Deuteronomy 21:17
New International Version
He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father’s strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.

New Living Translation
He must recognize the rights of his oldest son, the son of the wife he does not love, by giving him a double portion. He is the first son of his father’s virility, and the rights of the firstborn belong to him.

English Standard Version
but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

New American Standard Bible
On the contrary, he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of everything that he owns, for he was the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn.

NASB 1995
“But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn.

NASB 1977
“But he shall acknowledge the first-born, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the first-born.

Legacy Standard Bible
But he shall recognize the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the first of his vigor; the legal judgment for the firstborn belongs to him.

Amplified Bible
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.

Christian Standard Bible
He must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the neglected wife, by giving him two shares of his estate, for he is the firstfruits of his virility; he has the rights of the firstborn.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved wife, by giving him two shares of his estate, for he is the firstfruits of his virility; he has the rights of the firstborn.”

American Standard Version
but he shall acknowledge the first-born, the son of the hated, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath; for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the first-born is his.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But the first born son of the hated woman must take two portions in all things that are found for him because he is the beginning of his birth and his is the right of first born status.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But he shall acknowledge the first-born of the hated one to give to him double of all things which shall be found by him, because he is the first of his children, and to him belongs the birthright.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, and shall give him a double portion of all he hath: for this is the first of his children, and to him are due the first birthrights.

English Revised Version
but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the hated, 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Instead, he must recognize the son of the wife he doesn't love as the firstborn. He must give that son a double portion of whatever he owns. That son is the very first son he had. The rights of the firstborn son are his.

Good News Translation
He is to give a double share of his possessions to his first son, even though he is not the son of his favorite wife. A man must acknowledge his first son and give him the share he is legally entitled to.

International Standard Version
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 strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him."

JPS Tanakh 1917
but he shall acknowledge the first-born, the son of the hated, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath; for he is the first-fruits of his strength, the right of the first-born is his.

Literal Standard Version
But the firstborn, son of the hated one, he acknowledges, to give to him a double portion of all that is found with him, for he [is] the beginning of his strength; to him [is] the right of the firstborn.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

New American Bible
On the contrary, he shall recognize as his firstborn the son of the unloved wife, giving him a double share of whatever he happens to own, since he is the first fruits of his manhood, and to him belong the rights of the firstborn.

NET Bible
Rather, he must acknowledge the son of the less loved wife as firstborn and give him the double portion of all he has, for that son is the beginning of his father's procreative power--to him should go the right of the firstborn.

New Revised Standard Version
He must acknowledge as firstborn the son of the one who is disliked, giving him a double portion of all that he has; since he is the first issue of his virility, the right of the firstborn is his.

New Heart English Bible
but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has; for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

Webster's Bible Translation
But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the first-born, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the first-born is his.

World English Bible
but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the hated, by giving him a double portion of all that he has; for he is the beginning of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.

Young's Literal Translation
But the first-born, son of the hated one, he doth acknowledge, to give to him a double portion of all that is found with him, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him is the right of the first-born.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Inheritance Rights of the Firstborn
16when that man assigns his inheritance to his sons he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife. 17Instead, 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.

Cross References
Luke 15:12
The younger son said to him, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

Revelation 3:14
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God's creation.

Genesis 25:31
"First sell me your birthright," Jacob replied.

Genesis 49:3
Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.

Deuteronomy 21:16
when that man assigns his inheritance to his sons he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife.

2 Kings 2:9
After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken away from you?" "Please, let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.


Treasury of Scripture

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

by giving

Genesis 25:5,6,32,34
And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac…

1 Chronicles 5:1,2
Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright…

Genesis 49:3
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

Psalm 105:36
He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.

the right

Genesis 25:31-34
And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright…

Jump to Previous
Acknowledge Beginning Belongs Birthright Disliked Double Hated Issue Part Portion Right Share Sign Strength Twice Unloved Vigour Wife
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Acknowledge Beginning Belongs Birthright Disliked Double Hated Issue Part Portion Right Share Sign Strength Twice Unloved Vigour Wife
Deuteronomy 21
1. The Atonement for an Unsolved Murder
10. The usage of a captive taken to wife
15. The firstborn is not to be disinherited upon private affection
18. A rebellious son is to be stoned to death
22. The malefactor must not hang all night on a tree














Verse 17. - A double portion; literally, a mouth of two; i.e. a portion (so "mouth" is used in 2 Kings 2:9; Zechariah 13:8) equal to that of two; consequently, the firstborn inherited twice as much as any of the other sons. Amongst all nations and from the earliest times, the right of the eldest son to pre-eminence among his brethren has been recognized; and in legislating for Israel, Moses so far simply sanctioned a usage he found already existing; the assignment, however, of a double share in the inheritance to the eldest son is a new and special provision, mentioned only here. Beginning of his strength (cf. Genesis 49:3).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Instead,
כִּי֩ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he must acknowledge
יַכִּ֗יר (yak·kîr)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5234: To regard, recognize

the firstborn,
הַבְּכֹ֨ר (hab·bə·ḵōr)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

the son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of his unloved wife,
הַשְּׂנוּאָ֜ה (haś·śə·nū·’āh)
Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular
Strong's 8130: To hate

by giving
לָ֤תֶת (lā·ṯeṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

him
לוֹ֙ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

a double
שְׁנַ֔יִם (šə·na·yim)
Number - md
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

portion
פִּ֣י (pî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

of all
בְּכֹ֥ל (bə·ḵōl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

that
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

he has.
יִמָּצֵ֖א (yim·mā·ṣê)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

For
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

[that son]
הוּא֙ (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is the firstfruits
רֵאשִׁ֣ית (rê·šîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7225: The first, in place, time, order, rank

of his [father’s] strength;
אֹנ֔וֹ (’ō·nōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 202: Ability, power, wealth

the right
מִשְׁפַּ֥ט (miš·paṭ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

of the firstborn
הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃ (hab·bə·ḵō·rāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1062: The firstling of man, beast, primogeniture

belongs to him.
ל֖וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 21:17 But he shall acknowledge the firstborn (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 21:16
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