Leah

Leah was the elder daughter of Laban, given to Jacob by deception on his wedding night when Jacob had worked seven years expecting to marry her younger sister Rachel. The text notes only that she had "weak eyes" (or "soft eyes") in contrast to Rachel's beauty. Jacob was furious but agreed to work another seven years for Rachel. Leah was unloved, but the LORD saw her affliction and opened her womb while Rachel remained barren.

Leah bore Jacob six sons — Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun — and a daughter, Dinah. Her naming speeches at each birth trace an arc from hoping for her husband's love to simply praising God: at Judah's birth she said, "This time I will praise the LORD." Two of the most decisive lineages in Israelite history run through her: Levi (the priestly tribe, from whom Moses and Aaron descend) and Judah (the royal tribe, the Messianic line). She died before the family left Canaan and was buried in the cave of Machpelah with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebekah — the only one of Jacob's wives to be honored with burial there.