Genesis 49:4
 Genesis 49:4 
New International Version (© 2011)
Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father's bed, onto my couch and defiled it.

King James Bible
Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

American Standard Version
Boiling over as water, thou shalt not have the pre-eminence; Because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; Then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

Young's Literal Translation
Unstable as water, thou art not abundant; For thou hast gone up thy father's bed; Then thou hast polluted: My couch he went up!

Genesis 49:4 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Pouring out like the waters - This is an obscure sentence because unfinished. It evidently relates to the defilement of his father's couch; and the word פחז pachaz, here translated pouring out, and in our Version unstable, has a bad meaning in other places of the Scripture, being applied to dissolute, debauched, and licentious conduct. See Judges 9:4; Zephaniah 3:4; Jeremiah 23:14, Jeremiah 23:32; Jeremiah 29:23.

Thou shalt not excel - This tribe never rose to any eminence in Israel; was not so numerous by one third as either Judah, Joseph, or Dan, when Moses took the sum of them in the wilderness, Numbers 1:21; and was among the first that were carried into captivity, 1 Chronicles 5:26.

Then thou didst defile - Another unfinished sentence, similar to the former, and upon the same subject, passing over a transaction covertly, which delicacy forbade Jacob to enlarge on. For the crime of Reuben, see Clarke on Genesis 35:22 (note).

5. Simeon and Levi, brethren: They have accomplished their fraudulent purposes.

6. Into their secret council my soul did not come; In their confederacy my honor was not united: For in their anger they slew a man, (איש ish, a noble), And in their pleasure they murdered a prince.

7. Cursed was their anger, for it was fierce! And their excessive wrath, for it was inflexible! I will divide them out in Jacob, And I will disperse them in Israel.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Unstable.

James 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed...

2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls...

2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood...

thou shall not excel. Heb. do not thou excel.

Genesis 46:8 And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn.

Numbers 32:1-42 Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer...

Deuteronomy 33:6 Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.

because.

Genesis 35:22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelled in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it...

Deuteronomy 5:21 Neither shall you desire your neighbor's wife, neither shall you covet your neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant...

Deuteronomy 27:20 Cursed be he that lies with his father's wife; because he uncovers his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

1 Chronicles 5:1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but for as much as he defiled his father's bed...

1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles...

he went up to my couch. or, my couch is gone.

Genesis 49:4 Parallel Commentaries
Abundant Bed Boiling Couch Defiled Excel Excellency Father's First Impetuous Longer Polluted Preeminence Pre-Eminence Turbulent Unclean Uncontrolled Unstable Water Waters Wentest
Abundant Bed Boiling Couch Defiled Excel Excellency Father's First Impetuous Longer Polluted Preeminence Pre-Eminence Turbulent Unclean Uncontrolled Unstable Water Waters Wentest
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Genesis 35:22 While 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:
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!"
Deuteronomy 33:6 "Let Reuben live and not die, nor his people be few."
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,