Genesis 49:3
1 Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come:
2 Come together and listen, O sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.
Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.
4 Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch, and defiled it.
5 Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.
- KJV
- Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
- WEB
- “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.
- ASV
- Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength; The pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power.
- DARBY
- Reuben, thou art my firstborn, My might, and the firstfruits of my vigour: Excellency of dignity, and excellency of strength.
- BLB
- Reuben, you [are] my firstborn, my might, and the first of my strength, exceeding in rank, and exceeding in power.
- ÅB
- Ruben, min førstefødte er du, min kraft og min styrkes første frukt, høyest i ære og størst i makt.
- OTB
- «Ruben, du er min førstefødte, min styrke og begynnelsen på min kraft, fremragende i verdighet og makt.
- B1930
- Ruben, min førstefødte er du, min kraft og min styrkes første frukt, høiest i ære og størst i makt.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 78:51
He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the virility in the tents of Ham.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 21:17
Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.
Read in contextPsalms 105:36
Then He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor.
Read in contextGenesis 29:32
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.”
Read in context1 Chronicles 2:1
These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
Read in contextGenesis 48:18
“Not so, my father!” Joseph said. “This one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”
Read in contextNumbers 1:20
From the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,
Read in context1 Chronicles 5:1
These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright.
Read in context