Leah was hated. The Hebrew word used here for hated is sanooah.
It simply means that there was hatred toward her. Some see this word as meaning to be loved less not necessarily hated. She had it from Jacob and Rachel both. She might have even experienced it from her father Laban for being so difficult to place into an arranged marriage. Never the less when one is in this situation it is painful. Psalm 69: 33 speaks to this issue well. The Lord heard her.
33For Jehovah heareth the needy, And despiseth not his prisoners (ASV 1901).
One who is childless is a despised member of the families of ancient Israel. Leah’s family would be the worst to deal with in this matter because they would not let up on her as she was hated. In other words she was a prisoner in her own house. The Lord was going to bring the Messiah through her so He opened her womb and gave her four children in succession. In fact her first-born son Ruben (see ye a son) was so named signifying the Lord seeing her affliction. With this she thought that Jacob would begin to love her. It seems that the lack of love toward her continued because she said after the second son Simeon (hearing) was born Because Jehovah hath heard that I am hated He gave me another son. Again after the third son Levi (joined) she said this time will my husband be joined unto me because she had born him three sons.
