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

14It shall be, if you are not pleased with her, then you shall let her go wherever she wishes; but you shall certainly not sell her for money, you shall not mistreat her, because you have humbled her. 15“If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, then it shall be in the day he wills what he has to his sons, he cannot make the son of the loved the firstborn before the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn. 17But 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 beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn. 18“If any man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father or his mother, and when they chastise him, he will not even listen to them,

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

• then it shall be in the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• willsנָחַלnâchal · to inheritH5157
• whatאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• he hasהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• to his sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• he cannotיָכֹלyâkôl yâkôl · be ableH3201
• he cannotלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• makeבָּכַרbâkar · to be/bear firstbornH1069
• of the lovedאָהֵב'âhab 'âhêb · to love: loverH157
• beforeעַל‛al · uponH5921
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• unlovedשָׂנֵאώânê' · to hateH8130
• who is the firstbornבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 21:16

• 1 Chronicles 5:2Though Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came the leader, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph),
• 1 Chronicles 26:10Also Hosah, one of the sons of Merari had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father made him first),
• 2 Chronicles 11:19and she bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham.
• 2 Chronicles 21:3Their father gave them many gifts of silver, gold and precious things, with fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.
• Romans 8:29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
• Philippians 4:8Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
• Hebrews 12:16that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

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