Genesis 49:4
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.

Lexicon
Uncontrolled
פַּ֤חַז (pa·ḥaz)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 6349: Wantonness, recklessness

as the waters,
כַּמַּ֙יִם֙ (kam·ma·yim)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

you will no
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's Hebrew 408: Not

longer excel,
תּוֹתַ֔ר (tō·w·ṯar)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 3498: To jut over, exceed, to excel, to remain, be left, to leave, cause to abound, preserve

because
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's Hebrew 3588: A relative conjunction

you went up
עָלִ֖יתָ (‘ā·lî·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 5927: To ascend, in, actively

to your father’s
אָבִ֑יךָ (’ā·ḇî·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 1: Father

bed,
מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י (miš·kə·ḇê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's Hebrew 4904: Place of lying, a couch, act of lying

onto
עָלָֽה׃ (‘ā·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 5927: To ascend, in, actively

my couch
יְצוּעִ֥י (yə·ṣū·‘î)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew 3326: Spread, a bed, an extension, wing, lean-to

and
אָ֥ז (’āz)
Adverb
Strong's Hebrew 227: At that time, place, therefore

defiled it.
חִלַּ֖לְתָּ (ḥil·lal·tā)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play


Additional Translations
Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it.Unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed; then defiled you it: he went up to my couch.

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.

Thou wast insolent like water, burst not forth with violence, for thou wentest up to the bed of thy father; then thou defiledst the couch, whereupon thou wentest up.

Impetuous as the waters, thou shalt have no pre-eminence; Because thou wentest up to thy father's couch: Then defiledst thou [it]: he went up to my bed.

Unstable as water, thou shalt not have the excellency; Because thou wentest up to thy father's bed: Then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

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.

Boiling over as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.

Unstable as water, thou art not abundant; For thou hast gone up thy father's bed; Then thou hast polluted: My couch he went up!
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Abundant Bed Boiling Couch Defiled Excel Excellency Father's First Impetuous Longer Polluted Preeminence Pre-Eminence Turbulent Unclean Uncontrolled Unstable Water Waters Wentest
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Abundant Bed Boiling Couch Defiled Excel Excellency Father's First Impetuous Longer Polluted Preeminence Pre-Eminence Turbulent Unclean Uncontrolled Unstable Water Waters Wentest
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Alphabetical: and as Because bed couch defiled excel father's for have it it-he longer my no not onto preeminence shall the Then to Turbulent Uncontrolled up water waters went will you your

OT Law: Genesis 49:4 Boiling over as water you shall not (Gen. Ge Gn) Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

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