Deuteronomy 33:6

6 “Let Reuben live and not die, nor^[a] his people be few.”

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Deuteronomy 33:6 in Other Translations

KJV

6 Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.

ESV

6 "Let Reuben live, and not die, but let his men be few."

NLT

6 Moses said this about the tribe of Reuben: “Let the tribe of Reuben live and not die out, though they are few in number.”

MSG

6 Reuben: "Let Reuben live and not die, but just barely, in diminishing numbers."

CSB

6 Let Reuben live and not die though his people become few.

Deuteronomy 33:6 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 33:6

Let Reuben live, and not die
As a tribe, continue and not be extinct, though they should not excel, because of the sin of their progenitor; and it may have a special regard to the preservation of them, of their families on the other side Jordan, while they passed over it with their brethren into Canaan, and of them in that expedition to help the other tribes in the conquest of the country and the settlement of them in it; which Jacob by a spirit of prophecy foresaw, and in a prayer of faith petitioned for their safety: all the three Targums refer the words to a future state, as a wish for them, that they might live and enjoy an eternal life, and not die the death of the wicked in the world to come; and which they call the second death, and from whom the Apostle John seems to have borrowed the phrase, ( Revelation 2:11 ) ( Revelation 20:6 ) ( 21:8 ) ; Reuben signifies, "see the Son"; and all that see the Son of God in a spiritual manner, and believe in him with a true faith, as they live spiritually now, shall live eternally hereafter, and never die the second or eternal death; on them that shall have no power, see ( John 6:40 ) ;

and let [not] his men be few;
or, "though his men be few?" as Bishop Patrick chooses to render the words, and as they will bear, (w) , "vau", being sometimes so used, of which Noldius ^F8 gives instances; and the number of men in this tribe were but few in comparison of some others; and so those that see the Son of God and believe in him are but a small number; for all men have not faith. ( 2 Thessalonians 3:2 )

FOOTNOTES:

F8 Concord. part. Ebr. p. 292.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Deuteronomy 33:6 In-Context

4 the law that Moses gave us, the possession of the assembly of Jacob.

5 He was king over Jeshurun when the leaders of the people assembled, along with the tribes of Israel.

6 “Let Reuben live and not die, nor his people be few.”

7 And this he said about Judah: “Hear, LORD, the cry of Judah; bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends his cause. Oh, be his help against his foes!”

8 About Levi he said: “Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful servant. You tested him at Massah; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.