THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Finally, she says, I will show kindness to my husband, for I have given birth to six sons. Thus, she named her son Zebulun.
Genesis 30:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And Lia conceived again, and bore the sixth son,
וַתַּ֤הַר עוֹד֙ לֵאָ֔ה וַתֵּ֥לֶד בֵּן־שִׁשִּׁ֖י לְּיַעֲקֹֽב׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Cyrill of Alexandria
After Leah received the mandrakes, she bore two sons, Issachar and Zebulun. The name Issachar signifies ‘reward,’ while Zebulun conveys ‘good way’ and ‘blessing.’ It is certain that those who are justified in Christ will always experience blessings. Our sanctification is through the Spirit. The blessed David proclaims, “The blessing of the Lord is upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord!” (Psalm 128:8). Additionally, God spoke to the mother of believers, the Church, through Isaiah, declaring, “I will pour out My spirit upon your offspring and My blessing upon your descendants” (Isaiah 44:3). Therefore, the wise Paul writes to all who have faith, stating, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing” (Eph. 1:3).
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Those who have abundantly received heavenly blessings are surely directed along the righteous path in every good deed. It is said, “The path of the righteous is straight; You will make level the way of the righteous” (Isaiah 26:7-8). Concerning the Jewish synagogue, God remarked, “I will block her way... and she shall not find her paths” (Hosea 2:6). However, He invites us into the heavenly realms through a straightforward and open path, instructing the holy ministers: “Open the gates; let the righteous enter, who keep the truth” (Isaiah 26:2). Furthermore, He commands, “Level, smooth the way, remove the stones, raise up a banner for the nations!” (Isaiah 62:10), ensuring that when they encounter temptations along the path, their efforts in goodness remain unhindered.
Jerome of Stridon
Leah exclaimed that God had bestowed upon her a wonderful blessing, saying, "Now my husband will dwell with me because I have given him six sons." She named him Zebulun. The expression rendered as "with me shall reside" has been translated by the Seventy Interpreters as "shall love me," but the original Hebrew conveys the meaning of jezbuleni (יִזְבְּלֵ֣נִי). Essentially, Leah is indicating that having borne six sons for Jacob leaves her with no further concerns, as her husband will now make his home with her.
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Thus, her son is also known as "dwelling." As a result, the Book of Names mistakenly and arbitrarily interprets Zebulon as "night expiration." The verb זְבְּלֵ֣ is a hapax legomenon, with its meaning typically derived from the related noun יִבְּלֵ֣, which signifies "dwelling" or "lofty dwelling," as noted in passages such as 1 Samuel 8:13, Psalm 49:14, Habakkuk 3:11, and Isaiah 63:15. Therefore, the verb can imply "to dwell" or "to exalt."