Reuven
בְּכֹרִי אַתָּה כֹּחִי וְרֵאשִׁית אוֹנִי
My first-born, my might
Jacob’s firstborn. Reuven stepped forward to save Yosef from his brothers, and the Sages remember him as the first to open the way of repentance. Moses blessed him with life: ‘Let Reuben live, and not die.’
- Meaning of the name
- From the word for seeing: Leah said that the LORD had looked upon her affliction.
- Mother
- Leah
- Stone on the Choshen (Bamidbar Rabbah 2:7)
- Odem, ruby / carnelian
- Flag colour
- red
- Emblem on the flag
- mandrakes
- Place in the camp
- South — at the head of the banner (degel) of the camp of Reuven, with Shimon and Gad; second to set out.
Verses
רְאוּבֵן בְּכֹרִי אַתָּה כֹּחִי וְרֵאשִׁית אוֹנִי יֶתֶר שְׂאֵת וְיֶתֶר עָז
Reuben, thou art my first-born, My might, and the first-fruits of my strength; The excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power.
Genesis 49:3
יְחִי רְאוּבֵן וְאַל־יָמֹת וִיהִי מְתָיו מִסְפָּר
Let Reuben live, and not die In that his men become few.
Deuteronomy 33:6
וַתַּהַר לֵאָה וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ רְאוּבֵן כִּי אָמְרָה כִּי־רָאָה ה׳ בְּעָנְיִי כִּי עַתָּה יֶאֱהָבַנִי אִישִׁי
And Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said: ‘Because the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.’
Genesis 29:32