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

1Jacob called for his sons and said, “Come here, and let me tell you what will happen to you in the days to come. 2“Gather around and listen, sons of Jacob. Listen to your father Israel. “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength, the very first son I had, first in majesty and first in power. 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. 5“Simeon and Levi are brothers. Their swords are weapons of violence.

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 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 48:18Then he said to his father, “That’s not right, Father! This is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”
• Numbers 1:20The roster of families and households for the descendants of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn son, listed every man by name who was at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty.
• Numbers 26:5Reuben was Israel’s firstborn. The descendants of Reuben were the family of Hanoch, the family of Pallu,
• 1 Chronicles 2:1These were Israel’s sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
• 1 Chronicles 5:1These 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.
• Deuteronomy 21:17Instead, he must recognize the son of the wife he doesn’t love as the firstborn. He must give that son a double portion of whatever he owns. That son is the very first son he had. The rights of the firstborn son are his.
• Psalms 78:51He slaughtered every firstborn in Egypt, the ones born in the tents of Ham when their fathers were young.
• Psalms 105:36He killed all the firstborn sons, the first ones born in the land when their fathers were young.

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