Genesis 49:3 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

³ Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the first fruits of my vigor, excelling in rank and excelling in power.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

³ Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, The excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

³ Reuben, you are my 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.

American Standard Version (1901)

³ 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.

Common English Bible

³ Reuben, you are my oldest son, my strength and my first contender, superior in status and superior in might.

Catholic Public Domain Version

³ Reuben, my firstborn, you are my strength and the beginning of my sorrow: first in gifts, greater in authority.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

³ Ruben, my firstborn, thou art my strength, and the beginning of my sorrow: excelling in gifts, greater in command.

Genesis 49:3 Cross References

Genesis 29:32

Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked on my affliction, surely now my husband will love me.”

Genesis 35:22

While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

Genesis 35:23

The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

Genesis 46:8

Now these are the names of the Israelites, Jacob and his offspring, who came to Egypt. Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn,

Genesis 48:18

Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father! Since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.”

1 Chronicles 2:1

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

1 Chronicles 5:1

The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. (He was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright;

1 Chronicles 5:3

The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

Psalm 105:36

He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the first issue of all their strength.

Psalm 78:51

He struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the first issue of their strength in the tents of Ham.

Ezekiel 48:6

Adjoining the territory of Ephraim, from the east side to the west, Reuben, one portion.

Numbers 1:20

The descendants of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, their lineage, in their clans, by their ancestral houses, according to the number of names, individually, every male from twenty years old and up, everyone able to go to war:

Numbers 26:5

Reuben, the firstborn of Israel. The descendants of Reuben: of Hanoch, the clan of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the clan of the Palluites;

Deuteronomy 21:17

He must acknowledge as firstborn the son of the one who is disliked, giving him a double portion of all that he has; since he is the first issue of his virility, the right of the firstborn is his.

Deuteronomy 27:13

And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

Deuteronomy 33:6

May Reuben live and not die out, even though his numbers are few.”

Revelation 3:14

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God’s creation: