Devine Scripture

Genesis 49:3

What does Genesis 49:3 mean?

A plain-English look at Genesis 49:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Reuben, you are my oldest son, the first-fruit of my strength, first in pride and first in power:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

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

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Ruben, my firstborn, thou art my strength, and the beginning of my sorrow; excelling in gifts, greater in command.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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

Context

v.2Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; And hearken unto Israel your father.

v.3This passage

v.4Boiling 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.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Numbers 1:20

    And the children of Reuben, Israel’s first-born, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

  • Genesis 48:18

    And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father; for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head.

  • Deuteronomy 21:17

    but he shall acknowledge the first-born, the son of the hated, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath; for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the first-born is his.

  • Numbers 26:5

    Reuben, the first-born of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;

  • Psalms 78:51

    And smote all the first-born in Egypt, The chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.

  • 1 Chronicles 5:1

    And the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

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