※A joyous firstborn
*In the final verses of Genesis 29 we read in quick succession the story of the birth of Leah’s four sons. Each one is given a Hebrew name which bears a deep emotional meaning only understood in the original Hebrew.
創29:32利亞懷孕生子,就給他起名叫流便(就是有兒子的意思),因而說:「耶和華看見我的苦情,如今我的丈夫必愛我。」33他又懷孕生子,就說:「耶和華因為聽見我失寵,所以又賜給我這個兒子」,於是給他起名叫西緬(就是聽見的意思)。34他又懷孕生子,起名叫利未(就是聯合的意思),說:「我給丈夫生了三個兒子,他必與我聯合。」35他又懷孕生子,說:「這回我要讚美耶和華」,因此給他起名叫猶大(就是讚美的意思)。這才停了生育。
*Her first son, Reuben (רְאוּבֵן) is named from the Hebrew word ra’ah (רָאָה), which means “see”. Reuben’s name is a pure expression of joy – see a son is born!
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Reuben:רְאוּבֵ֑ן (7205)
ראוּבן re ûbên reh-oo-bane
Reuben = "behold a son"
From the imperative of 7200 and 1121
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(7200) ראה rââh raw-aw
A primitive root; to see,
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(1121) בּן bên bane
From 1129; a son
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※God hears Leah
*Leah’s second son is Simeon (שִׁמְעוֹן), which comes from the Hebrew word shema (שָׁמַע) meaning “hear”. Leah expresses her gratitude that God has heard her cries and blessed her with a second son.
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Simeon:שִׁמְעֽוֹן (8095)
שׁמעון shim‛ôn shim-one
Simeon or Shimeon = "heard"
From 8085; hearing;
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8085 שׁמע shâma‛ shaw-mah
A primitive root; to hear intelligently機智地傾聽(often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.;
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*The name of the third son Levi (לֵוִי) is related to the Hebrew word for “attach”, yelave (יִלָּוֶה). Leah hoped that this boy would finally cause Jacob to be more attached to her. 利亞希望這個男孩最終會讓雅各更加依戀她。
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Levi לֵוִֽי (3878)
לוי lêvı̂y lay-vee
Levi = "joined to"
From 3867; attached;
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3867 לוה lâvâh law-vaw
A primitive root; properly to twine使懷抱,
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※Experience the Bible through Hebrew
Most expressive is the fourth son’s name, Yehuda (יְהוּדָה), coming from the Hebrew word for “praise”, odeh (אוֹדֶה).
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29:35 וַתַּהַר עֹוד וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן וַתֹּאמֶר הַפַּעַם אֹודֶה אֶת־יְהוָה עַל־כֵּן קָרְאָה שְׁמֹו יְהוּדָה וַֽתַּעֲמֹד מִלֶּֽדֶת׃
And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
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Judah:יְהוּדָ֑ה (3063)
יהוּדה ye hûdâh yeh-hoo-daw
From 3034; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah),
Judah = "praised"
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3034 אוֹדֶ֣ה odeh音,will praise;
3034 ידה yâdâh yaw-daw
יָדָהyadah音,shall praise
c. (Hiphil) 1. to give thanks,, laud, praise
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希伯來文動詞有下列七個主要類型:
(Qal)、(Niphal)、(Piel)、(Pual)、(Hiphil)、(Hophal)、(Hithpael)。以第一種動詞類型最單純,故有傳統名字Qal﹙輕﹚,每個類型各自有其不同的特點。
*Leah is finally able to set aside her rivalry with her sister and her frustration with her husband. She simply praises God for giving her a great portion in creating the tribes of the Jewish people. To this day, the people of Israel call themselves Yehudim (יהודים jews) or “sons of Judah” (beni yehudah בני יהודה ).
利亞終於能夠放棄與妹妹的競爭和她對丈夫的挫折感。她只是讚美上帝給了她創造很大部分猶太人的族群。直到今日,以色列人稱自己是猶太人或「猶大的兒子」。
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