Episode 9: Jacob and His Wives, Part II

Biblical Times Podcast

The stories of the Bible, especially those in the Book of Genesis, are very concise, and we discussed the reason for this in episode 5.
For the stories to convey more than the words written in them, the writers of the Bible used puns and words with multiple meanings numerous times (synergy). Each meaning plays a crucial role in the story.

However, wordplay cannot be translated from one language to another, and this limitation is especially evident in literal translations.
The names that Leah gave to her sons and her maidservant's sons are not random, but rather names whose meanings illustrate how she improved her status with each birth.

The meaning of each name shows how the woman, who was hated by her, gradually became a happy and beloved woman.

Conversely, the meanings of the names that Rachel gave to her sons and her maidservant's sons illustrate the tragic decline of the young and miserable woman. They start from a low place and descend to the grave.