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Deuteronomy 21:17

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Instead, 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.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 17

In this chapter provision is made, I. For the putting away of the guilt of blood from the land, when he that shed it had fled from justice (Deu 21:1-9). II. For the preserving of the honour of a captive maid (Deu 21:10-14). III. For the securing of the right of a first-born son, though he were not a favourite (Deu 21:15-17). IV. For the restraining and punishing of a rebellious son (Deu 21:18-21). V. For the maintaining of the honour of human bodies, which must not be hanged in chains, but decently buried, even the bodies of the worst malefactors (Deu 21:22, Deu 21:23).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 17

נָכַר (nâkar, H5234) — properly, to scrutinize, i.e. look intently at; hence (with recognition implied), to… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… שָׂנֵא (sânêʼ, H8130) — to hate (personally) בְּכוֹר (bᵉkôwr, H1060) — firstborn; hence, chief נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… רֵאשִׁית (rêʼshîyth, H7225) — the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit) אוֹן (ʼôwn, H202) — ability, power, (figuratively) wealth מִשְׁפָּט (mishpâṭ, H4941) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a… בְּכוֹרָה (bᵉkôwrâh, H1062) — the firstling of man or beast; abstractly primogeniture

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Genesis 49:3rank 6

Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.

Psalms 105:36rank 3

Then He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor.

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