Genesis 29:31 Meaning and Explanation
“And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God sees Leah's pain and grants her fertility, while Rachel remains unable to conceive.
The Context of Genesis 29:31
God grants Leah fertility as a response to her being unloved, while Rachel remains barren.
What Does Genesis 29:31 Mean?
The word 'hated' is harsh by modern ears, but in the context it means 'loved less'—Leah is the unloved wife in a household where Jacob's preference for Rachel is open. God's response is to grant Leah what Jacob cannot: children. The opening of 'her womb' was understood as a direct act of God, reversing barrenness and affirming Leah's dignity as a mother.
Rachel's barrenness, meanwhile, becomes a source of desperate longing. She has the love but not the children; Leah has the children but not the love. This reversal of fortunes shows God attending to Leah's affliction—the word 'affliction' is key to understanding God's response not as favoritism but as justice toward the oppressed. Fertility becomes Leah's compensation for being unloved.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 29:31
What does Genesis 29:31 mean?
God sees Leah's pain and grants her fertility, while Rachel remains unable to conceive.
What is the context of Genesis 29:31?
God grants Leah fertility as a response to her being unloved, while Rachel remains barren.