Genesis 49:4 — Compare Translations

28 translations compared side by side

Boiling over as water, thou shalt not have the pre-eminence; Because thou wentest up to thy fathers bed; Then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

English Amplified

But unstable and boiling over like water, you shall not excel and have the preeminence [of the firstborn], because you went to your father's bed; you defiled it--he went to my couch! [Gen. 35:22.]

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

But unstable and boiling over like water, you shall not excel and have the preeminence [of the firstborn], because you went to your father's bed; you defiled it–he went to my couch! [Gen. 35:22.]

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

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

English CSB 2017 - 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.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

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 EASY 2024

But you are as wild as the sea. You had sex on your father's bed with his slave wife. This bad thing brought me great shame. So you will not become great.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

But your passion was like a flood you couldn't control. So you will not remain my most honored son. You climbed into your father's bed and slept with one of his wives. You brought shame to my bed, to the bed you lay on.

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!

English GNT (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.

English God's Word - GW 1995

But you are as unruly as the waves of the sea, and you will be first no longer. For you slept with one of my wives; you dishonored me in my own bed.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

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.

English KJV 1611

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.

English LSB

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.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English 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.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - 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.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

Unruly as water, you shall no longer excel, for you climbed into your father's bed and defiled my couch to my sorrow.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

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!

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

But you are as unsteady as water. So you won't be first anymore. You had sex with your father's concubine in his bed. You lay on his couch and made it 'unclean.'

English NIV

Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father's bed, onto my couch and defiled it.

English NKJ 1982

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.

English NLT

But you are as unruly as the waves of the sea, and you will be first no longer. For you slept with one of my wives; you dishonored me in my own bed.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

Unstable as water, you shall no longer excel because you went up onto your father's bed; then you defiled it-- you went up onto my couch!

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

You are unstable—as turbulent as floodwaters; you will no longer excel, for you have slept with my concubine and defiled yourself in your father’s bed!

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

Unstable as water, you shall not have pre-eminence because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it—you went up to my couch!

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

But you are unruly as the wild waves of the sea, and you shall be first no longer. I am demoting you, for you slept with one of my wives and thus dishonored me.

English Tyndale 1537

As unstable as water wast thou: thou shalt therefore not be the chiefest, for thou wentest up upon thy father's bed, and then defiledest thou my couch with going up.