King James Version

Genesis 49:3

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

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Hebrew

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רְאוּבֵן֙reuvenReubenרְאוּבֵןnoun, proper name — “Reuben”H7205Reuben, a son of JacobReuben.בְּכֹ֣רִיbekhorifirstbornבְּכוֹרnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “firstborn”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1060firstborn; hence, chiefeldest (son), firstborn(-ling).אַ֔תָּהatahtheeאַתָּהpronoun, personal, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “thee”H859thou and thee, or (plural) ye and youthee, thou, ye, you.כֹּחִ֖יkochiforceכֹּחַnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “force”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3581vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce); also (from its hardiness) a large lizardability, able, chameleon, force, fruits, might, power(-ful), strength, substance, wealth.וְרֵאשִׁ֣יתvereshitand firstרֵאשִׁיתconjunction, noun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “and first”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7225the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit)beginning, chief(-est), first(-fruits, part, time), principal thing.אוֹנִ֑יoniforceאוֹןnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “force”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH202ability, power, (figuratively) wealthforce, goods, might, strength, substance.יֶ֥תֶרyetercordיֶתֶרnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “cord”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3499properly, an overhanging, i.e. (by implication) an excess, superiority, remainder; also a small rope (as hanging free)[phrase] abundant, cord, exceeding, excellancy(-ent), what they leave, that hath left, plentifully, remnant, residue, rest, string, with.שְׂאֵ֖תseetdignityשְׂאֵתnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “dignity”, the ordinary formH7613an elevation or leprous scab; figuratively, elation or cheerfulness; exaltation in rank or characterbe accepted, dignity, excellency, highness, raise up self, rising.וְיֶ֥תֶרveyeterand cordיֶתֶרconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “and cord”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3499properly, an overhanging, i.e. (by implication) an excess, superiority, remainder; also a small rope (as hanging free)[phrase] abundant, cord, exceeding, excellancy(-ent), what they leave, that hath left, plentifully, remnant, residue, rest, string, with.עָֽזazstrongעַזnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “strong”, the ordinary formH5794strong, vehement, harshfierce, [phrase] greedy, mighty, power, roughly, strong.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the first-fruits of my strength; the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength; The pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power.

Young’s Literal Translation

Reuben! my first-born thou, My power, and beginning of my strength, The abundance of exaltation, And the abundance of strength;

World English Bible

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

Darby Translation

Reuben, thou art my firstborn, My might, and the firstfruits of my vigour: Excellency of dignity, and excellency of strength.

Douay-Rheims

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

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the first-fruits of my strength; the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Ruben, thou art my first-born, thou my strength, and the first of my children, hard to be endured, hard and self-willed.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ῥουβὴν πρωτότοκός μου, σὺ ἰσχύς μου, καὶ ἀρχὴ τέκνων μου, σκληρὸς φέρεσθαι, καὶ σκληρὸς αὐθάδης.