Who
Jacob’s firstborn, Leah’s first son, named because “the LORD has looked at my affliction” (Genesis 29:32). When his brothers plotted against Joseph he said, “Shed no blood”, meaning to bring him back to his father (Genesis 37:22). But he had lain with Bilhah, his father’s concubine (Genesis 35:22), and Jacob’s blessing took the first place from him: “Boiling over like water, you shall not excel” (Genesis 49:4). So, Chronicles explains, “his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph”, while the kingship came to Judah (1 Chronicles 5:1–2). His tribe settled east of the Jordan.
Key verses
- Genesis 29:32
Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because the LORD has looked at my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”
- Genesis 35:23
The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
- Genesis 37:22
Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.
- Genesis 49:4
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.
- 1 Chronicles 2:1
These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
- 1 Chronicles 5:1
The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be listed according to the birthright.
Where the Bible names him
Family
Discussed by
Comments on the verses that name him.
- Gregory of Nyssa, Answer to Eunomius' Second Book Chapter 1
Answer to Eunomius' Second Book. The first part of my contentions against Eunomius has with God’s help been sufficiently established in the preceding work, as all who will may see from what I have worked out, how in…
- Origen, A Letter from Origen to Africanus
Origen to Africanus, a beloved brother in God the Father, through Jesus Christ, His holy Child, greeting. Your letter, from which I learn what you think of the Susanna in the Book of Daniel, which is used in the…
- Hippolytus of Rome, Exegetical Fragments §2
On Genesis. Gen. i. 5 And it was evening, and it was morning, one day. Hippolytus. He did not say “night and day,” but “one day,” with reference to the name of the light. He did not say the “first day;” for if he had…
- Aphrahat, Select Demonstrations Demonstration 8
Of the Resurrection of the Dead. 1. At all times controversies arise on this matter, how the dead shall rise and with what body they shall come? For lo! the body wears out and is corrupted; and the bones also, no…
- Tertullian, On Modesty Chapter 13
Of St. Paul, and the Person Whom He Urges the Corinthians to Forgive. We know plainly at this point, too, the suspicions which they raise. For, in fact, they suspect the Apostle Paul of having, in the second…
- Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Psalms Psalm 76
1. The Jews are wont to glory in this Psalm which we have sung, saying, “Known in Judæa is God, in Israel great is the name of Him:” and to revile the Gentiles to whom God is not known, and to say that to themselves…