Genesis 49:3

Genesis 49:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
• New International Version (NIV)“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Reuben, you are my firstborn, My might and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.

Context of Genesis 49:3

1Then Jacob called for all his sons. He said, ‘Come here to me. Then I can tell you what will happen to you, in future years. 2You sons of Jacob, come together now and listen to your father, Israel.’ Jacob 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. 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. 5Simeon and Levi are brothers. They use their swords as weapons to destroy people.

Genesis 49:3 word by word

רְאוּבֵן֙ בְּכֹ֣רִי אַ֔תָּה כֹּחִ֖י וְרֵאשִׁ֣ית אוֹנִ֑י יֶ֥תֶר שְׂאֵ֖ת וְיֶ֥תֶר עָֽז׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Reubenרְאוּבֵןre'ûbên · ReubenH7205
• my firstbornבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060
• my mightכֹּחַkôach kôach · strengthH3581
• and the beginningרֵאשִׁיתrê'shîyth · first: beginningH7225
• of my strengthאוֹן'ôn · strengthH202
• the excellencyיֶ֫תֶרyether · remainderH3499
• of dignityשְׂאֵתώe'êth · elevationH7613
• of powerעַז‛az · strongH5794

Cross-references for Genesis 49:3

• 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 48:18Joseph said to Jacob, ‘No, my father. This boy is the firstborn son. Put your right hand on his head.’
• Numbers 1:20They recorded the names of all the men who were 20 years old or older. Those men could fight in the army. They recorded the names of the men in each clan and family. Reuben was the firstborn son of Israel, so they recorded his tribe first. These were the numbers of the men from each tribe: Reuben: 46,500 men. Simeon: 59,300 men. Gad: 45,650 men. Judah: 74,600 men. Issachar: 54,400 men. Zebulun: 57,400 men. Ephraim (Joseph's son): 40,500 men. Manasseh (Joseph's son): 32,200 men. Benjamin: 35,400 men. Dan: 62,700 men. Asher: 41,500 men. Naphtali: 53,400 men.
• Numbers 26:5The tribe of Reuben, Jacob's firstborn son had these clans: Hanoch's family, Pallu's family,
• 1 Chronicles 2:1The sons of Israel were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
• 1 Chronicles 5:1Reuben 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.
• Deuteronomy 21:17He must recognize that his firstborn son is the son of the wife that he does not love. This son was the first son born to that man. So he must receive the double share of his father's things. That is what God's Law says must happen.
• Psalms 78:51He killed all the firstborn sons in Egypt. The strongest men of Ham's descendants died.
• Psalms 105:36Then the Lord killed all the firstborn sons in Egypt. He killed the oldest son in each family.

Commentaries on Genesis 49:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Reuben as the first-born had a right to a double portion of all that the father had; see Deuteronomy 21:17; The eminence or dignity mentioned here may refer to the priesthood; the power, to the regal government or kingdom - In this sense it has been understood by all the ancient Targumists. The Targum of Onkelos paraphrases it thus: "Thou shouldst have received three portions, the birthright, the priesthood, and the kingdom:" and to this the Targums of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-33Verses 1-33 - Jacob Blesses His Sons 5. מכרה mekêrāh “weapon;” related: כיר kārar or כרה kārāh dig. “Device, design?” related: מכר mākar “sell,” in Arabic “take counsel. Habitation.” 10. מחקק mechoqēq “lawgiver, judge, dispenser of laws.” This word occurs in six other places - Numbers 21:18; Deuteronomy 33:21; Jud. Deuteronomy 5:14; Psalm 60:9; Psalm 108:9; Isaiah 33:22; in five of which it clearly denotes ruler, or judge. The meaning “sceptre” is…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3-7Verses 3-7 Reuben was the first-born; but by gross sin, he forfeited the birthright. The character of Reuben is, that he was unstable as water. Men do not thrive, because they do not fix. Reuben's sin left a lasting infamy upon his family. Let us never do evil, then we need not fear being told of it. Simeon and Levi were passionate and revengeful. The murder of the Shechemites is a proof of this. Jacob protested against that barbarous act. Our soul is our…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4Uncontrolled as the waters: As the firstborn, Reuben should have led the family. But he acted without control, like water that boils or flows wildly (for example, 35:22). Because of this, Jacob said that Reuben would not succeed as a leader (see 37:21–22, 29; 42:22, 37–38; compare Judges 5:15–16; 1 Chronicles 5:1–2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-331. Jacob called unto his sons--It is not to the sayings of the dying saint, so much as of the inspired prophet, that attention is called in this chapter. Under the immediate influence of the Holy Spirit he pronounced his prophetic benediction and described the condition of their respective descendants in the last days, or future times. Ge 49:3, 4. Reuben forfeited by his crime the rights and honors of primogeniture. His posterity never made any figure; no…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 49:3

• Character
• Death
• Firstborn
• Instability
• Jacob
• Parents
• Reuben

In the dictionaries

• Reuben
• Bless
• Blood
• Devour
• Fierce
• Firstborn
• Jacob
• Raven
• Rouse
• Shoot

Commentaries on Genesis 49

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings