The Right of the Firstborn

15 “If a man has two wives, one loved and the other neglected, and both the loved and the neglected bear him sons, and if the neglected wife has the firstborn son, 16 when that man gives what he has to his sons as an inheritance, he is not to show favoritism to the son of the loved wife as his firstborn over the firstborn of the neglected wife. 17 He must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the neglected wife, by giving him two shares[a][b] of his estate, for he is the firstfruits of his virility; he has the rights of the firstborn.(A)

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Notas al pie

  1. 21:17 Lit him mouth of two, or two mouthfuls
  2. 21:17 Or two-thirds

Preferential Treatment Prohibited

15 “If a man has two wives where one is loved but the other is unloved, and both[a] of them bear him sons, but the firstborn is the son of the unloved wife, 16 then when he bequeaths his possessions to his sons, he must not give preference to the firstborn of the beloved wife over the firstborn of the unloved wife. 17 Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn of the unloved wife by giving him double of everything he owns, because he is really the first fruit of his father’s[b] strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.”

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Notas al pie

  1. Deuteronomy 21:15 Lit. the one who is loved and who is not loved
  2. Deuteronomy 21:17 The Heb. lacks father’s