Childlessness: A Reproach

So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”

When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. …

Leah said, “How happy I am! For the women call me happy.” So she named him Asher.

Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her viciously to taunt her.

In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own bread and provide our own clothes. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!”

“The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”