1 Chronicles 5 · Verse 1

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 5:1, King James Version

1 Chronicles 5:1 in other translations

BSBThese were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright.
WEBThe 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; and the genealogy is not to be listed according to the birthright.
ASVAnd 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.
YLTAs to sons of Reuben, first-born of Israel--for he is the first-born, and on account of his profaning the couch of his father hath his birthright been given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, and he is not to be reckoned by genealogy for the birthright,
DARBYAnd the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn; but, inasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; but the genealogy is not registered according to the birthright,
BBEAnd the sons of Reuben, the oldest son of Israel, (for he was the oldest son, but, because he made his father's bride-bed unclean, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel; but he is not to be given the place of the oldest.
WebsterNow the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel, (for he was the first-born; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birth-right was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birth-right.

What does 1 Chronicles 5:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
1Ch 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 (Ge 48:5), received each an allotted portion, as forming two distinct tribes in Israel. Joseph then was entitled to the precedency; and yet, as his posterity was not mentioned first, the sacred historian judged it necessary to explain that "the genealogy was not to be reckoned after the birthright," but with a reference to a superior honor and privilege that had been conferred on Judah--not the man, but the tribe, whereby it was invested with the pre-eminence over all the other tribes, and out of it was to spring David with his royal lineage, and especially the great Messiah (He 7:14). These were the two reasons why, in the order of enumeration, the genealogy of Judah is introduced before that of Reuben.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The genealogies of Reuben, 1Chr 5:1-10. Of Gad, 1Chr 5:11-17. The exploits of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 1Chr 5:18-22. The genealogy of the half tribe of Manasseh, 1Chr 5:23, 1Chr 5:24. The idolatry of these tribes and their captivity by the Assyrians, 1Chr 5:25, 1Chr 5:26. Verse 1 The 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 Gen 35:22; Gen 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Genealogies. --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 shared in captivity. They would have the best land, not considering that it lay most exposed. The desire of earthly objects draws to a distance from God's ordinances, and prepares men for destruction.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Chronicles 5:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וּבְנֵ֨יu.ve.Neiand [the] sons ofH1121
רְאוּבֵ֥ןre.'u.VenReubenH7205
בְּכֽוֹר\־be.khor-[the] firstborn ofH1060
יִשְׂרָאֵל֮Yis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
כִּ֣יkiforH3588
ה֣וּאhu'heH1931
הַבְּכוֹר֒ha.be.khOr[was] the firstbornH1060
וּֽבְחַלְּלוֹ֙u.ve.cha.le.Loand when profaned heH2490
יְצוּעֵ֣יye.tzu.'Ei[the] beds ofH3326
אָבִ֔יו'a.Vivfather hisH1
נִתְּנָה֙ni.te.Nahit was givenH5414
בְּכֹ֣רָת֔וֹbe.Kho.ra.Tobirthright hisH1062
לִבְנֵ֥יliv.Neito [the] sons ofH1121
יוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefJosephH3130
בֶּן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
וְלֹ֥אve.Lo'and notH3808
לְהִתְיַחֵ֖שׂle.hit.ya.Chesto have themselves enrolledH3187
לַבְּכֹרָֽה\׃la.be.kho.Rahto the birthrightH1062

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Chronicles 5:1

  • Genesis 35:22

    And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

  • 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.

  • Genesis 48:15-22

    And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. …

  • Genesis 49:3-4

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

  • Exodus 6:14

    These be the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these be the families of Reuben.

  • 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, that one should have his father’s wife.

  • 1 Chronicles 26:10

    Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)

  • Joshua 14:6

    Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh–barnea.

  • 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.

  • Numbers 26:5

    Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, of whom cometh the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:

  • Leviticus 18:8

    The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.

  • 1 Chronicles 2:1

    These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 Judah and Joseph preferred before Reuben, who forfeited his birthright.
3 Ruben's descendants; some of whom vanquish the Hagarites.
11 The chief men of Gad, and their habitations.
18 Ruben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, obtain a victory over the Hagarites.
23 The habitations and chief men of that half of Manasseh.
25 The captivity of the two tribes and half, for their sins.

A.M. 2294, etc. B.C. 1710, etc. he was.
2:1; Ge 29:32; 46:8; 49:3; Ex 6:14; Nu 1:5; 16:1; 26:5
forasmuch.
Ge 35:22; 49:4; Le 18:8; 20:11; De 27:20; 1Co 5:1
birthright.
26:10; Ge 48:15-22; De 21:17; Col 1:15
and.
Ge 25:23; 1Sa 16:6-11
reckoned.
Jos 14:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 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 5:2

    For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s:)

Read all of 1 Chronicles 5

1 Chronicles 5:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y LOS hijos de Rubén, primogénito de Israel, (porque él era el primogénito, mas como violó el lecho de su padre, sus derechos de primogenitura fueron dados á los hijos de José, hijo de Israel; y no fué contado por primogénito.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et les fils de Ruben, premier-né d’Israël (car il était le premier-né, mais, parce qu’il avait profané le lit de son père, son droit de premier-né fut donné aux fils de Joseph, fils d’Israël, mais Joseph n’a pas la primogéniture dans le registre généalogique;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Söhne Rubens, des Erstgeborenen Israels, -denn er war der Erstgeborene; weil er aber das Lager seines Vaters entweiht hatte, wurde sein Erstgeburtsrecht den Söhnen Josephs, des Sohnes Israels, gegeben; aber er wird nicht nach der Erstgeburt verzeichnet.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Filii quoque Ruben primogeniti Israël. (Ipse quippe fuit primogenitus ejus: sed cum violasset thorum patris sui, data sunt primogenita ejus filiis Joseph filii Israël, et non est ille reputatus in primogenitum.