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.
• 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;
• New Living Translation (NLT)The oldest son of Israel was Reuben. But since he dishonored his father by sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, his birthright was given to the sons of his brother Joseph. For this reason, Reuben is not listed in the genealogical records as the firstborn son.

Context of 1 Chronicles 5:1

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, 2and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph)— 3the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanok, Pallu, Hezron and Karmi.

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 the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
• Genesis 29:32Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
• Genesis 46:8These are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob.
• Genesis 49:3“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.
• Exodus 6:14These were the heads of their families: The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel were Hanok and Pallu, Hezron and Karmi. These were the clans of Reuben.
• Numbers 1:5These are the names of the men who are to assist you: from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;
• Numbers 16:1Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent
• Numbers 26:5The descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel, were: through Hanok, the Hanokite clan; through Pallu, the Palluite clan;
• Genesis 35:22While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it. Jacob had twelve sons:
• Genesis 49:4Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it.
• Leviticus 18:8“ ‘Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; that would dishonor your father.
• Leviticus 20:11“ ‘If a man has sexual relations with his father’s wife, he has dishonored his father. Both the man and the woman are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
• Deuteronomy 27:20“Cursed is anyone who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he dishonors his father’s bed.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”
• 1 Corinthians 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.
• 1 Chronicles 26:10Hosah the Merarite had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him the first),
• Genesis 48:15Then he blessed Joseph and said, “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, the God who has been my shepherd all my life 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

• 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