Add parallel Print Page Options

15 “If a man has two wives, one loved and the other [a]unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have born him sons, and the firstborn son belongs to the unloved wife, 16 then on the day when he wills his possessions to his sons, he cannot treat the son of his loved wife as firstborn in place of the son of the unloved wife—the [actual] firstborn. 17 Instead he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved as the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he was the beginning of his strength (generative power); to him belongs the right of the firstborn.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 21:15 Lit hated, the Hebrew word does not seem always to indicate a hostile attitude, but sometimes more of a sense of rejection.

15 “If a man has two wives, the one loved and (A)the other [a]unloved, and both the loved and the [b]unloved have borne him sons, and the firstborn son belongs to the [c]unloved, 16 then it shall be on the day that he wills what he owns as an inheritance to his sons, he is not allowed to treat the son of the loved wife as the firstborn, [d]at the expense of the son of the [e]unloved, who actually is the firstborn son. 17 On the contrary, he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the [f]unloved wife, by giving him a double [g]portion of everything that [h]he owns, for he was the (B)beginning of his [i]strength; (C)to him belongs the right of the firstborn.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 21:15 Or scorned; lit hated
  2. Deuteronomy 21:15 Or scorned; lit hated
  3. Deuteronomy 21:15 Or scorned; lit hated
  4. Deuteronomy 21:16 Lit against the face of
  5. Deuteronomy 21:16 See note v 15
  6. Deuteronomy 21:17 See note v 15
  7. Deuteronomy 21:17 Lit mouthful
  8. Deuteronomy 21:17 Lit is found with him
  9. Deuteronomy 21:17 I.e., power of procreation