Genesis 30:17

And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

And God {H430} hearkened {H8085} unto Leah {H3812}, and she conceived {H2029}, and bare {H3205} Jacob {H3290} the fifth {H2549} son {H1121}.

God listened to Le'ah, and she conceived and bore Ya'akov a fifth son.

And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore a fifth son to Jacob.

And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob a fifth son.

Commentary

Context

Genesis 30:17 takes place within the complex and often contentious family dynamics of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel. The chapter details the intense rivalry between Leah and Rachel, primarily centered on bearing children for Jacob. While God had initially opened Leah's womb, granting her four sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah), she had then ceased bearing children. Rachel, being barren, had given her maid Bilhah to Jacob, who bore Dan and Naphtali. Leah, in turn, gave her maid Zilpah, who bore Gad and Asher. The immediate preceding verses (Genesis 30:14-16) describe an unusual bargain involving mandrakes, where Leah traded a night with Jacob for the mandrakes Reuben found, hoping they would enhance fertility. This verse then reveals God's direct response to Leah's renewed desire for children.

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention and Sovereignty: The verse explicitly states "God hearkened unto Leah," highlighting that her conception was not merely a result of human arrangement (like the mandrake deal) but a direct act of God's will and responsiveness. It emphasizes God's active involvement in the lives of His people, even amidst their flawed human schemes and rivalries.
  • Fruitfulness and Barrenness: This passage continues a major theme throughout Genesis—the importance of offspring and the struggle with barrenness. God's intervention here underscores His power to grant life and overcome physical limitations, echoing similar narratives of God opening the wombs of Sarah and Rebekah.
  • Prayer and God's Responsiveness: While not explicitly stated as a prayer, Leah's deep desire for more children, especially in the context of her rivalry with Rachel, implies a supplication to God. God's "hearkening" signifies His attentiveness to the cries and desires of His children, even when those desires are intertwined with imperfect human motivations.

Linguistic Insights

The key phrase "God hearkened unto Leah" uses the Hebrew verb shama (שָׁמַע), which means "to hear," "to listen," and often implies "to obey" or "to respond." In this context, it signifies that God not only heard Leah's unexpressed or expressed longing but also acted in response to it, granting her request for another child. This is a powerful demonstration of God's active and responsive nature in the covenant relationship.

Significance and Application

Genesis 30:17 reminds us that God is actively involved in the details of our lives, even when circumstances are messy or driven by human ambition and competition. Leah's story, particularly the birth of her fifth son, who would be named Issachar, serves as a testament to God's grace and sovereignty. It teaches us that:

  • God hears our deepest desires, even when we feel overlooked or are struggling in challenging relationships.
  • His plan unfolds according to His will, often in ways that transcend human logic or effort.
  • Even in the midst of human imperfection and rivalry, God can bring forth blessings and advance His purposes.

This verse encourages believers to bring their petitions before God, trusting that He is a God who hears and responds according to His perfect timing and wisdom.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 1:13 (3 votes)

    But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

  • Genesis 30:22 (3 votes)

    And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

  • 1 Samuel 1:20 (3 votes)

    Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked him of the LORD.

  • 1 Samuel 1:26 (3 votes)

    And she said, Oh my lord, [as] thy soul liveth, my lord, I [am] the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.

  • 1 Samuel 1:27 (3 votes)

    For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

  • Exodus 3:7 (3 votes)

    ¶ And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

  • Genesis 30:6 (3 votes)

    And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.