Genesis 49:3

Jacob’s Last Words to His Sons

1 And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may ^atell you what shall befall you ^bin the last days:

2 “Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob,
And listen to Israel your father.

3 “Reuben, you are ^amy firstborn,
My might and the beginning of my strength,
The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.

4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel,
Because you ^awent up to your father’s bed;
Then you defiled it—
He went up to my couch.

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers;
Instruments of¹ cruelty are in their dwelling place.

6 ^aLet not my soul enter their council;
Let not my honor be united ^bto their assembly;
^cFor in their anger they slew a man,
And in their self-will they¹ hamstrung an ox.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?

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What Does Genesis 49:3 Mean?

Genesis 49:2-4

Reuben, "unstable as water," would "not excel," because of his sexual depravity. Although he was the firstborn, he did not receive the birthright blessing.

Charles Whitaker
Searching for Israel (Part Two): Blessings in Faith

Genesis 49:3-4

Jacob prophesied Reuben to be "unstable as water," mainly in moral matters, but the wider principle applies to other things. Deborah chastised the tribe for having "great searchings of heart," but never making a decision (Judges 5:15-16). And though a leading and honorable people (Numbers 2:16; 32:17-18), Reuben will not excel because of its character traits (I Chronicles 5:1-2).

Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Reuben Sandwiched?

Related Topics: Deborah | Reuben | Reuben Unstable as Water | Reuben's Character Traits | Unstable as Water

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Jacob’s Last Words to His Sons

What Does Genesis 49:3 Mean?

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning