Genesis 49:3 · KJV
“Reuben, thou {art} my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:”
— Genesis 49:3
Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.
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. {thou shalt...: Heb. do not thou excel} {he went...: or, my couch is gone}
Genesis 49 — Context
And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you {that} which shall befall you in the last days.
2Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.
3Reuben, thou {art} my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
4Unstable 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. {thou shalt...: Heb. do not thou excel} {he went...: or, my couch is gone}
5Simeon and Levi {are} brethren; instruments of cruelty {are in} their habitations. {instruments...: or, their swords are weapons of violence}
Cross References
Psalms 78:51
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of {their} strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
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 hath: for he {is} the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn {is} his. {that...: Heb. that is found with him}
Genesis 29:32
And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. {Reuben: that is, See a son}
Psalms 105:36
He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
Genesis 48:18
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this {is} the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
1 Chronicles 2:1
These {are} the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, {Israel: or, Jacob}
1 Chronicles 5:1
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.
1 Chronicles 5:3
The sons, {I say}, of Reuben the firstborn of Israel {were}, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.