Genesis 29:35 Meaning and Explanation
“And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Leah bears a fourth son, Judah, and ceases bearing children; she names him for her decision to praise God instead of seeking Jacob's love.
The Context of Genesis 29:35
Leah bears Judah and ceases bearing, turning her hope toward God's praise.
What Does Genesis 29:35 Mean?
With the birth of Judah (Hebrew 'Yehudah,' 'praise,' from 'yadah,' to give thanks), Leah's perspective transforms. The statement 'Now will I praise the LORD' signals a turning point. She has borne four sons, and they have not secured Jacob's love. At this moment, she releases that hope and redirects her worship toward God instead. Praise replaces the desperate seeking for human affection.
The text notes that after Judah, she 'left bearing'—the bearing stops. This is not because she became infertile, but because her bearing had a purpose (seeking Jacob's love) which she has now abandoned. By praising God, Leah finds sufficiency in her relationship with him. Judah becomes the son through whose line the Messiah will come (Matthew 1:1-3)—so Leah's fourth and final son of this cycle carries an eternal significance she does not know. Her praise, offered when all human hopes for Jacob have failed, directs her toward a deeper foundation of worth and meaning.
Genesis 29:35 in the Original Language
Judah (יְהוּדָה), 'praise' — from yadah, 'to give thanks' or 'praise'; the name marks Leah's shift from seeking Jacob's love to praising God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 29:35
What does Genesis 29:35 mean?
Leah bears a fourth son, Judah, and ceases bearing children; she names him for her decision to praise God instead of seeking Jacob's love.
What is the context of Genesis 29:35?
Leah bears Judah and ceases bearing, turning her hope toward God's praise.