Illustration created for this project.
Reuben
A son of Jacob and founder of the tribe of Reuben.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Family & lineage
BibleThe firstborn son of Jacob and Leah, who forfeited his birthright's pre-eminence.
Genesis 49:3–4
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Jacob
Life, role & deeds
Name & titles
ScholarlyThe name Re'uven is given a folk etymology in the birth narrative, linking it to Leah's cry that God 'has seen (ra'ah) my affliction.' Onomastically it is better parsed as the sentence-name 'Re'u ben' — 'Behold, a son!' — a plausible acclamation at the birth of a firstborn.
Standard Hebrew onomastics (e.g. Noth, Die israelitischen Personennamen); the biblical pun and the philological derivation differ.
Where in scripture
GenesisExodusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudges2 Kings1 ChroniclesEzekielRevelation
Genesis 29:32Genesis 30:14Genesis 35:22Genesis 35:23Genesis 37:21Genesis 42:22Genesis 42:37Genesis 46:8Genesis 46:9Genesis 48:5Genesis 49:3Exodus 1:2Exodus 6:14Numbers 1:5Numbers 2:10Numbers 2:16Numbers 7:30Numbers 10:18Numbers 13:4Numbers 16:1Numbers 26:5Numbers 26:7Numbers 34:14Deuteronomy 3:12
…and 36 more mentions
Family
In their own words — 4 recorded sayings
“But Reuben, hearing these words, got him out of their hands, saying, Let us not take his life. Do not put him to a violent death, but let him be placed in one of the holes; this he said to keep him safe from their hands, with the purpose of taking him back to his father again.” — Genesis 37:21-22
“He went back to his brothers, and said, The child is gone; what am I to do?” — Genesis 37:30
“And Reuben said to them, Did I not say to you, Do the child no wrong? but you gave no attention; so now, punishment has come on us for his blood.” — Genesis 42:22
“And Reuben said, Put my two sons to death if I do not come back to you with him; let him be in my care and I will give him safely back to you.” — Genesis 42:37
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
In art
