Deuteronomy 21:17

He must give to the older son, the son of the wife whom he does not like, twice as much of his possessions. That son is his firstborn son, and he must be given the share that he should receive because of his being that man’s firstborn son.”

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

In Context

16On the day when that man decides how he will divide his possessions for his sons to possess after he dies, he must not favor the son of the wife that he loves by giving him a bigger share, the share that the older son should receive.

18“Suppose there is a boy who is very stubborn and always ◄rebelling against/disobeying► his parents, and who will not heed what they say to him. And suppose that they punish him but he still does not pay attention to what they tell him [MTY].

Read all of Deuteronomy 21

Cross References

Genesis 25:5Abraham declared that after he died, Isaac would inherit everything he owned.

Genesis 49:3Reuben, you are my oldest son. You were born when I was young and energetic/strong. You are prouder and stronger than all the rest of my sons.

1 Chronicles 5:2Although Judah became more influential than his brothers, and a ruler of the tribe descended from him, Joseph’s family received the rights that belonged to firstborn sons.

Psalms 105:36Then Yahweh killed the oldest son in every house of the people of Egypt [DOU].

Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 21:16-18

The Right of the Firstborn. ( b. c. 1451.) 15 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: 16 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: 17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Deuteronomy 21:17