Question 1

What does Genesis 30:21 mean?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 30:21 records that after bearing several sons, Leah gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah. This verse simply notes the birth of Dinah, marking her as the only daughter of Jacob specifically named among his children in this part of the story. Leah is the speaker here, and the situation is part of a longer account where Jacob’s wives are having children, often in competition with each other. The mention of Dinah stands out because the focus has been on sons, and her name will become important in later events in Genesis.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Genesis 30:21

Accepted Answer

"Afterwards" (אַחַר ḵeʾaḥar, H310) signals that Dinah’s birth came after Leah’s sons, highlighting the sequence and perhaps the significance of her arrival in the family story. "Bare" (יָלַד yālad, H3205) is the standard Hebrew verb for giving birth, used throughout Genesis to describe the birth of children. "Daughter" (בַּת bat, H1323) emphasizes that Dinah is female, which is notable since daughters are rarely listed by name in these genealogies. "Called" (קָרָא qārāʾ, H7121) and "name" (שֵׁם shem, H8034) together show that Leah herself chose Dinah’s name, a detail that sometimes signals a special significance or future role. "Dinah" (דִּינָה Dinah, H1783) means "judged" or "vindicated," which may hint at Leah’s feelings or hopes at the time of her daughter’s birth.

Question 3

Why Genesis 30:21 matters

Accepted Answer

The verse highlights Dinah’s unique place among Jacob’s children, as she is the only daughter named in this section, setting up her later role in Genesis 34. By mentioning Leah’s act of naming Dinah, the verse subtly points to Leah’s ongoing emotional journey and her sense of identity within Jacob’s family. The focus on Dinah’s birth after a series of sons draws attention to the unusual nature of her mention, since daughters were often omitted from genealogical records unless they played a significant part in the narrative.

Genesis 30:21 (KJV)