Deuteronomy 21:15

If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other hated, and they have produced children by him, and if the son of the hated wife is the firstborn,

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:

In Context

14But if afterwards she does not sit well in your mind, you shall set her free. You cannot sell her for money, nor can you oppress her by force. For you have humiliated her.

16and if he wishes to divide his substance among his sons: he cannot make the son of the beloved wife the firstborn, and so prefer him before the son of the hated wife.

Read all of Deuteronomy 21

Cross References

Genesis 29:18And Jacob, loving her, said, “I will serve you for seven years, for your younger daughter Rachel.”

Genesis 29:30And, having at last obtained the marriage he desired, he preferred the love of the latter before the former, and he served with him another seven years.

1 Samuel 1:4Then the day arrived, and Elkanah immolated. And he gave portions to his wife Peninnah, and to all her sons and daughters.

Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 21:11-15

The Case of Captive Women. ( b. c. 1451.) 10 When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the Lord thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive, 11 And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife; 12 Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails; 13 And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

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