Strong’s G4502: A proper noun of Hebrew origin (רְאוּבֵן, meaning “behold, a son”), referring to Jacob’s firstborn son by Leah. In Revelation, his tribe is listed among the 144,000 sealed servants of God, demonstrating God’s continued faithfulness to His covenant despite human failure.

U- Unveiling the Word

Ῥουβήν carries significant theological weight in both Old and New Testament contexts. As Jacob’s firstborn who lost his preeminence through sin, yet whose tribe appears among the sealed in Revelation, he represents both human frailty and divine mercy. Early church fathers often used Reuben’s story to discuss themes of repentance and restoration. Today, his inclusion among the sealed tribes reminds us that God’s redemptive purposes can overcome human failure.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Ῥουβήν, Rhoubēn, /hroo-bane/
• Detailed pronunciation: hroo-BANE (with emphasis on second syllable)
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun (masculine)

Etymology:

• Hebrew origin: רְאוּבֵן (Re’uven)
• Contains elements of רָאָה (to see)
• Contains בֵּן (son)
• Name given by Leah meaning “behold, a son”

D – Defining Meanings

• The firstborn son of Jacob
• The tribe descended from Reuben
• A representative of Israel’s tribal system

For compound words:
This is not a compound word but a transliteration of a Hebrew name.

Translation Options:

• “Reuben” – traditional English rendering
• “Ruben” – alternative spelling
• “Rhoubēn” – closer to Greek form

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Λευί (Leui) /lyoo-ee/ – another tribe of Israel
  See G3017
• Ἰούδας (Ioudas) /ee-oo-das/ – tribe of Judah
  See G2455

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as a proper noun:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular only (as a proper name)
• Gender: Masculine
• Indeclinable (remains unchanged in different cases)

Being a proper noun of Hebrew origin, Ῥουβήν is indeclinable in Greek.

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG identifies him as Jacob’s firstborn son. Thayer’s notes his tribal significance. LSJ provides limited coverage due to its Hebrew origin. Vine’s connects him to the sealed tribes. Strong’s emphasizes the meaning “behold a son.” Moulton and Milligan note its use in Jewish documents.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“From the tribe of [Ῥουβήν] Reuben, twelve thousand sealed,” Revelation 7:5

Additional References:
None in the New Testament

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Ῥουβήν powerfully illustrates God’s redemptive work in human failure. His inclusion among the sealed tribes proclaims the good news that King Jesus’s redemption overcomes our past sins and failures. This name reminds us that God’s covenant faithfulness transcends human weakness, offering hope for restoration and inclusion in His kingdom purposes.

D – Did You Know?

1. Reuben’s name appears on one of the twelve gates in John’s vision of the New Jerusalem.
2. Early Jewish tradition held that Reuben’s genuine repentance secured his tribe’s place among the sealed.
3. The order of tribes in Revelation 7 differs from traditional listings, yet Reuben retains prominence.

Strong’s G4502: A proper noun of Hebrew origin (רְאוּבֵן, meaning “behold, a son”), referring to Jacob’s firstborn son by Leah. In Revelation, his tribe is listed among the 144,000 sealed servants of God, demonstrating God’s continued faithfulness to His covenant despite human failure.

Part of speech: Proper Noun (masculine)

Tags: Reuben, twelve tribes, sealed tribes, Revelation, Jacob’s sons, firstborn, restoration, divine mercy, tribal system, Israel, 144000, covenant faithfulness​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​