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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength, the child of my vigorous youth. You are first in rank and first in power.

Context of Genesis 49:3

1Then Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come. 2"Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob, listen to Israel your father. "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. 4Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it—he went up to my couch! 5"Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords.

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 29:32And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, "Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me."
• Genesis 46:8Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob's firstborn,
• Genesis 48:18And Joseph said to his father, "Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head."
• Numbers 1:20The people of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:
• Numbers 26:5Reuben, the firstborn of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the clan of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the clan of the Palluites;
• 1 Chronicles 2:1These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
• 1 Chronicles 5:1The 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;
• Deuteronomy 21:17but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.
• Psalms 78:51He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
• Psalms 105:36He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.

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