Genesis 29 · Verse 17

Genesis 29:17

Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
Genesis 29:17, King James Version

Genesis 29:17 in other translations

BSBLeah had weak eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful.
WEBLeah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and attractive.
ASVAnd Leah’s eyes were tender; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.
YLTand the eyes of Leah are tender, and Rachel hath been fair of form and fair of appearance.
DARBYAnd the eyes of Leah were tender; but Rachel was of beautiful form and beautiful countenance.
BBEAnd Leah's eyes were clouded, but Rachel was fair in face and form.
WebsterLeah was tender-eyed, but Rachel was beautiful and well-favored.

What does Genesis 29:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 29:14-20

14-20. he abode a month--Among pastoral people a stranger is freely entertained for three days; on the fourth day he is expected to tell his name and errand; and if he prolongs his stay after that time, he must set his hand to work in some way, as may be agreed upon. A similar rule obtained in Laban's establishment, and the wages for which his nephew engaged to continue in his employment was the hand of Rachel.

Read the full comment on Genesis 29:14-20 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 Leah was tender-eyed - רכות raccoth, soft, delicate, lovely. I believe the word means just the reverse of the signification generally given to it. The design of the inspired writer is to compare both the sisters together, that the balance may appear to be greatly in favor of Rachel. The chief recommendation of Leah was her soft and beautiful eyes; but Rachel was יפת תאר yephath toar, beautiful in her shape, person, mien, and gait, and יפת מראה yephath mareh, beautiful in her countenance. The words plainly signify a fine shape and fine features, all that can be considered as essential to personal beauty. Therefore Jacob loved her, and was willing to become a bond servant for seven years, that he might get her to wife; for in his destitute state he could produce no dowry, and it was the custom of those times for the father to receive a portion for his daughter, and not to give one with her. One of the Hindoo lawgivers says, "A person may become a slave on account of love, or to obtain a wife." The bad system of education by which women are spoiled and rendered in general good for nothing, makes it necessary for the husband to get a dowry with his wife to enable him to maintain her; whereas in former times they were well educated and extremely useful, hence he who got a wife almost invariably got a prize, or as Solomon says, got a good thing.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 29:15-30

During the month that Jacob spent as a guest, he was not idle. Wherever we are, it is good to employ ourselves in some useful business. Laban was desirous that Jacob should continue with him. Inferior relations must not be imposed upon; it is our duty to reward them. Jacob made known to Laban the affection he had for his daughter Rachel. And having no wordly goods with which to endow her, he promises seven years'…

Read the full comment on Genesis 29:15-30 →

Genesis 29:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְעֵינֵ֥יve.'ei.Neiand [the] eyes ofH5869
לֵאָ֖הle.'AhLeahH3812
רַכּ֑וֹתra.Kot[were] weakH7390
וְרָחֵל֙ve.ra.Cheland RachelH7354
הָֽיְתָ֔הha.ye.Tahshe wasH1961
יְפַת\־ye.fat-beautiful ofH3303
תֹּ֖אַרTo.'arformH8389
וִיפַ֥תvi.Fatand beautiful ofH3303
מַרְאֶֽה\׃mar.'EhappearanceH4758

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 29:17

  • Genesis 12:11

    And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:

  • Genesis 35:19-20

    And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Beth–lehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

  • Genesis 29:18

    And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

  • 1 Samuel 10:2

    When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

  • Genesis 35:24

    The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

  • Genesis 39:6

    And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

  • Proverbs 31:30

    Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

  • Genesis 29:6-12

    And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep. And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them. …

  • Matthew 2:18

    In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

  • Genesis 46:19-22

    The sons of Rachel Jacob’s wife; Joseph, and Benjamin. And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Poti–pherah priest of On bare unto him. And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard. These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.

  • Jeremiah 31:15

    Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

  • Genesis 30:22

    And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rachel.
6-12,18; 30:1,2,22; 35:19,20,24; 46:19-22; 48:7; 1Sa 10:2; Jer 31:15
Mt 2:18
beautiful.
12:11; 24:16; 39:6; Pr 31:30

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 29:16

    And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

  • Genesis 29:17

    Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

  • Genesis 29:18

    And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

Read all of Genesis 29

Genesis 29:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y los ojos de Lea eran tiernos, pero Rachêl era de lindo semblante y de hermoso parecer.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et Léa avait les yeux délicats; mais Rachel était belle de taille et belle de visage.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und die Augen der Lea waren blöde; Rahel aber war schön von Gestalt und schön von Angesicht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Sed Lia lippis erat oculis: Rachel decora facie, et venusto aspectu.