New English Translation
1 Chronicles 5:1
1The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn – (Now he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph, Israel’s son. So Reuben is not listed as firstborn in the genealogical records.
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
The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn – (Now he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph, Israel’s son. So Reuben is not listed as firstborn in the genealogical records. 2Though Judah was the strongest among his brothers and a leader descended from him, the right of the firstborn belonged to Joseph.) 3The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
Read all of 1 Chronicles 51 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 the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; Issachar and Zebulun;
- Genesis 29:32So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has looked with pity on my oppressed condition. Surely my husband will love me now.”
- Genesis 46:8These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt – Jacob and his sons: Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob.
- Genesis 49:3Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength, outstanding in dignity, outstanding in power.
- Exodus 6:14These are the heads of their fathers’ households: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel, were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben.
- Numbers 1:5Now these are the names of the men who are to help you: from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;
- Numbers 16:1Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, who were Reubenites, took men
- Numbers 26:5Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. The Reubenites: from Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; from Pallu, the family of the Palluites;
- Genesis 35:22While Israel was living in that land, Reuben had sexual relations with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:
- Genesis 49:4You are destructive like water and will not excel, for you got on your father’s bed, then you defiled it – he got on my couch!
- Leviticus 18:8You must not have sexual intercourse with your father’s wife; she is your father’s nakedness.
- Leviticus 20:11If a man has sexual intercourse with his father’s wife, he has exposed his father’s nakedness. Both of them must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.
- Deuteronomy 27:20‘Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his father’s former wife, for he dishonors his father.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’
- 1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles, so that someone is cohabiting with his father’s wife.
- 1 Chronicles 26:10Hosah, one of the descendants of Merari, had sons: The firstborn Shimri (he was not actually the firstborn, but his father gave him that status),
- Genesis 48:15Then he blessed Joseph and said, “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked – the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this 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
In the dictionaries
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
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