H6349 H6349
unstable, reckless, or wanton (describing uncontrolled behavior)
A Hebrew noun appearing in Genesis 49:4, describing Reuben's character in Jacob's deathbed oracle. Reuben is called 'unstable as water'—the Hebrew noun conveys wantonness, recklessness, or unbridled license. The term is abstract for concrete, describing someone whose behavior is as uncontrolled as boiling or overflowing water. This characterization explains why Reuben, though Jacob's firstborn, forfeited his birthright privileges due to his reckless act of defiling his father's concubine.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A noun meaning 'wantonness,' 'recklessness,' or 'unbridled license,' used in Genesis 49:4 to characterize Reuben. Jacob declares 'unstable as water' (pachaz kamayim), using this term to describe Reuben's lack of self-control. The word captures reckless, impulsive behavior without proper restraint. Spanish 'inestable' (unstable) and German 'überschäumend' (overflowing/effervescent) reflect the imagery of uncontrolled, turbulent behavior that cost Reuben his birthright. 1×
AR["فَائِرٌ"]·ben["উদ্দাম"]·DE["überschäumend"]·EN["unstable"]·FR["unstable"]·heb["פחז"]·HI["अस्थिर"]·ID["meluap"]·IT["unstable"]·jav["Boten-tetep"]·KO["불안함이다"]·PT["Instável"]·RU["бурливый"]·ES["Inestable"]·SW["kwa-adimu"]·TR["taşkın"]·urd["بے-قابو"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† פַּ֫חַז n.[m.] wantonness, recklessness, unbridled license;—Gn 49:4, abstr. for concr. (+ כַּמַּיִםִ like [boiling, or overflowing] water).