag
"My father wanders; Father of error"
girl
Adah
"Ornament; Beauty; Adorned"
girl
Bathsheba
"Daughter of the oath; Seventh daughter"
girl
Gomer
"Complete; To finish; Accomplish"
girl
Hosea
"Salvation; He saves"
boy
Mephibosheth
"Exterminator of shame; From the mouth of shame"
boy
Naamah
"Pleasant; Beautiful; Delightful"
girl
Names that pair well with Leah
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Leah
Download a printable name card with the KJV verse and meaning — perfect for Pinterest, Instagram, or a baptism keepsake.
Leah name meaning: frequently asked questions
Genesis 29:17 uses the Hebrew word rakkot, which can mean soft, weak, or delicate. Interpreters have read it as poor eyesight, as pale or unremarkable eyes, or — in some Jewish commentary — as eyes worn out from weeping. The KJV's 'tender eyed' preserves the ambiguity deliberately; the verse's function is to contrast her with Rachel, not to diagnose her.
Yes — Leah appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 29:31.
Leah means "Weary; Tender-eyed." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in Genesis 29:31, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Leah
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Leah?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Leah?
You can read every verse where Leah appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.