Genesis 30:13 kjv

And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

Genesis 30:13 nkjv

Then Leah said, "I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed." So she called his name Asher.

Genesis 30:13 niv

Then Leah said, "How happy I am! The women will call me happy." So she named him Asher.

Genesis 30:13 esv

And Leah said, "Happy am I! For women have called me happy." So she called his name Asher.

Genesis 30:13 nlt

And Leah named him Asher, for she said, "What joy is mine! Now the other women will celebrate with me."

Genesis 30 verses

Genesis 30 13 Meaning

Genesis 30:13 depicts Leah's joyous exclamation upon the birth of her sixth son, her second by her maidservant Zilpah. She declares herself "happy" or "fortunate," believing that other women, referred to as "the daughters," will concur and call her "blessed" due to this significant birth. This joy and anticipation of praise are encapsulated in the name she gives her new son, Asher, which signifies "happy" or "blessed."

Genesis 30 13 Context

Genesis chapter 30 continues the intense domestic rivalry between Jacob's wives, Leah and Rachel, a conflict deeply rooted in their desire to bear children for Jacob. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a woman's honor and standing, and indeed the strength and future of a family, were significantly tied to her fertility and ability to produce heirs, particularly sons. Jacob's apparent favoritism towards Rachel left Leah feeling unloved (Gen 29:31), intensifying her longing for children to gain status and Jacob's affection.

After bearing four sons, Leah pauses, and then Rachel, barren, gives her maidservant Bilhah to Jacob. Bilhah bears Dan and Naphtali. In response, Leah, seeing herself disadvantaged in the childbearing race, also gives her maidservant, Zilpah, to Jacob. Zilpah then bears Gad and Asher. This entire chapter illustrates the deep-seated cultural expectations, the pain of barrenness, the joy of birth, and the parents' attempt to assign meaning and hope through the names given to their children, often reflecting their prayers, circumstances, or prophecies regarding the child. The birth of Asher marks Leah's continued fruitfulness through Zilpah, bringing her a renewed sense of divine favor and social recognition.

Genesis 30 13 Word analysis

• Then Leah said, (וַתֹּאמֶר לֵאָה - vaTomer Leah): Highlights Leah as the speaker, a woman actively engaged in seeking favor and interpreting her circumstances through the lens of divine intervention. Her speech is pivotal in naming and assigning meaning.
• "Happy am I!" (בְּאָשְׁרִי - b'oshri): This is an emphatic declaration. The Hebrew root is אשׁר ('asher), which means "to be happy," "to be fortunate," or "to be blessed." Leah's joy is deeply personal and intertwined with the cultural value of fertility. The construct form suggests "in my happiness" or "because of my good fortune." It reflects a moment of perceived vindication or favor.
• "For the daughters will call me blessed." (כִּי אִשְּׁרוּנִי בָּנוֹת - ki ishshruni banot):
  • "For" (כִּי - ki): Introduces the reason or justification for her happiness.
  • "the daughters" (בָּנוֹת - banot): Refers generally to women, but more specifically to her female peers and successors. This indicates a social dimension to her happiness—her status and honor among other women will increase. It’s not just personal joy but also anticipation of public affirmation. In ancient societies, women often celebrated each other's fertility and new births.
  • "will call me blessed" (אִשְּׁרוּנִי - ishshruni): Uses the Piel stem of the same root אשׁר, meaning "they will pronounce me happy/blessed." This is a prophetic or anticipatory statement. It underscores Leah's desire for recognition and esteem in a competitive household and society. The repetitive use of the root אשׁר emphasizes the theme of happiness and blessedness.
• So she called his name Asher. (וַתִּקְרָא אֶת שְׁמוֹ אָשֶׁר - vaTeqra et shmo Asher): The act of naming is significant, reflecting the circumstances, emotions, or aspirations associated with the birth. Asher (אָשֵׁר - 'asher) directly embodies the concept of happiness and blessedness that Leah feels and anticipates receiving. The name serves as a perpetual reminder of God's favor and her social elevation. This practice of significant naming is prevalent throughout Genesis.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Happy am I! For the daughters will call me blessed.": This phrase captures Leah's emotional state and her cultural aspiration. Her happiness stems not only from the new life but also from the anticipated recognition from her peers. It highlights the social dynamics and pressure on women regarding fertility in that era. It speaks to a deep human need for affirmation and worth, which Leah, in her rivalry with Rachel, found partly in the number of her children.
• "So she called his name Asher.": This is the culmination of her emotional outpouring and interpretive insight. The name is a direct linguistic link to her statement, ensuring the son's identity is forever connected to "blessedness" and "happiness." Biblical names are often descriptive and meaningful, serving as reminders of events, divine interventions, or hopes for the future.

Genesis 30 13 Bonus section

The Tribe of Asher, descended from this son, later received a prophetic blessing in Gen 49:20 from Jacob, predicting abundance and "rich food" or "royal dainties," aligning with the idea of prosperity and blessing. In Deut 33:24, Moses’ blessing on Asher continues this theme of blessedness, stating, "More blessed than sons is Asher; May he be favored by his brothers, And dip his foot in oil." This foreshadows the prosperity of the territory later allotted to the tribe, known for its rich soil and olive groves. Thus, Leah’s initial cry of "happiness" and "blessedness" was prophetically carried through generations to the land and the legacy of her son.

Genesis 30 13 Commentary

Genesis 30:13 provides a concise glimpse into Leah's complex emotional landscape within the intense rivalry with her sister Rachel. While earlier names reflected her perceived "unloved" status and plea for Jacob's affection (Reuben, Simeon, Levi), and then a turning to praise God (Judah), the naming of Asher represents a shift to a profound sense of "blessedness" and anticipated social affirmation. Leah feels she is truly fortunate, perhaps finally feeling an internal sense of triumph or contentment despite the ongoing relational strife.

Her exclamation, "Happy am I! For the daughters will call me blessed," underscores the cultural importance of childbearing, particularly bearing sons. For Leah, this sixth son signifies not just personal joy but a victory in the competitive "childbearing race," assuring her high standing among her community of women. The name Asher, meaning "happy" or "blessed," is a direct echo of her declaration, sealing this newfound sense of favor and honor onto her son's identity. This moment reflects God's continued involvement in Leah's life, even amidst human weakness and conflict, bestowing blessings and answering the deep longing for fruitfulness. The spiritual reality of God's blessing permeates her natural joy and hope for social acknowledgment.