Genesis 4:25

4:25 And Adam had marital relations ¹  with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son. She named him Seth, saying, “God has given ²  me another child ³  in place of Abel because Cain killed him.”

Genesis 21:12

21:12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be upset ⁴  about the boy or your slave wife. Do ⁵  all that Sarah is telling ⁶  you because through Isaac your descendants will be counted. ⁷ 

Genesis 29:32-34

29:32 So Leah became pregnant ⁸  and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, ⁹  for she said, “The Lord has looked with pity on my oppressed condition. ¹⁰  Surely my husband will love me now.”

29:33 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “Because the Lord heard that I was unloved, ¹¹  he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon. ¹² 

29:34 She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “Now this time my husband will show me affection, ¹³  because I have given birth to three sons for him.” That is why he was named Levi. ¹⁴ 

Genesis 30:20

30:20 Then Leah said, “God has given me a good gift. Now my husband will honor me because I have given him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun. ¹⁵ 

[4:25]  ¹ tn Heb “knew,” a frequent euphemism for sexual relations.

[4:25]  ² sn The name Seth probably means something like “placed”; “appointed”; “set”; “granted,” assuming it is actually related to the verb that is used in the sentiment. At any rate, the name שֵׁת (shet) and the verb שָׁת (shat, “to place, to appoint, to set, to grant”) form a wordplay (paronomasia).

[4:25]  ³ tn Heb “offspring.”

[21:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “Let it not be evil in your eyes.”

[21:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “listen to her voice.” The idiomatic expression means “obey; comply.” Here her advice, though harsh, is necessary and conforms to the will of God. Later (see Gen 25), when Abraham has other sons, he sends them all away as well.

[21:12]  ⁶ tn The imperfect verbal form here draws attention to an action that is underway.

[21:12]  ⁷ tn Or perhaps “will be named”; Heb “for in Isaac offspring will be called to you.” The exact meaning of the statement is not clear, but it does indicate that God’s covenantal promises to Abraham will be realized through Isaac, not Ishmael.

[29:32]  ⁷ tn Or “Leah conceived” (also in vv. 33, 34, 35).

[29:32]  ⁸ sn The name Reuben (רְאוּבֵן, rÿ’uven) means “look, a son.”

[29:32]  ⁹ tn Heb “looked on my affliction.”

[29:33]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “hated.” See the note on the word “unloved” in v. 31.

[29:33]  ¹¹ sn The name Simeon (שִׁמְעוֹן, shim’on) is derived from the verbal root שָׁמַע (shama’) and means “hearing.” The name is appropriate since it is reminder that the Lord “heard” about Leah’s unloved condition and responded with pity.

[29:34]  ¹³ tn Heb “will be joined to me.”

[29:34]  ¹⁴ sn The name Levi (לֵוִי, levi), the precise meaning of which is debated, was appropriate because it sounds like the verb לָוָה (lavah, “to join”), used in the statement recorded earlier in the verse.

[30:20]  ¹⁶ sn The name Zebulun (זְבֻלוּן, zevulun) apparently means “honor.” The name plays on the verb used in the statement made earlier in the verse. The Hebrew verb translated “will honor” and the name Zebulun derive from the same root.