Reuben

[roo-buhn]

noun

1. the eldest son of Jacob and Leah. Genesis 29, 30.

2. one of the 12 tribes of Israel, the tribe traditionally descended from him.

3. Reuben sandwich.

4. a male given name.

Reuben

/ ˈruːbɪn /

noun

1. the eldest son of Jacob and Leah: one of the 12 patriarchs of Israel (Genesis 29:30)

2. the Israelite tribe descended from him

3. the territory of this tribe, lying to the northeast of the Dead Sea

Word History and Origins

Origin of Reuben¹

From Late Latin Ruben, from Greek Rhoubḗn, from Hebrew Rĕʾūbhēn, of uncertain origin, but traditionally translated as “Behold, a son!” and associated with Rāʾāh bĕʿōnī “He (God) has looked upon my affliction” (by granting Leah a son)

Example Sentences

When she gets pregnant with her son, Reuben, she is laid low and takes a temporary leave of absence from school.

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“The more exercise you do, the better,” said Reuben, a vegetarian who swims four days a week, jogs three days and does yoga on weekends.

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Her expedition was dedicated to Thomas and her grandfather, Reuben Rogers, who died within a few months of each other.

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Foster said offensive linemen Courtland Ford and Reuben Unije, who were limited in practices earlier in the week, were managing “a little bit of wear and tear.”

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Newcastle may be backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund - known as its Public Investment Fund - and the Reuben family, but the Magpies' income streams still pale in comparison to the established order.

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