Bible Strands
Genesis 29:17
Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jacob meets Laban's family at the well and learns of his two daughters, Leah and Rachel, just before negotiating his seven-year service.
The words — The Hebrew רַכּוֹת (rak kot) literally means "weak" or "tender," applied to Leah's eyes, while יְפַת־תֹּאַר (yefat-to'ar) means "beautiful in form," applied to Rachel.
The thread — This descriptive contrast mirrors Genesis 12:11, 24:16, and 29:6, where physical appearance repeatedly functions as a narrative catalyst for patriarchal movement and divine orchestration.
Why it lands — The text records a neutral physical distinction that immediately generates Jacob's preference, requiring the reader to observe how human attraction initiates the covenantal complications that follow.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
Cross-references
- Genesis 12:11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman,
- Genesis 24:16 Now the girl was very beautiful, a virgin who had not had relations with any man. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up again.
- Genesis 29:6 “Is he well?” Jacob inquired. “Yes,” they answered, “and here comes his daughter Rachel with his sheep.”
- Genesis 29:18 Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
- Genesis 30:1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.
- Genesis 30:22 Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb,
- Genesis 35:19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
- Genesis 35:24 The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.
- Genesis 39:6 So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,
- Genesis 46:19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.