Genesis 49:4

Boiling over like water, thou mayest not have pre-eminence, Because thou didst mount the bed of thy father,—Then, wast thou profane—My marriage-bed, he mounted!

The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham

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, my first-born, thou, My vigour, and the first-fruit of my strength,—Pre-eminence of elevation and pre-eminence of power:

5Simeon and Levi, are brethren,—Instruments of violence, are their agreements:

Read all of Genesis 49

Cross References

Genesis 46:8Now, these, are the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt—Jacob and his sons,—the firstborn of Jacob, Reuben:

Deuteronomy 5:21Neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s wife,—neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his servant, or his handmaid, his ox or his ass, or anything that is thy neighbour’s.

Deuteronomy 33:6Let Reuben live and not die,—Nor his men be easily counted.

1 Corinthians 5:1On all hands, there is reported to be among you—fornication, and such fornication as this—which, not among the nations, [is found],—as that one should have, his father’s wife:—

2 Peter 2:14Having, eyes, full of an adulteress, and that cannot rest from sin, enticing unstable souls, having, a heart trained in greed,—children of a curse,—

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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