Genesis 49:4 “Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went…”

Genesis 49:4

Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch, and defiled it.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

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

American Standard Version

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.

Geneva Bible 1599

Thou wast light as water: thou shalt not be excellent, because thou wentest vp to thy fathers bed: then diddest thou defile my bed, thy dignitie is gone.

Darby Translation

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.

Young's Literal Translation

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!

Bible in Basic English

But because you were uncontrolled, the first place will not be yours; for you went up to your father's bed, even his bride-bed, and made it unclean.

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Cross references

“Unstable”

James 1:6–8 2 Peter 3:16 2 Peter 2:14

James 1:6–8 · BSB

But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

2 Peter 3:16 · BSB

He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their ow…

2 Peter 2:14 · BSB

Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.

“thou shalt not excel”

Deuteronomy 33:6 Genesis 46:8 Numbers 32:1–42

Deuteronomy 33:6 · BSB

Let Reuben live and not die, nor his men be few.”

Genesis 46:8 · BSB

Now these are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.

Numbers 32:1–42 · BSB

Now the Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, surveyed the lands of Jazer and Gilead, and they saw that the region was suitable for livestock.

“because”

Genesis 35:22 Deuteronomy 27:20 1 Chronicles 5:1 1 Corinthians 5:1 Deuteronomy 5:21

Genesis 35:22 · BSB

While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:

Deuteronomy 27:20 · BSB

‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

1 Chronicles 5:1 · BSB

These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according t…

1 Corinthians 5:1 · BSB

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.

Deuteronomy 5:21 · BSB

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house or field, or his manservant or maidservant, or his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

3Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.

5Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence.

Read Genesis 49