Genesis 49:4

Thou 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

Updated Brenton Septuagint

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

3Reuben, thou art my firstborn, 1 Thou my strength, and the first of my children, 1 Hard to be endured, hard and self-willed. 1

5Simeon and Levi, brethren, 1 Accomplished the injustice of their cutting off. 1

Read all of Genesis 49

Cross References

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.

Deuteronomy 5:21Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife; thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, nor his field, nor his manservant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any beast of his, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.

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

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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