Genesis 49:4
Modern Translations
New International Version
Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father's bed, onto my couch and defiled it.

New Living Translation
But you are as unruly as a flood, and you will be first no longer. For you went to bed with my wife; you defiled my marriage couch.

English Standard Version
Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!

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

New American Standard Bible
“Uncontrollable as water, you shall not have preeminence, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.

NASB 1995
"Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence, Because you went up to your father's bed; Then you defiled it-- he went up to my couch.

NASB 1977
“Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.

Amplified Bible
“But unstable and reckless and boiling over like water [in sinful lust], you shall not excel or have the preeminence [of the firstborn], Because you went up to your father’s bed [with Bilhah]; You defiled it—he went up to my couch.

Christian Standard Bible
Turbulent as water, you will not excel, because you got into your father’s bed and you defiled it—he got into my bed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Turbulent as water, you will no longer excel, because you got into your father's bed and you defiled it--he got into my bed.

Contemporary English Version
Uncontrollable as a flood, you slept with my wife and disgraced my bed. And so you no longer deserve the place of honor.

Good News Translation
You are like a raging flood, But you will not be the most important, For you slept with my concubine And dishonored your father's bed.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You will no longer be first because you were out of control like a flood and you climbed into your father's bed. Then you dishonored it. He climbed up on my couch.

International Standard Version
But you're as undisciplined as a roaring river, so eventually you won't succeed, because you got in your father's bed, defiled it, and then approached my couch."

NET Bible
You are destructive like water and will not excel, for you got on your father's bed, then you defiled it--he got on my couch!
Classic Translations
King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Unstable as water, you shall not excel, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it— He went up to my couch.

King James 2000 Bible
Unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it: he went up to my couch.

New Heart English Bible
Uncontrolled as the waters, you will not have excel, because you went up to your father's bed, you went up and defiled my couch.

World English Bible
Boiling over as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.

American King James Version
Unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed; then defiled you 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.

A Faithful Version
Unstable as water, you shall not excel because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it. He went up to my couch.

Darby Bible 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.

English Revised Version
Unstable as water, thou shalt not have the excellency; Because thou wentest up to thy father's bed: Then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Early Modern
Geneva Bible of 1587
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.

Bishops' Bible of 1568
Unstable as water, thou shalt not be the chiefest, because thou wentest vp to thy fathers bedde: for then defiledst thou my couche with goyng vp.

Coverdale Bible of 1535
Thou passest forth swiftly as ye water. Thou shalt not be the chefest: For thou hast clymmed vp vpon thy fathers bed, euen than defyledest thou my couch with goynge vp.

Tyndale Bible of 1526
As vnstable as water wast thou: thou shalt therfore not be the chefest for thou wenst vp vpo thy fathers bedd and than defyledest thou my couche with goynge vppe.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Unstable as water, you are not abundant; For you have gone up your father’s bed; Then you have defiled [it]: He went up my couch!

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!

Smith's Literal Translation
Vain glorious as water, thou shalt not be preeminent; for thou didst go up out of thy father's bed; then didst thou defile, going up to my couch.

Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou art poured out as water, grow thou not: because thou wentest up to thy father's bed, and didst defile his couch.

Catholic Public Domain Version
You are being poured out like water, may you not increase. For you climbed onto your father’s bed, and you defiled his resting place.

Translations from Aramaic
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
You wandered as waters; you will not persist, for you went up to the bedroom of your father; truly you defiled my bed and you went up.

Lamsa Bible
You went astray like water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed; truly, you have defiled my bed by going up into it.

OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Unstable as water, have not thou the excellency; Because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; Then defiledst thou it--he went up to my couch.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thou wast insolent like water, burst not forth with violence, for thou wentest up to the bed of thy father; then thou defiledst the couch, whereupon thou wentest up.
















Genesis 49:3
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