One of the four matriarchs, and the first wife of Jacob, to whom she bore six sons – Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun – and one daughter, Dinah. Jacob had intended to marry her sister, Rachel, who had been promised to him by her father, Laban; but on the wedding night Laban substituted Leah, his elder daughter, in her place. Like Rachel, Leah stood by Jacob in his quarrel with Laban, and she is mentioned with Rachel in the traditional bridal blessing and the general blessing of daughters (Ruth 4:11).
