Genesis 49:3

Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength; the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power [should be thine].

Leeser Tanakh

In The King James Version

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

In Context

2Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

4Unstable as water, thou shalt not have the excellence; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou the one who ascended my couch.

Read all of Genesis 49

Cross References

Genesis 35:22And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

Genesis 46:8And these are the names of the children of Israel, that came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: the first-born of Jacob, Reuben.

Numbers 1:20And there were of the children of Reuben the first-born of Israel, by their generations, after their families, by the descent from their fathers, by numbering the names according to their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

Deuteronomy 21:17But the first-born, the son of the hated woman, shall he acknowledge, to give him a double portion of all that is found in his possession; for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongeth the right of the first birth.

Deuteronomy 33:6May Reuben live, and not die; and may not his men be few.

1 Chronicles 5:1And the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel—for he was the first-born; but, when the defiled his father's bed, was his birthright given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: so that the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the first-birth.

Matthew Henry on Genesis 49:2-5

Jacob's Prophecy Concerning His Sons. ( b. c. 1689.) 1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befal you in the last days. 2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. 3 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… Read the whole commentary →

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