1 Chronicles 5:1

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

These are the sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn. (Although he was the firstborn, his rights as firstborn were given to his nephews, Joseph’s sons, because he dishonored his father’s bed. However, Joseph couldn’t be listed in the genealogy as the firstborn son. 2Even though Judah was more prominent than his brothers and the prince was to come from him, Joseph received the rights as firstborn.) 3The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

1 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 2:1These were Israel’s sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
• Genesis 29:32Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben [Here’s My Son], because she said, “Certainly, the Lord has seen my misery; now my husband will love me!”
• Genesis 46:8These are the names of Israel’s descendants (Jacob and his descendants) who arrived in Egypt. Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn.
• Genesis 49:3“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength, the very first son I had, first in majesty and first in power.
• Exodus 6:14These were the heads of the families: The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. These were the families descended from Reuben.
• Numbers 1:5“Here are the names of the men who will help you: Elizur, son of Shedeur, from the tribe of Reuben;
• Numbers 16:1Korah (son of Izhar), Dathan and Abiram (sons of Eliab), and On (son of Peleth) dared to challenge Moses. (Korah was a descendant of Kohath and Levi. Dathan, Abiram, and On were descendants of Reuben.)
• Numbers 26:5Reuben was Israel’s firstborn. The descendants of Reuben were the family of Hanoch, the family of Pallu,
• Genesis 35:22While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went to bed with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had 12 sons.
• Genesis 49:4You will no longer be first because you were out of control like a flood and you climbed into your father’s bed. Then you dishonored it. He climbed up on my couch.
• Leviticus 18:8Never have sexual intercourse with your stepmother. She is related to you through your father.
• Leviticus 20:11Whoever has sexual intercourse with his father’s wife has violated his father’s marriage. Both he and his father’s wife must be put to death. They deserve to die.
• Deuteronomy 27:20“Whoever has sexual intercourse with his father’s wife will be cursed. He has disgraced his father.” Then all the people will say amen.
• 1 Corinthians 5:1Your own members are aware that there is sexual sin going on among them. This kind of sin is not even heard of among unbelievers—a man is actually married to his father’s wife.
• 1 Chronicles 26:10From the descendants of Merari there were Hosah’s sons. Shimri was the head, although he was not the firstborn. His father appointed him head.
• Genesis 48:15Then Jacob blessed Joseph, “May God, in whose presence my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac walked, may God, who has been my shepherd all my life to this very 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

• Birthright
• Firstborn
• Incest
• Judah
• Reuben

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Reuben
• Birthright
• Burial
• Couch
• Firstborn
• Hagarene
• Music
• Bed; Bedchamber; Bedstead
• Chronicles, Books of

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