Genesis 49:4 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021

⁴ Unstable as water, you shall no longer excel because you went up onto your father’s bed; then you defiled it—you went up onto my couch!

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

⁴ 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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

⁴ But unstable and boiling over like water, you shall not excel and have the preeminence [of the firstborn], because you went to your father's bed; you defiled it–he went to my couch! [Gen. 35:22.]

American Standard Version (1901)

⁴ 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.

Common English Bible

⁴ As wild as the waters, you won’t endure, for you went up to your father’s bed, you went up and violated my couch.

Catholic Public Domain Version

⁴ You are being poured out like water, may you not increase. For you climbed onto your father's bed, and you defiled his resting place.

Genesis 49:4 Cross References

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.

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;

Deuteronomy 27:20

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has violated his father’s rights.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

Deuteronomy 33:6

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

1 Corinthians 5:1

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you and the sort of sexual immorality that is not found even among gentiles, for a man is living with his father’s wife.

Deuteronomy 5:21

“ ‘Neither shall you covet your neighbor’s wife. “ ‘Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, or field, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.’

Genesis 46:8

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

2 Peter 3:16

speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.

2 Peter 2:14

They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!