Genesis 49:3

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:

a. ASV: 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.

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

c. Amplified Bible Classic: Reuben, you are my [b]firstborn, my might, the beginning (the firstfruits) of my manly strength and vigor; [your birthright gave you] the preeminence in dignity and the preeminence in power.

d. Septuagint: Ruben, thou [art] my first-born, thou my strength, and the first of my children, hard to be endured, [hard and] self-willed.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength and my initial vigor, foremost in rank and foremost in power.

1. “Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength…”

a. Reuben [Strong: 7205 Rᵉʼûwbên, reh-oo-bane'; from the imperative of H7200 and H1121; see ye a son; Reuben, a son of Jacob:—Reuben.]

b. Thou [art] [Strong: 859 'attah at-taw' or (shortened); aatta {at-taw'}; or wath {ath}; feminine (irregular) sometimes nattiy {at-tee'}; plural masculine attem {at- tem'}; feminine atten {at-ten'}; or oattenah {at-tay'naw}; or fattennah {at-tane'-naw}; a primitive pronoun of the second person; thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you:--thee, thou, ye, you.]

c. [my] firstborn [Strong: 1060 bᵉkôwr, bek-ore'; from H1069; first-born; hence, chief:—eldest (son), firstborn(-ling).]

d. [my] might [Strong: 3581 kôach, ko'-akh; or (Daniel 11:6) כּוֹחַ kôwach; from an unused root meaning to be firm; vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce); also (from its hardiness) a large lizard:—ability, able, chameleon, force, fruits, might, power(-ful), strength, substance, wealth.]

e. [and the] beginning [Strong: 7225 rêʼshîyth, ray-sheeth'; from the same as H7218; the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit):—beginning, chief(-est), first(-fruits, part, time), principal thing.]

f. [of my] strength [Strong: 202 ʼôwn, one; probably from the same as H205 (in the sense of effort, but successful); ability, power, (figuratively) wealth:—force, goods, might, strength, substance.]

2. “...the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:”

a. [the] excellency [Strong: 3499  yether, yeh'-ther; from H3498; properly, an overhanging, i.e. (by implication) an excess, superiority, remainder; also a small rope (as hanging free):— abundant, cord, exceeding, excellancy(-ent), what they leave, that hath left, plentifully, remnant, residue, rest, string, with.]

b. [of] dignity [Strong: 7613 sᵉʼêth, seh-ayth'; from H5375; an elevation or leprous scab; figuratively, elation or cheerfulness; exaltation in rank or character:—be accepted, dignity, excellency, highness, raise up self, rising.]

c. [and the] excellency [Strong: 3499  yether, yeh'-ther; from H3498; properly, an overhanging, i.e. (by implication) an excess, superiority, remainder; also a small rope (as hanging free):— abundant, cord, exceeding, excellancy(-ent), what they leave, that hath left, plentifully, remnant, residue, rest, string, with.]

d. [of] power [Strong: 5794 ʻaz, az; from H5810; strong, vehement, harsh:—fierce, greedy, mighty, power, roughly, strong.]

1). Jacob’s Dozen, William Varner: In ancient Israel, a family’s firstborn son was accorded a special privilege, a double portion of the father’s inheritance. This meant that if a father had 12 sons, he divided his inheritance into 13 parts, and the firstborn received twice the amount received by each of his brothers. Such a double inheritance was Reuben’s by right of his status as firstborn son; but alas, he did not receive that which should have been his.

a). Deuteronomy 21:15-17  If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:

21:16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:

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.

2). Jacob’s Dozen, William Varner: The firstborn son in ancient Israel was to be the natural leader of his brothers. Reuben did not enjoy this privilege and responsibility either.

a). 1 Chronicles 5:1-3  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.

5:2 For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:)

5:3 The sons, I say, of Reuben the firstborn of Israel were, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

3). The reason Reuben lost his birthright was because of his adultery and incest with his father concubine.

a). Genesis 49:4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defilest thou it: he went up to my couch.

b). Genesis 35:21, 22 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.

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:

4). Two prominent persons from the tribe of Reuben named Dathan and Abriam joined the rebellion of Korah, questioning the leadership of Moses. (They all eventually lost their lives because of their rebellion Numbers 16:31-33).

a). Numbers 16: 1-3  Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

16:2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?

b). The rebellion became a proverb in Jewish history (Jude 11).

5). Another example of Reuben’s instability is recorded in Judges concerning the battle against the Canaanites that Israel won because of the intervention of the LORD.   

a). Judges 5:15, 16 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.

5:16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.

6). Another source of Reuben’s instability was of course he was double minded.

a). James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.