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

Genesis 29:32

32 So Leah became pregnant ^{▼▼ Or “Leah conceived” (also in vv. 33, 34, 35).} and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, ^{▼▼ The name Reuben (רְאוּבֵן, r^e’uven) means “look, a son.”} for she said, “The Lord has looked with pity on my oppressed condition. ^{▼▼ Heb “looked on my affliction.”} ^{▼▼ Leah’s explanation of the name Reuben reflects a popular etymology, not an exact one. The name means literally “look, a son.” Playing on the Hebrew verb “look,” she observes that the Lord has “looked” with pity on her oppressed condition. See further S. R. Driver, Genesis, 273.} Surely my husband will love me now.”