Genesis 49:3

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, 1 Thou my strength, and the first of my children, 1 Hard to be endured, hard and self-willed. 1

Updated Brenton Septuagint

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

2Assemble yourselves, that I may tell you 1 What shall happen to you in the last days. 1 Gather yourselves together, and hear me, sons of Jacob; 1 Hear Israel, hear your father. 1

4Thou wast insolent like water, burst not forth with violence, 1 For thou wentest up to the bed of thy father; 1 Then thou defiledst the couch, whereupon thou wentest up. 1

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, the concubine of his father Jacob; and Israel heard, and the thing appeared grievous before him. And the sons of Jacob were twelve.

Genesis 46:8And these are the names of the sons of Israel that went into Egypt with their father Jacob—Jacob and his sons. The firstborn of Jacob, Reuben.

Numbers 1:20And the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel according to their kindred, according to their divisions, according to the houses of their families, according to the number of their names, according to their heads, were—all males from twenty years old and upward, everyone that went out with the host—

Deuteronomy 21:17But he shall acknowledge the firstborn of the hated one to give to him double of all things which shall be found by him, because he is the first of his children, and to him belongs the birthright.

Deuteronomy 33:6Let Reuben live, and not die; 1 And let him be many in number.

1 Chronicles 5:1And the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn; but because of his going up to his father’s couch, his father gave his blessing to his son Joseph, even the son of Israel; and he was not reckoned as firstborn;

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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