Genesis 29:17

17 Leah had attractive eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and beautiful features.

Genesis 29:17 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 29:17

Leah [was] tender eyed
Blear eyed, had a moisture in them, which made them red, and so she was not so agreeable to look at; though Onkelos renders the words,

``the eyes of Leah were beautiful,''

as if her beauty lay in her eyes, and nowhere else;

but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured;
in all parts, in the form of her countenance, in her shape and stature, and in her complexion, her hair black, her flesh white and ruddy, as Ben Melech observes.

Genesis 29:17 In-Context

15 Then Laban said to him, "Just because you're my relative doesn't mean that you should work for nothing. Tell me what your wages should be."

16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the older one was Leah, and the name of the younger one was Rachel.

17 Leah had attractive eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and beautiful features.

18 Jacob loved Rachel. So he offered, "I'll work seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel."

19 Laban responded, "It's better that I give her to you than to any other man. Stay with me."