en_tn/gen/49/03.md

# my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength

The phrases "my firstborn, my might" and "the beginning of my strength" mean the same thing. The words "might" and "strength" stand for Jacob's ability to produce children. The words "firstborn" and "beginning" mean that Reuben is his first child. AT: "my first child after I became a man" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])

# outstanding in dignity, and outstanding in power

This can be stated as a new sentence. AT: "You are first in honor and power" or "You surpass everyone else in honor and power"

# Uncontrollable as rushing water

Jacob compares Reuben to water in a strong current to emphasize that he cannot control his anger and he is not stable. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile]])

# you will not have the preeminence

"you shall not be first among your brothers"

# because you went up to your father's bed. Then you defiled it; you went up to my couch

Here "bed" and "couch" stand for Jacob's concubine, Bilhah. Jacob is referring to when Reuben slept with Bilhah (See: [Genesis 35:22](../35/21.md)). AT: "because you went to my bed and slept with Bilhah my concubine. You have shamed me" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# you went up to your father's bed ... you went up to my couch

Both statements mean the same thing. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/reuben]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/firstborn]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/power]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/defile]]
initial v6 rc conversion 2017-06-21 20:50:04 +00:00			`# my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength`
Initial commit of translationNotes 2016-02-23 02:42:46 +00:00
initial v6 rc conversion 2017-06-21 20:50:04 +00:00			`The phrases "my firstborn, my might" and "the beginning of my strength" mean the same thing. The words "might" and "strength" stand for Jacob's ability to produce children. The words "firstborn" and "beginning" mean that Reuben is his first child. AT: "my first child after I became a man" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])`
Initial commit of translationNotes 2016-02-23 02:42:46 +00:00
initial v6 rc conversion 2017-06-21 20:50:04 +00:00			`# outstanding in dignity, and outstanding in power`
Initial commit of translationNotes 2016-02-23 02:42:46 +00:00
initial v6 rc conversion 2017-06-21 20:50:04 +00:00			`This can be stated as a new sentence. AT: "You are first in honor and power" or "You surpass everyone else in honor and power"`
added v1 tn converted to an rc 2017-06-21 20:45:09 +00:00
initial v6 rc conversion 2017-06-21 20:50:04 +00:00			`# Uncontrollable as rushing water`
added v1 tn converted to an rc 2017-06-21 20:45:09 +00:00
			`Jacob compares Reuben to water in a strong current to emphasize that he cannot control his anger and he is not stable. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile]])`

initial v6 rc conversion 2017-06-21 20:50:04 +00:00			`# you will not have the preeminence`
added v1 tn converted to an rc 2017-06-21 20:45:09 +00:00
initial v6 rc conversion 2017-06-21 20:50:04 +00:00			`"you shall not be first among your brothers"`
added v1 tn converted to an rc 2017-06-21 20:45:09 +00:00
initial v6 rc conversion 2017-06-21 20:50:04 +00:00			`# because you went up to your father's bed. Then you defiled it; you went up to my couch`
added v1 tn converted to an rc 2017-06-21 20:45:09 +00:00
initial v6 rc conversion 2017-06-21 20:50:04 +00:00			`Here "bed" and "couch" stand for Jacob's concubine, Bilhah. Jacob is referring to when Reuben slept with Bilhah (See: [Genesis 35:22](../35/21.md)). AT: "because you went to my bed and slept with Bilhah my concubine. You have shamed me" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])`

			`# you went up to your father's bed ... you went up to my couch`

added tw to notes 2017-06-24 00:15:21 +00:00			`Both statements mean the same thing. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])`

			`# translationWords`

			`* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/reuben]]`
			`* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/firstborn]]`
			`* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/power]]`
			`* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/defile]]`