Genesis 49:3 "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.

◄ Genesis 49:3 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
"Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.

English Standard Version
“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.

New American Standard Bible
"Reuben, you are my firstborn; My might and the beginning of my strength, Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.

King James Bible
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength and the firstfruits of my virility, excelling in prominence, excelling in power.

International Standard Version
"Reuben, you're my firstborn, my strength, and the first fruit of my vitality. You excel in rank and excel in power.

American Standard Version
Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength; The pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Ruben, my firstborn, thou art my strength, and the beginning of my sorrow: excelling in gifts, greater in command.

Darby Bible Translation
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, My might, and the firstfruits of my vigour: Excellency of dignity, and excellency of strength.

Young's Literal Translation
Reuben! my first-born thou, My power, and beginning of my strength, The abundance of exaltation, And the abundance of strength;

Cross References

Revelation 3:14
And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things said the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Deuteronomy 21:17
But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he has: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

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

Psalm 78:51
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

Psalm 105:36
He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.

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Abundance Beginning Dignity Exaltation Excellence Excellency Excelling First Firstborn First-Born First-Fruit Firstfruits First-Fruits Fruits Honor Oldest Power Pre-Eminence Preeminent Pre-Eminent Pride Reuben Sign Strength Vigour

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

49:3-7 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 honour; by its powers we are distinguished from, and raised above, the beasts that perish. We ought, from our hearts, to abhor all bloody and mischievous men. Cursed be their anger. Jacob does not curse their persons, but their lusts. I will divide them. The sentence as it respects Levi was turned into a blessing. This tribe performed an acceptable service in their zeal against the worshippers of the golden calf, Ex 32. Being set apart to God as priests, they were in that character scattered through the nation of Israel.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Ge 49:3, 4. Reuben forfeited by his crime the rights and honors of primogeniture. His posterity never made any figure; no judge, prophet, nor ruler, sprang from this tribe.