Genesis 30:17

17 And God hearkened to Lea, and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son.

Genesis 30:17 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 30:17

And God hearkened unto Leah
To the prayer of Leah, as the Targum of Jonathan, for more children: the desire of these good women for the company of their husband was not from lust, or an amorous desire in them, but for the sake of having many children, as appears by giving their maids to him; and the reason of this was, as Bishop Patrick well observes, that the promise made to Abraham of the multiplication of his seed, and of the Messiah springing from thence, might be fulfilled; and is the true reason of Moses's taking such particular notice of those things, which might seem below the dignity of such a sacred history: and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son;
the fifth he had by her, but the ninth in all, that were born unto him.

Genesis 30:17 In-Context

15 And Lea said, not enough for thee that thou hast taken my husband, wilt thou also take my son's mandrakes? And Rachel said, Not so: let him lie with thee to-night for thy son's mandrakes.

16 And Jacob came in out of the field at even; and Lea went forth to meet him, and said, Thou shalt come in to me this day, for I have hired thee for my son's mandrakes; and he lay with her that night.

17 And God hearkened to Lea, and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son.

18 And Lea said, God has given me my reward, because I gave my maid to my husband; and she called his name Issachar, which is, Reward.

19 And Lea conceived again, and bore Jacob a sixth son.