SG Heritage Dictionary

Reuben Encyclopedia Britannica

REUBENWoνβην, t Pοvβiλ), eldest son of Jacob and of Leah (Gen. xxix. 32). Reuben plays no great part in the patriarchal legend; in the Elohistic version of the story of Joseph he appears in a somewhat favourable light, but in Gen. xxxv. 22 he is charged with a grave offence, which in Gen. xlix. 4 is given as a reason why the tribe which called him father did not take in Hebrew history the place proper to its seniority. The Reubenites settled east of the Jordan on the Moabite border. In Judges v. they are described as a pastoral tribe which took no share in the patriotic movement under Barak and Deborah. The Moabites soon proved too strong for them (comp. Moab, vol. xvi. p. 534) and overspread their country (comp. Isa. chap. xv. sq. with Josh, xiii. 16 sq.β, in Deut. xxxiii. 6 the tribe appears as threatened with extinction. Dathan and Abiram (Num. xvi., Deut. xi. 6), whom the earth swallowed up for rebellion against Moses, were Reubenites. After this time only the book of Chronicles has anything considerable to relate of the tribe (1 Chron. v. 1 sn., 18 sq.∖

9th ed. Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 20, p. 489
[195 words — estimated reading time: 2 minutes]

Reuben Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

TRIBE OF. This tribe, having much cattle, solicited and obtained from Moses possessions east of the Jordan; by which river it was separated from the main body of Israel: it was, in consequence, exposed to various inroads and oppressions from which the western tribes were free; and it was among the first carried into captivity by Tiglath pileser, 1 Chron. v, 26.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
[62 words — estimated reading time: 1 minute]

King James Bible KJV Bible

Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible

86 KJV and 89 BSB verses contain “REUBEN” — showing the first 20. Show all 91 verses (searchable)

Genesis 29:32

And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”

Genesis 30:14

And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.

Now during the wheat harvest, Reuben went out and found some mandrakes in the field. When he brought them to his mother, Rachel begged Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

Genesis 35:22

And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

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:

Genesis 35:23

The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:

The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

Genesis 37:21

And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let us not take his life,” he said.

Genesis 37:22

And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

“Do not shed his blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this so that he could rescue Joseph from their hands and return him to his father.

Genesis 37:29

And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes,

Genesis 42:22

And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

And Reuben responded, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!”

Genesis 42:37

And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.

Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him.”

Genesis 46:8

And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.

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

Genesis 46:9

And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.

The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

Genesis 48:5

And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

And now your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here shall be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.

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:

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

Exodus 1:2

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

Exodus 6:14

These be the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these be the families of Reuben.

These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben.

Numbers 1:5

And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.

These are the names of the men who are to assist you: From the tribe of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;

Numbers 1:20

And the children of Reuben, Israel’s eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

From the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

Numbers 1:21

Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

those registered to the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500.

Numbers 2:10

On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.

On the south side, the divisions of Reuben are to camp under their standard:

Numbers 2:11

And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

The leader of the Reubenites is Elizur son of Shedeur, and his division numbers 46,500.