Genesis 29:33 kjv
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.
Genesis 29:33 nkjv
Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also." And she called his name Simeon.
Genesis 29:33 niv
She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon.
Genesis 29:33 esv
She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also." And she called his name Simeon.
Genesis 29:33 nlt
She soon became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She named him Simeon, for she said, "The LORD heard that I was unloved and has given me another son."
Genesis 29 33 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 29:30 | So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah... | Jacob's favoritism, core of Leah's sorrow. |
| Gen 29:31 | When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. | God's intervention precedes Simeon's birth. |
| Gen 29:32 | Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery." | Leah's first son, similar lament and naming. |
| Gen 29:34 | She conceived again and bore a son and said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was called Levi. | Leah's third son, continued hope for love. |
| Gen 29:35 | She conceived again and bore a son and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she called his name Judah. Then she stopped having children. | Leah's spiritual progression to praise. |
| Gen 30:6 | Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son.” So she named him Dan. | Parallel with Rachel's similar prayer. |
| 1 Sam 1:11 | And she made a vow, saying, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant but will give to your servant a son... | Hannah's prayer for a son out of affliction. |
| 1 Sam 1:20 | So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.” | Hannah's naming, "heard by God." |
| Exod 2:24 | So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. | God "hearing" as a prelude to liberation. |
| Exod 3:7 | Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people... and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters..." | God hears the cries of the oppressed. |
| Deut 21:15 | If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved... | Legal context acknowledging "unloved" wife. |
| Ps 6:8 | Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. | God hears personal sorrow and tears. |
| Ps 18:6 | In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. | God hears and answers distress. |
| Ps 34:17 | When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. | God's characteristic of hearing prayers. |
| Ps 66:19 | But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. | A testimony of God hearing prayer. |
| Isa 65:24 | Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. | God's immediate response to prayer. |
| Jer 29:12 | Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. | Promise of God listening to prayer. |
| Lam 3:56 | “You heard my plea,” I said, “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.” | Direct prayer acknowledging God's hearing. |
| Matt 7:7 | Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. | Encouragement to pray, implying God hears. |
| Rom 9:13 | As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” | "Hated" context as "loved less/preferred less." |
| Phil 4:6 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. | Call to prayer and God's receptiveness. |
| Heb 4:16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | Confidence in approaching a hearing God. |
| Jas 5:16 | Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. | Emphasizes the power of prayer. |
| 1 John 5:14 | And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. | Confidence that God hears us. |
Genesis 29 verses
Genesis 29 33 Meaning
Genesis 29:33 describes the birth of Leah's second son, Simeon. In this verse, Leah attributes his birth directly to the Lord (YHWH), stating that God heard her suffering and the fact that she was unloved by Jacob. The name "Simeon," meaning "he has heard" or "hearing," serves as a personal testament to God's compassionate response to her affliction. It highlights God's active involvement in the lives of His people, particularly those in distress, providing comfort and children as a tangible sign of His presence and care.
Genesis 29 33 Context
Genesis chapter 29 details Jacob's arrival in Paddan-Aram, his meeting with Rachel, and his service to Laban. After working seven years for Rachel, Jacob is deceived by Laban and given Leah as his first wife. Jacob then works another seven years for Rachel, whom he loves deeply, explicitly stating his preference (Gen 29:30). Leah is consistently described as "unloved" or "hated" in comparison to Rachel (Gen 29:31). The birth of her children becomes a narrative thread reflecting her deep emotional distress and her evolving spiritual journey in seeking affirmation and love, initially from Jacob, then progressively from the Lord. This verse fits directly into Leah's painful struggle for recognition and love within her polygamous household, highlighting God's immediate and compassionate response to her suffering.
Genesis 29 33 Word analysis
- And she conceived again and bore a son: This continues the immediate narrative, emphasizing God's sustained opening of Leah's womb (Gen 29:31) as a consistent act of favor despite her circumstances.
- And said: Leah vocalizes her understanding and recognition of divine intervention, making her declaration a testimony of faith and attribution to God.
- "Because the Lord has heard":
- Lord: YHWH (יהוה). This is God's covenant name, signifying His personal, relational presence and active involvement in the lives of His people, particularly those in covenant relationship. Leah's use of YHWH demonstrates a personal and theological understanding of God's character.
- Heard: Hebrew shama (שמע). This is more than mere auditory perception; it implies attentive listening, acknowledging, responding, and even obeying. Leah isn't just saying God's ears were open, but that He understood her pain and acted upon it. This concept of God "hearing" the cry of the oppressed is a profound theme throughout the Old Testament, foundational to the Exodus narrative.
- "that I am hated": Hebrew sane (שנא). While literally "hated," in a comparative context, it often means "loved less," "unfavored," or "rejected." It underscores Leah's profound emotional pain, stemming from Jacob's obvious and deep affection for Rachel. It points to a situation of persistent neglect rather than malicious ill-will.
- "He has therefore given me this son also.": God's provision of children is portrayed as a direct, tangible response to Leah's lament. The word "also" implies this is a continued act of grace, not an isolated incident (following Reuben's birth). It demonstrates God's sovereignty over the womb and His compassion for the afflicted.
- "And she called his name Simeon.": Hebrew Shimon (שמעון). The name directly derives from the verb shama (to hear), explicitly commemorating God's attentiveness and response to Leah's distress. The naming serves as an enduring testament and reminder of God's action in her life.
Genesis 29 33 Bonus section
- The naming of Simeon sets a pattern for how subsequent children born to Leah and Rachel will receive names that are direct theological declarations, reflecting their mothers' struggles, hopes, and praise related to God's actions. This shows God integrating Himself into the very fabric of family life.
- Leah's repeated naming of her sons based on her pain ("misery," "hated," "attached") and then her final move to praise (Judah) reveals a significant spiritual progression. While Simeon's name still stems from her feeling "hated," it shows a more profound trust in God as her primary source of solace, rather than solely depending on Jacob's affection.
- The Lord's action in Gen 29:31 ("saw that Leah was unloved") and then Gen 29:33 ("heard that I am hated") prefigures God's consistent character later revealed in Exodus, where He "saw" the affliction of Israel and "heard" their cries (Exod 2:24-25, 3:7). Genesis establishes foundational truths about God's nature long before the formation of Israel as a nation.
- Simeon’s birth, even within the complexity and pain of polygamy, ultimately contributes to the lineage of Israel, demonstrating God's sovereign hand working even through human failings and suffering to achieve His redemptive purposes.
Genesis 29 33 Commentary
Genesis 29:33 offers a deeply personal insight into Leah's emotional suffering and the Lord's profound compassion. As the unloved wife in Jacob's household, Leah's identity and hope were largely tied to bearing children. Her initial son, Reuben, focused on her misery being seen. With Simeon, her focus shifts to God hearing her. This transition marks a spiritual growth, as she directly acknowledges the active intervention of YHWH, the covenant God. God’s act of "hearing" implies not just passive awareness but an empathetic, responsive engagement with her distress. This isn't merely a fortunate event; it is a direct divine gift alleviating a profound emotional wound. The name Simeon concretizes this spiritual truth, reminding all of God’s character as one who listens and responds to the cries of the downtrodden. It exemplifies a central biblical theme: God does not ignore the affliction of His people but actively intervenes to provide solace and vindication, often through unexpected means.