Gen 29:32 | TNotes | STEP | 29:32 Reuben (Hebrew re’uben ) sounds like the Hebrew for “He has seen my misery” ( ra‘ah be‘onyi ). His birth gave Leah consolation from God and hope for Jacob’s love. Jacob seems not to have seen her misery, but God did (cp. 16:14 ; 24:62 ; 25:11 ). The name was a reminder of God’s intervention.

‏ Genesis 29:32

29:32 ^a Reuben (Hebrew re’uben) sounds like the Hebrew for “He has seen my misery” (ra‘ah be‘onyi). His birth gave Leah consolation from God and hope for Jacob’s love. Jacob seems not to have seen her misery, but God did (cp. 16:14 ^b; 24:62 ^c; 25:11 ^d). The name was a reminder of God’s intervention.