Genesis

Genesis 49:3–4

³Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might,

and the beginning of my strength,

excelling in honor,

excelling in power.

⁴Uncontrolled as the waters,

you will no longer excel,

because you went up to your father’s bed,

onto my couch, and defiled it.

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Reuben	רְאוּבֵן֙	rə·’ū·ḇên	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7205 Reuben
you	אַ֔תָּה	’at·tāh	Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou
are my firstborn	בְּכֹ֣רִי	bə·ḵō·rî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H1060 first-born
my might	כֹּחִ֖י	kō·ḥî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H3581 strength, power
and the beginning	וְרֵאשִׁ֣ית	wə·rê·šîṯ	Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct	H7225 beginning, chief
of my strength	אוֹנִ֑י	’ō·w·nî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H202 vigour, wealth
excelling	יֶ֥תֶר	ye·ṯer	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3499 remainder, excellence, excess
in honor	שְׂאֵ֖ת	śə·’êṯ	Noun - feminine singular	H7613 exaltation, dignity
excelling	וְיֶ֥תֶר	wə·ye·ṯer	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3499 remainder, excellence, excess
in power	עָֽז׃	‘āz	Adjective - masculine singular	H5794 strong, mighty, fierce

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Uncontrolled	פַּ֤חַז	pa·ḥaz	Noun - masculine singular	H6349 wantonness, recklessness, unbridled license
as the waters	כַּמַּ֙יִם֙	kam·ma·yim	Preposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H4325 water, juice, urine
you will no	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
longer excel	תּוֹתַ֔ר	tō·w·ṯar	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular	H3498 remain over
because	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
you went up	עָלִ֖יתָ	‘ā·lî·ṯā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
to your father’s	אָבִ֑יךָ	’ā·ḇî·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H1 father
bed	מִשְׁכְּבֵ֣י	miš·kə·ḇê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H4904 place of lying, couch; act of lying
onto	עָלָֽה׃פ	‘ā·lāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
my couch	יְצוּעִ֥י	yə·ṣū·‘î	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H3326 couch, bed
and	אָ֥ז	’āz	Adverb	H227 at that time, then
defiled it	חִלַּ֖לְתָּ	ḥil·lal·tā	Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H2490 bore, pierce

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Genesis 49:3 Psalm 78:51 · Deuteronomy 21:17 · Genesis 29:32 · Psalm 105:36 · 1 Chronicles 5:3 · 1 Chronicles 2:1 · Numbers 1:20 · 1 Chronicles 5:1 · Genesis 48:18

Genesis 49:4 Genesis 35:22 · Deuteronomy 27:20 · 1 Chronicles 5:1 · Deuteronomy 33:6 · James 1:6–8 · 1 Corinthians 5:1 · Genesis 46:8 · Deuteronomy 5:21 · 2 Peter 3:16 · 2 Peter 2:14

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.