Deuteronomy 21:16

Deuteronomy 21:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:
• New International Version (NIV)when he wills his property to his sons, he must not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he loves in preference to his actual firstborn, the son of the wife he does not love.
• English Standard Version (ESV)then on the day when he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn,
• New King James Version (NKJV)then it shall be, on the day he bequeaths his possessions to his sons, that he must not bestow firstborn status on the son of the loved wife in preference to the son of the unloved, the true firstborn.

Context of Deuteronomy 21:16

14And if you are not pleased with her, you are to let her go wherever she wishes. But you must not sell her for money or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her. 15If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, when that man assigns his inheritance to his sons he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife. 17Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him. 18If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and does not listen to them when disciplined,

Deuteronomy 21:16 word by word

וְהָיָ֗ה בְּיוֹם֙ הַנְחִיל֣וֹ אֶת־בָּנָ֔יו אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־יִהְיֶ֖ה ל֑וֹ לֹ֣א יוּכַ֗ל לְבַכֵּר֙ אֶת־בֶּן־הָ֣אֲהוּבָ֔ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י בֶן־הַשְּׂנוּאָ֖ה הַבְּכֹֽר׃Read the interlinear

• ·הָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• whenיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• that manאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• assigns his inheritanceנָחַלnâchal · to inheritH5157
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• to his sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• he must notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• appointיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• of the beloved wifeאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157
• asעַל‛al · uponH5921
• the firstbornפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• ·בָּכַרbâkar · to be/bear firstbornH1069
• of the unloved wifeשָׂנֵאώânê' · to hateH8130
• of the unloved wifeבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 21:16

• 1 Chronicles 5:2And though Judah prevailed over his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph.
• 1 Chronicles 26:10Hosah the Merarite also had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him as the first),
• 2 Chronicles 11:19She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.
• 2 Chronicles 21:3Their father had given them many gifts of silver and gold and precious things, as well as the fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.
• Romans 8:29For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
• Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
• Hebrews 12:16See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21:16

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-17Verses 15-17 Moses did not originate the rights of primogeniture (compare Genesis 25:31), but recognized them, since he found them pre-existing in the general social system of the East. Paternal authority could set aside these rights on just grounds Genesis 27:33, but it is forbidden here to do so from mere partiality.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-17Verses 15-17 This law restrains men from disinheriting their eldest sons without just cause. The principle in this case as to children, is still binding to parents; they must give children their right without partiality.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-17God's law required that a firstborn son receive the largest share of his father's inheritance (see 21:15–16; 2 Kings 2:9). The custom of giving the firstborn son a double portion is first recorded here but was implied in earlier practice (see Genesis 25:31–34; 27:1–4; 48:8–22). that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength: The eldest male child had this special status because he showed that the father could have children, especially a son.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1715-17. If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated--In the original and all other translations, the words are rendered "have had," referring to events that have already taken place; and that the "had" has, by some mistake, been omitted in our version, seems highly probable from the other verbs being in the past tense--"hers that was hated," not "hers that is hated"; evidently intimating that she (the first wife) was dead at the time referred…Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 21:16

• Birthright
• Children
• Favoritism
• Firstborn
• Heir
• Inheritance
• Polygamy

In the dictionaries

• Birthright
• Controversy
• Crucifixion
• Divers
• Rebellious
• Wrought
• Atonement, Day of
• Beloved
• Criticism
• Exodus, the Book of

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings