Genesis 49:3

3 "Reuben, my first son, you are my strength. Your birth showed I could be a father. You have the highest position among my sons, and you are the most powerful.

Genesis 49:3 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 49:3

Reuben, thou art my firstborn
Jacob addressed himself to Reuben first, in the presence of his brethren, owned him as his firstborn, as he was, ( Genesis 29:31 Genesis 29:32 ) did not cashier him from his family, nor disinherit him, though he had greatly disobliged him, for which the birthright, and the privileges of it, were taken from him, ( 1 Chronicles 5:1 1 Chronicles 5:2 ) my might, and the beginning of my strength;
begotten by him when in his full strength F26, as well as the first of his family, in which his strength and glory lay; so the Septuagint, "the beginning of my children"; and because he was so, of right the double portion belonged to him, had he not forfeited it, ( Deuteronomy 21:17 ) ( Psalms 105:36 ) . Some versions render the words, "the beginning of my grief", or "sorrow" F1, the word "Oni" sometimes so signifying, as Rachel called her youngest son "Benoni", the son of my sorrow; but this is not true of Reuben, he was not the beginning of Jacob's sorrow, for the ravishing of Dinah, and the slaughter and spoil of the Shechemites, by his sons, which gave him great sorrow and grief, were before the affair of Reuben's lying with Bilhah: the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power;
that is, to him of right belonged excellent dignity, power, and authority in the family, a preeminence over his brethren, a double portion of goods, succession in government, and, as is commonly understood, the exercise of the priesthood; and so the Targums interpret it, that he should, had he not sinned, took three parts or portions above his brethren, the birthright, priesthood, and kingdom. Jacob observes this to him, that he might know what he had lost by sinning, and from what excellency and dignity, grandeur and power, he was fallen.


FOOTNOTES:

F26 "Nate. meae vires. --------" Virgil.
F1 (ynwa tyvar) (kefalaion luphv mou) , Aquila; (arch odunhv) , Symmachus apud Drusium; "principium doloris mei", V. L. Tigurine version.

Genesis 49:3 In-Context

1 Then Jacob called his sons to him. He said, " Come here to me, and I will tell you what will happen to you in the future.
2 "Come together and listen, sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father."
3 "Reuben, my first son, you are my strength. Your birth showed I could be a father. You have the highest position among my sons, and you are the most powerful.
4 But you are uncontrolled like water, so you will no longer lead your brothers. This is because you got into your father's bed and shamed me by having sexual relations with my slave girl.
5 "Simeon and Levi are brothers who used their swords to do violence.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.