Parallel Verses
Youngs Literal Translation
Unstable as water, thou art not abundant; For thou hast gone up thy father's bed; Then thou hast polluted: My couch he went up!
New American Standard Bible
Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.
King James Version
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.
Holman Bible
because you got into your father’s bed
and you defiled it—he
International Standard Version
But you're as undisciplined as a roaring river, so eventually you won't succeed, because you got in your father's bed, defiled it, and then approached my couch."
A Conservative Version
Boiling over as water, thou shall not have the pre-eminence, because thou went up to thy father's bed, then thou defiled it; he went up to my couch.
American Standard Version
Boiling 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.
Amplified
“But unstable and reckless and boiling over like water [in sinful lust], you shall
Because you went up to your father’s bed [with Bilhah];
You defiled it—he went up to my couch.
Bible in Basic English
But because you were uncontrolled, the first place will not be yours; for you went up to your father's bed, even his bride-bed, and made it unclean.
Darby Translation
Impetuous as the waters, thou shalt have no pre-eminence; Because thou wentest up to thy father's couch: Then defiledst thou it: he went up to my bed.
Julia Smith Translation
Vain glorious as water, thou shalt not be preeminent; for thou didst go up out of thy father's. bed; then didst thou defile, going up to my couch.
King James 2000
Unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it: he went up to my couch.
Lexham Expanded Bible
Unstable as water, you shall not excel [any longer], for you went up upon the bed of your father, then defiled [it]. You went up upon my couch!
Modern King James verseion
Unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it. He went up to my couch.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
As unstable as water wast thou: thou shalt therefore not be the chiefest, for thou wentest up upon thy father's bed, and then defiledest thou my couch with going up.
NET Bible
You are destructive like water and will not excel, for you got on your father's bed, then you defiled it -- he got on my couch!
New Heart English Bible
Boiling over as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.
The Emphasized Bible
Boiling over like water, thou mayest not have pre-eminence, Because thou didst mount the bed of thy father, - Then, wast thou profane - My marriage-bed, he mounted!
Webster
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.
World English Bible
Boiling over as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.
Themes
Bilhah » Rachael's servant » Reuben's incest with
Character » Instances of instability » Reuben
Firstborn » Birthright of the » Forfeited by reuben
the First-born » Privileges of » Could be forfeited by misconduct
Incest » Instances of » Reuben
Instability » Instances of » Reuben
jacob » His final prophetic benedictions upon his sons » Upon reuben
Parents » Paternal blessings of » jacob
Reuben » Jacob's prophetic benediction upon
The tribe of Reuben » Predictions respecting
The tribes of israel » Predictions respecting each of
Water » Illustrative » (its instability,) of a wavering disposition
Interlinear
Yathar
`alah
'ab
References
American
Easton
Fausets
Word Count of 20 Translations in Genesis 49:4
Verse Info
Context Readings
Jacob Blesses His Twelve Sons
3 Reuben! my first-born thou, My power, and beginning of my strength, The abundance of exaltation, And the abundance of strength; 4 Unstable as water, thou art not abundant; For thou hast gone up thy father's bed; Then thou hast polluted: My couch he went up! 5 Simeon and Levi are brethren! Instruments of violence -- their espousals!
Phrases
Cross References
Genesis 35:22
and it cometh to pass in Israel's dwelling in that land, that Reuben goeth, and lieth with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heareth.
Deuteronomy 27:20
Cursed is he who is lying with his father's wife, for he hath uncovered his father's skirt, -- and all the people have said, Amen.
1 Chronicles 5:1
As 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,
Genesis 46:8
And these are the names of the sons of Israel who are coming into Egypt: Jacob and his sons, Jacob's first-born, Reuben.
Numbers 32:1-42
And much cattle hath been to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad, very many; and they see the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, and lo, the place is a place for cattle;
Deuteronomy 5:21
Thou dost not desire thy neighbour's wife; nor dost thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, and his man-servant, and his handmaid, his ox, and his ass, and anything which is thy neighbour's.
Deuteronomy 33:6
Let Reuben live, and not die, And let his men be a number.
1 Corinthians 5:1
Whoredom is actually heard of among you, and such whoredom as is not even named among the nations -- as that one hath the wife of the father! --
James 1:6-8
and let him ask in faith, nothing doubting, for he who is doubting hath been like a wave of the sea, driven by wind and tossed,
2 Peter 2:14
having eyes full of adultery, and unable to cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having an heart exercised in covetousnesses, children of a curse,
2 Peter 3:16
as also in all the epistles, speaking in them concerning these things, among which things are certain hard to be understood, which the untaught and unstable do wrest, as also the other Writings, unto their own destruction.