Genesis 49 · Verse 3

Genesis 49:3

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, King James Version

Genesis 49:3 in other translations

BSBReuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.
WEB“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in dignity, and excelling in power.
ASVReuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength; The pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power.
YLTReuben! my first-born thou, My power, and beginning of my strength, The abundance of exaltation, And the abundance of strength;
DARBYReuben, thou art my firstborn, My might, and the firstfruits of my vigour: Excellency of dignity, and excellency of strength.
BBEReuben, you are my oldest son, the first-fruit of my strength, first in pride and first in power:
WebsterReuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellence of dignity, and the excellence of power:

What does Genesis 49:3 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Reuben as the first-born had a right to a double portion of all that the father had; see Deu 21:17 The eminence or dignity mentioned here may refer to the priesthood; the power, to the regal government or kingdom - In this sense it has been understood by all the ancient Targumists. The Targum of Onkelos paraphrases it thus: "Thou shouldst have received three portions, the birthright, the priesthood, and the kingdom:" and to this the Targums of Jonathan ben Uzziel and Jerusalem add: "But because thou hast sinned, the birthright is given to Joseph, the kingdom to Judah, and the priesthood to Levi." That the birthright was given to the sons of Joseph we have the fullest proof from 1Chr 5:1.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 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.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Genesis 49:3 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.

רְאוּבֵן֙re.'u.VenO ReubenH7205
בְּכֹ֣רִיbe.Kho.ri[are] firstborn myH1060
אַ֔תָּה'A.tahyouH859
כֹּחִ֖יko.Chistrength myH3581
וְרֵאשִׁ֣יתve.re.Shitand [the] beginning ofH7225
אוֹנִ֑י'o.Nimanly vigor myH202
יֶ֥תֶרYe.terexcellence ofH3499
שְׂאֵ֖תse.'EtdignityH7613
וְיֶ֥תֶרve.Ye.terand excellence ofH3499
עָֽז\׃'AzpowerH5794

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

Cross references for Genesis 49:3

  • 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.

  • Psalms 105:36

    He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.

  • 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.

  • 1 Chronicles 2:1

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

  • 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.

  • Numbers 1:20

    And the children of Reuben, Israel’s eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, 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;

  • 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.

  • 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 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:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
my firstborn.
29:32; 46:8; 48:18; Nu 1:20; 26:5; 1Ch 2:1; 5:1,3
my might.
De 21:17; Ps 78:51; 105:36

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

Context

  • Genesis 49:2

    Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

  • Genesis 49:3

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

  • Genesis 49:4

    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.

Read all of Genesis 49

Genesis 49:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Rubén, tú eres mi primogénito, mi fortaleza, y el principio de mi vigor; principal en dignidad, principal en poder.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ruben, tu es mon premier-né, ma force, et le commencement de ma vigueur, prééminent en dignité, et prééminent en force!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ruben, mein Erstgeborener bist du, meine Kraft und der Erstling meiner Stärke! Vorzug an Hoheit und Vorzug an Macht!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ruben, primogenitus meus, tu fortitudo mea, et principium doloris mei; prior in donis, major in imperio.