Genesis 29:31-35 English Standard Version
Jacob’s Children
31 When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” 33 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. 34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.
The Hebrew word for Judah sounds like praise. Just because it sounds like praise does not mean it is praise.
That is the lesson for today. What is praise?
Leah was hated by Jacob. Rachel was his first love and he was tricked into marrying Leah. Leah wanted Jacob to love her and it was her belief that giving Jacob sons would change his heart towards her. By the time Levi came along, she had three sons by Jacob and still she felt no love from her husband. Levi sounds like the Hebrew word attached. Once again, sounds like doesn’t mean he is attached.
Finally with Judah’s birth she says she will praise the Lord. But did she praise God or did it just sound like it?
Interestingly Genesis 29:35 is the first time the word praise is used in the bible. The Hebrew word is yada. What is it we say when we think we know what someone else is going to say? Yada, yada, yada.
The bible usage for the word yada is to throw, shoot or cast.
That is strange because that doesn’t sound like praise at all.