Genesis 49:4
Good News Translation
You are like a raging flood, But you will not be the most important, For you slept with my concubine And dishonored your father's bed.

New Revised Standard Version
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!

Contemporary English Version
Uncontrollable as a flood, you slept with my wife and disgraced my bed. And so you no longer deserve the place of honor.

New American Bible
Turbulent as water, you shall no longer excel, for you climbed into your father’s bed and defiled my couch to my sorrow.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou art poured out as water, grow thou not; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed, and didst defile his couch.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Thou art poured out as water, grow thou not; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed, and didst defile his couch.

Unstable.

James 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, which is moved and carried about by the wind. . . .

2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery and of sin that ceaseth not: alluring unstable souls: having their heart exercised with covetousness: children of malediction.

2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.

thou shall not excel.

Genesis 46:8 And these are the names of the children of Israel, that entered into Egypt, he and his children. His firstborn Ruben,

Numbers 32:1-42 And the sons of Ruben and Gad had many flocks of cattle, and their substance in beasts was infinite. And when they saw the lands of Jazer and Galaad fit for feeding cattle, . . .

Deuteronomy 33:6 Let Ruben live, and not die, and be he small in number.

because.

Genesis 35:22 And when he dwelt in that country, Ruben went, and slept with Bala the concubine of his father: which he was not ignorant of. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

Deuteronomy 5:21 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife: nor his house, nor his field, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his.

Deuteronomy 27:20 Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife, and uncovereth his bed: and all the people shall say: Amen.

1 Chronicles 5:1 Now the sons of Ruben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was his firstborn: but forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his first birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, and he was not accounted for the firstborn.

1 Corinthians 5:1 It is absolutely heard that there is fornication among you and such fornication as the like is not among the heathens: that one should have his father's wife.

he went up to my couch.

Context
Jacob Blesses His Sons
3Ruben, my firstborn, thou art my strength, and the beginning of my sorrow; excelling in gifts, greater in command. 4Thou art poured out as water, grow thou not; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed, and didst defile his couch.5Simeon and Levi brethren: vessels of iniquity waging war.…
Cross References
Genesis 35:22
And when he dwelt in that country, Ruben went, and slept with Bala the concubine of his father: which he was not ignorant of. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.

Deuteronomy 27:20
Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife, and uncovereth his bed: and all the people shall say: Amen.

Deuteronomy 33:6
Let Ruben live, and not die, and be he small in number.

1 Chronicles 5:1
Now the sons of Ruben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was his firstborn: but forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his first birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, and he was not accounted for the firstborn.

Genesis 49:3
Top of Page
Top of Page