And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
When Jacob came home from the field that evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, 'You must sleep with me tonight, because I have paid for you with my son's mandrakes.' So he slept with her that night.
This verse shows Leah using mandrakes (fertility plants) her son found to bargain for intimacy with Jacob, highlighting the desperate competition between the sister-wives.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of Genesis, Jacob was married to both Leah and Rachel, sisters who were deeply competitive over his affection and the ability to bear children, as part of a larger story of family rivalry and God's promises to the patriarchs. Leah, who had already borne several sons but was no longer conceiving, traded mandrakes, plants valued in ancient Near Eastern culture for their supposed fertility properties, with Rachel to secure a night with Jacob. This event highlights the patriarchal society's customs, where women like Leah and Rachel navigated their insecurities through such arrangements amid God's overarching plan for the nation of Israel.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.