Genesis 49:3
1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.
2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.
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
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
Read in contextDeuteronomy 21:17
But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
Read in contextPsalms 105:36
He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
Read in contextGenesis 29:32
And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
Read in context1 Chronicles 2:1
These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,
Read in contextGenesis 48:18
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
Read in contextNumbers 1:20
And the children of Reuben, Israel’s eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Read in context1 Chronicles 5:1
Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
Read in context