English Standard Version
Deuteronomy 33:6
6"Let Reuben live, and not die, but let his men be few."
Deuteronomy 33:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.
- New International Version (NIV)“Let Reuben live and not die, nor his people be few.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Let Reuben live, and not die, Nor let his men be few.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Moses said this about the tribe of Reuben: “Let the tribe of Reuben live and not die out, though they are few in number.”
Context of Deuteronomy 33:6
4when Moses commanded us a law, as a possession for the assembly of Jacob. 5Thus the Lord became king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together. "Let Reuben live, and not die, but let his men be few." 7And this he said of Judah: "Hear, O Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him in to his people. With your hands contend for him, and be a help against his adversaries." 8And of Levi he said, "Give to Levi your Thummim, and your Urim to your godly one, whom you tested at Massah, with whom you quarreled at the waters of Meribah;
Read all of Deuteronomy 33Deuteronomy 33:6 word by word
יְחִ֥י רְאוּבֵ֖ן וְאַל־יָמֹ֑ת וִיהִ֥י מְתָ֖יו מִסְפָּֽר׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 33:6
- Genesis 49:3"Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
- Numbers 32:31And the people of Gad and the people of Reuben answered, "What the Lord has said to your servants, we will do.
- Joshua 22:1At that time Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh,
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 33:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Let Reuben live, and not die - Though his life and his blessings have been forfeited by his transgression with his father's concubine, Genesis 49:3, Genesis 49:4; and in his rebellion with Korah, Numbers 16:1-3, etc., let him not become extinct as a tribe in Israel. "It is very usual," says Mr. Ainsworth, "in the Scripture, to set down things of importance and earnestness, by affirmation of the one part, and denial of the other; Isaiah 38:1; : Thou shalt…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6Let not his men be few - literally, “a number,” i. e., “a small number,” such as could be easily counted (compare Genesis 34:30 note). While the verse promises that the tribe shall endure and prosper, yet it is so worded as to carry with it a warning. The Reubenites, occupied with their herds and flocks, appear, soon after the days of Joshua, to have lost their early energy, until in later times its numbers, even when counted with the Gadites and the half…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-23Verses 6-23 The order in which the tribes are here blessed, is not the same as is observed elsewhere. The blessing of Judah may refer to the whole tribe in general, or to David as a type of Christ. Moses largely blesses the tribe of Levi. Acceptance with God is what we should all aim at, and desire, in all our devotions, whether men accept us or not, 2Co 5:9. This prayer is a prophecy, that God will keep up a ministry in his church to the end of time. The…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6Reuben was Jacob’s oldest son by Leah (see Genesis 29:32). His sin against his father might explain why his tribe did not become very important (Genesis 35:22; 49:3–4).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. Let Reuben live, and not die--Although deprived of the honor and privileges of primogeniture, he was still to hold rank as one of the tribes of Israel. He was more numerous than several other tribes (Nu 1:21; 2:11). Yet gradually he sank into a mere nomadic tribe, which had enough to do merely "to live and not die." Many eminent biblical scholars, resting on the most ancient and approved manuscripts of the Septuagint, consider the latter clause as…Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 33:6
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 33
- 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
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