Parallel Verses
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.
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."
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.
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!
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, thou are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power. 4 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. 5 Simeon and Levi are brothers, weapons of violence are their swords.
Phrases
Cross References
Genesis 35:22
And it came to pass, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.
Deuteronomy 27:20
Cursed be he who lays with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.
1 Chronicles 5:1
And the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born, but, inasmuch as he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, and so the genealogy is not to be reckone
Genesis 46:8
And these are the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt with their father Jacob, Jacob and his sons: The firstborn of Jacob, Reuben.
Numbers 32:1-42
Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle. And when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle,
Deuteronomy 5:21
Neither shall thou covet thy neighbor's wife. Neither shall thou desire thy neighbor's house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is thy neighbor's.
Deuteronomy 33:6
Let Reuben live, and not die, nor let his men be few.
1 Corinthians 5:1
Fornication is actually heard among you, and such fornication that is not even named among the Gentiles, for some man to have his father's wife.
James 1:6-8
But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by wind and tossed about.
2 Peter 2:14
having eyes full of adultery, and unceasing sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, children of a curse,
2 Peter 3:16
as also in all his letters, speaking in them about these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist, as also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.