EasyEnglish Bible 2018
1 Chronicles 5:1
1Reuben was Israel's firstborn son. That is, Reuben was born first. But he had sex with his father's slave wife. So his father took away the benefits that belong to a firstborn son. Instead, Israel gave those benefits to his son Joseph's sons. So Reuben does not have the first place in the list of Israel's sons.
1 Chronicles 5:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
- New International Version (NIV)The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright,
- English Standard Version (ESV)The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son;
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright;
Context of 1 Chronicles 5:1
Reuben was Israel's firstborn son. That is, Reuben was born first. But he had sex with his father's slave wife. So his father took away the benefits that belong to a firstborn son. Instead, Israel gave those benefits to his son Joseph's sons. So Reuben does not have the first place in the list of Israel's sons. 2Judah became stronger than all his brothers. Israel's ruler came from his tribe. But it was Joseph who received the benefits that belong to the firstborn son. 3The sons of Reuben, Israel's oldest son, were: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi.
Read all of 1 Chronicles 51 Chronicles 5:1 word by word
וּבְנֵ֨י רְאוּבֵ֥ן בְּכֽוֹר־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ כִּ֣י ה֣וּא הַבְּכוֹר֒ וּֽבְחַלְּלוֹ֙ יְצוּעֵ֣י אָבִ֔יו נִתְּנָה֙ בְּכֹ֣רָת֔וֹ לִבְנֵ֥י יוֹסֵ֖ף בֶּן־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֥א לְהִתְיַחֵ֖שׂ לַבְּכֹרָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Now the sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Reubenרְאוּבֵןre'ûbên · ReubenH7205
- the firstbornבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- but, forasmuch as he defiledחָלַלchâlal · to profane/begin: profaneH2490
- his father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
- bedיָצוּעַyâtsûa‛ · bedH3326
- his birthrightבְּכֹרָהbekôrâh bekôrâh · birthrightH1062
- was givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: give(marriage)H5414
- of Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
- and the genealogy is not to be reckonedיָחַשׂyâchaώ · to enrollH3187
Cross-references for 1 Chronicles 5:1
- 1 Chronicles 2:1The sons of Israel were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
- Genesis 29:32Leah became pregnant and she gave birth to a son. She called him Reuben. She said, ‘It is because the Lord has seen how sad I am. My husband will love me now because I have given birth to a son.’
- Genesis 46:8These are the names of the descendants of Israel who went to Egypt, (that is, the sons of Jacob): Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob.
- Genesis 49:3Jacob said, ‘Reuben you are my firstborn son. You were born first, when I was a strong young man. Of all my sons, you are the most famous and the strongest.
- Exodus 6:14These were the leaders of their family clans: Israel's firstborn son was Reuben. Reuben's sons were: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were Reuben's family clans.
- Numbers 1:5These are the men from each tribe who must help you: Reuben: Elizur, the son of Shedeur.
- Numbers 16:1Then Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, decided to speak against Moses. Eliab's sons, Dathan and Abiram, and Peleth's son, On, who were descendants of Reuben, were with him.
- Numbers 26:5The tribe of Reuben, Jacob's firstborn son had these clans: Hanoch's family, Pallu's family,
- Genesis 35:22While Israel stayed there, his son Reuben had sex with Bilhah. She was Israel's slave wife, and Israel heard what had happened. Jacob had 12 sons:
- Genesis 49:4Yet you are as wild as the sea. You had sex with your father's slave wife. This bad thing brought me shame. So you will not become great.
- Leviticus 18:8Do not have sex with any wife of your father. Your father would be ashamed.
- Leviticus 20:11A man is sinning if he has sex with his father's wife. You must kill the man and the woman. They have destroyed the father's honour. Their sin causes their death.
- Deuteronomy 27:20‘God will curse any man who has sex with his father's wife. That would bring shame on his father.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Yes, we agree!’
- 1 Corinthians 5:1We have heard bad news about what is happening among you. Some of you are having sex in wrong ways. We have heard that one man is even having sex with his own father's wife! Even people who do not know God do not do things as bad as that!
- 1 Chronicles 26:10From Merari's descendants there was Hosah. He had four sons: Shimri was his firstborn son. His father chose him to be the leader among his sons, but he was not the oldest of them.
- Genesis 48:15Then Jacob blessed Joseph. He said, ‘May God bless these two boys. He is the God that my ancestors, Abraham and Isaac, served. Like a shepherd takes care of his sheep, God has taken care of me all my life, until this day.
Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 5:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1The sons of Reuben the first-born - As Reuben was the eldest son of Jacob, why was not his genealogy reviewed first? This verse answers the question; he lost the birth-right because of the transgression mentioned Genesis 35:22; Genesis 49:4, and the precedency was given to Judah; from him therefore came the chief ruler. This appears to be the meaning of the place.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1His birthright was given - In particular, the right of the first-born to a double inheritance Deuteronomy 21:17 was conferred on Joseph, both by the expressed will of Jacob Genesis 48:22 and in the actual partition of Canaan Micah 5:2.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Genealogies. --This chapter gives some account of the two tribes and a half seated on the east side of Jordan. They were made captives by the king of Assyria, because they had forsaken the Lord. Only two things are here recorded concerning these tribes. 1. They all shared in a victory. Happy is that people who live in harmony together, who assist each other against the common enemies of their souls, trusting in the Lord, and calling upon him. 2. They…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2Reuben was Israel's oldest son, but he lost his birthright because he had sexual relations with his father's concubine (Genesis 35:22). Jacob gave this right to Joseph by making Ephraim and Manasseh full members of the tribes (Genesis 48:5). This act gave Joseph the double portion usually meant for the firstborn (Deuteronomy 21:15–17). As Jacob predicted, Judah became more prominent than his brothers and was the ancestor of the ruling tribe (Genesis…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-101Ch 5:1-10. The Line of Reuben. 1. Now the sons of Reuben--In proceeding to give this genealogy, the sacred historian states, in a parenthesis (1Ch 5:1, 2), the reason why it was not placed first, as Reuben was the oldest son of Jacob. The birthright, which by a foul crime he had forfeited, implied not only dominion, but a double portion (De 21:17); and both of these were transferred to Joseph, whose two sons having been adopted as the children of Jacob…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Chronicles 5:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Chronicles 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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