Deuteronomy 21:17

Deuteronomy 21:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
• New International Version (NIV)He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father’s strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

Context of Deuteronomy 21:17

15A man might have two wives and love one but not the other. Both wives might have children, and the firstborn son might belong to the wife that the man doesn’t love. 16When the day comes for the father to give his sons their inheritance, he can’t treat the son of the wife he loves as if that son were the firstborn. This would show a total disregard for the real firstborn (the son of the wife he doesn’t love). Instead, he must recognize the son of the wife he doesn’t love as the firstborn. He must give that son a double portion of whatever he owns. That son is the very first son he had. The rights of the firstborn son are his. 18Parents might have a stubborn and rebellious son who doesn’t obey them. Even though they punish him, he still won’t listen to them. 19His father and mother must take him to the leaders of the city at the city gate.

Deuteronomy 21:17 word by word

כִּי֩ אֶת־הַבְּכֹ֨ר בֶּן־הַשְּׂנוּאָ֜ה יַכִּ֗יר לָ֤תֶת לוֹ֙ פִּ֣י שְׁנַ֔יִם בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יִמָּצֵ֖א ל֑וֹ כִּי־הוּא֙ רֵאשִׁ֣ית אֹנ֔וֹ ל֖וֹ מִשְׁפַּ֥ט הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But he shall acknowledgeנָכַרnâkar · to recognizeH5234
• the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of the hatedשָׂנֵאώânê' · to hateH8130
• the firstbornבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060
• by givingנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• him a doubleשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• portionפֶּהpeh · lip: accordingH6310
• of all that he hathמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• the beginningרֵאשִׁיתrê'shîyth · first: beginningH7225
• of his strengthאוֹן'ôn · strengthH202
• the rightמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
• of the firstbornבְּכֹרָהbekôrâh bekôrâh · birthrightH1062

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 21:17

• Genesis 25:5Abraham left everything he had to Isaac.
• 1 Chronicles 5:1These are the sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn. (Although he was the firstborn, his rights as firstborn were given to his nephews, Joseph’s sons, because he dishonored his father’s bed. However, Joseph couldn’t be listed in the genealogy as the firstborn son.
• Genesis 49:3“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength, the very first son I had, first in majesty and first in power.
• Psalms 105:36He killed all the firstborn sons, the first ones born in the land when their fathers were young.
• Genesis 25:31Jacob responded, “First, sell me your rights as firstborn.”

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21:17

• 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 21:17

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

In the dictionaries

• Birthright
• Controversy
• Crucifixion
• Divers
• Firstborn
• Heir
• Jacob
• Rebellious
• Wrought
• Atonement, Day 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