Genesis 49:3
Good News Translation
"Reuben, my first-born, you are my strength And the first child of my manhood, The proudest and strongest of all my sons.

New Revised Standard Version
Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the first fruits of my vigor, excelling in rank and excelling in power.

Contemporary English Version
Reuben, you are my oldest, born at the peak of my powers; you were an honored leader.

New American Bible
“You, Reuben, my firstborn, my strength and the first fruit of my vigor, excelling in rank and excelling in power!

Douay-Rheims Bible
Ruben, my firstborn, thou art my strength, and the beginning of my sorrow; excelling in gifts, greater in command.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ruben, my firstborn, thou art my strength, and the beginning of my sorrow; excelling in gifts, greater in command.

my firstborn.

Genesis 29:32 And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Ruben, saying: The Lord saw my affliction: now my husband will love me.

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

Genesis 48:18 And he said to his father: It should not be so, my father; for this is the firstborn, put thy right hand upon his head.

Numbers 1:20 Of Ruben the eldest son of Israel, by their generations and families and houses and names of every head, all that were of the male sex, from twenty years old and upward, that were able to go forth to war,

Numbers 26:5 Ruben the firstborn of Israel. His sons were Henoch, of whom is the family of the Henochites: and Phallu, of whom is the family of the Phalluites:

1 Chronicles 2:1 And these are the sons of Israel: Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda, Issachar, and Zabulon,

1 Chronicles 5:1,3 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. . . .

my might.

Deuteronomy 21:17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, and shall give him a double portion of all he hath: for this is the first of his children, and to him are due the first birthrights.

Psalm 78:51 And he killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: the firstfruits of all their labour in the tabernacles of Cham.

Psalm 105:36 And he slew all the firstborn in their land: the firstfruits of all their labour.

Context
Jacob Blesses His Sons
2Gather yourselves together, and hear, O ye sons of Jacob, hearken to Israel, your father: 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.…
Cross References
Revelation 3:14
And to the angel of the church of Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the beginning of the creation of God:

Deuteronomy 21:17
But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, and shall give him a double portion of all he hath: for this is the first of his children, and to him are due the first birthrights.

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

Psalm 78:51
And he killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: the firstfruits of all their labour in the tabernacles of Cham.

Psalm 105:36
And he slew all the firstborn in their land: the firstfruits of all their labour.

Genesis 49:2
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