Genesis 29:17

29:17 Leah’s eyes were tender, ¹  but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful appearance.) ² 

Genesis 45:12

45:12 You and my brother Benjamin can certainly see with your own eyes that I really am the one who speaks to you. ³ 

Genesis 48:10

48:10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing ⁴  because of his age; he was not able to see well. So Joseph ⁵  brought his sons ⁶  near to him, and his father ⁷  kissed them and embraced them.

[29:17]  ¹ tn Heb “and the eyes of Leah were tender.” The disjunctive clause (introduced here by a conjunction and a noun) continues the parenthesis begun in v. 16. It is not clear what is meant by “tender” (or “delicate”) eyes. The expression may mean she had appealing eyes (cf. NAB, NRSV, NLT), though some suggest that they were plain, not having the brightness normally expected. Either way, she did not measure up to her gorgeous sister.

[29:17]  ² tn Heb “and Rachel was beautiful of form and beautiful of appearance.”

[45:12]  ³ tn Heb “And, look, your eyes see and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that my mouth is the one speaking to you.”

[48:10]  ⁵ tn Heb “heavy.”

[48:10]  ⁶ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[48:10]  ⁷ tn Heb “them”; the referent (Joseph’s sons) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[48:10]  ⁸ tn Heb “and he”; the referent (Joseph’s father) has been specified in the translation for clarity.