Genesis 49:4

But then you went and did whatever you wanted, just like the wild water in the sea. You took one of my wives, and you slept with her, like a man sleeps with his wife. That was a wrong and dirty thing you did. You made me really shamed. So you will not be my most important son any more.”

Plain English Version

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

3Then Jacob said, “Reuben, you are my oldest son. You were born first. You were born at that time when I was a strong young man. You were the most important and the most powerful of all my sons.

5Then Jacob said, “Simeon and Levi are just like each other. They both like to fight, and they use long knives to hurt people and kill them.

Read all of Genesis 49

Cross References

Genesis 46:8These are the names of Jacob’s kids and grand-kids. All this mob went to Egypt country with Jacob. Jacob and Leah’s oldest son was Reuben.

1 Corinthians 5:1Now listen. I have to talk straight to you about this. Some people have told me there is something bad going on in your church family. One of you has his father’s wife as his girlfriend, and he is sleeping with her as if they are married. Look, even people that don’t know God don’t do that.

2 Peter 2:14They are always looking for a woman to sleep with, like a man sleeps with his wife. They do bad things, and they keep looking for more bad things to do. If somebody doesn’t strongly trust Christ, those people will trick that person and get them to go wrong. They are really greedy, wanting lots of money and things. They are the sort of people that God says he will properly punish.

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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