Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons but the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love, New Living Translation “Suppose a man has two wives, but he loves one and not the other, and both have given him sons. And suppose the firstborn son is the son of the wife he does not love. English Standard Version “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him children, and if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, Berean Standard Bible If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, Berean Literal Bible If a man has two wives, one loved and one hated, and they have borne to him sons, the loved and the hated, and the firstborn son is to the hated one, King James Bible 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: New King James Version “If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and they have borne him children, both the loved and the unloved, and if the firstborn son is of her who is unloved, New American Standard Bible “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, and the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, NASB 1995 “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, NASB 1977 “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, if the first-born son belongs to the unloved, Legacy Standard Bible “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, Amplified Bible “If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have born him sons, and the firstborn son belongs to the unloved wife, Berean Annotated Bible If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, Christian Standard Bible “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, Holman Christian Standard Bible If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved bear him sons, and if the unloved wife has the firstborn son, American Standard Version If a man have two wives, the one beloved, and the other hated, and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the first-born son be hers that was hated; English Revised Version If a man have two wives, the one beloved, and the other hated, and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated; GOD'S WORD® Translation A man might have two wives and love one but not the other. Both wives might have children, and the firstborn son might belong to the wife that the man doesn't love. Good News Translation "Suppose a man has two wives and they both bear him sons, but the first son is not the child of his favorite wife. International Standard Version "If a man has two wives where one is loved but the other is unloved, and both of them bear him sons, but the firstborn is the son of the unloved wife, NET Bible Suppose a man has two wives, one whom he loves more than the other, and they both bear him sons, with the firstborn being the child of the less loved wife. New Heart English Bible If a man has two wives, the one loved, and the other unloved, and they have borne him children, both the loved and the unloved; and if the firstborn son is hers who was unloved; Webster's Bible Translation If a man shall have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the first-born son be hers that was hated: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIf a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, World English Bible If a man has two wives, the one beloved and the other hated, and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated, and if the firstborn son is hers who was hated, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhen a man has two wives, one loved and the other hated, and they have borne sons to him (the loved one and the hated one), and the firstborn son has been to the hated one, Berean Literal Bible If a man has two wives, one loved and one hated, and they have borne to him sons, the loved and the hated, and the firstborn son is to the hated one, Young's Literal Translation 'When a man hath two wives, the one loved and the other hated, and they have borne to him sons (the loved one and the hated one), and the first-born son hath been to the hated one; Smith's Literal Translation When there shall be to a man two wives, the one loved and the one hated, and they bare sons to him, the loved and the hated, and the first-born son was to her being hated: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIf a man have two wives, one beloved, and the other hated, and they have had children by him, and the son of the hated be the firstborn, Catholic Public Domain Version 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, New American Bible If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and if both the loved and the unloved bear him sons, but the firstborn is the son of the unloved wife: New Revised Standard Version If a man has two wives, one of them loved and the other disliked, and if both the loved and the disliked have borne him sons, the firstborn being the son of the one who is disliked, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIf a man has two wives, one beloved and the other hated, and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the first-born son be hers that is hated; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And when a man will have two wives, one beloved and one hated, and the beloved and the hated will bear children to him, and a first born son will belong to the hated one: OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917If a man have two wives, the one beloved, and the other hated, and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the first-born son be hers that was hated; Brenton Septuagint Translation And if a man have two wives, the one loved and the other hated, and both the loved and the hated should have born him children, and the son of the hated should be first-born; Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Inheritance Rights of the Firstborn15If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, 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.… Cross References If a man has two wives, 1 Samuel 1:2 He had two wives, one named Hannah and the other Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. Genesis 29:21-27 Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.” / So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast. / But when evening came, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. … Exodus 21:10-11 If he takes another wife, he must not reduce the food, clothing, or marital rights of his first wife. / If, however, he does not provide her with these three things, she is free to go without monetary payment. one beloved and the other unloved, Genesis 29:30-31 Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years. / When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. Proverbs 30:23 an unloved woman who marries, and a maidservant who supplants her mistress. 1 Samuel 1:5-6 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb. / Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her viciously to taunt her. and both bear him sons, 2 Samuel 3:2-5 And sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel; / his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; / his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital; … 2 Samuel 5:13-16 After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. / These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, / Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, … 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 These were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam of Jezreel; the second was Daniel by Abigail of Carmel; / the third was Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; the fourth was Adonijah the son of Haggith; / the fifth was Shephatiah by Abital; and the sixth was Ithream by his wife Eglah. … but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, Genesis 29:32-34 And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.” / Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon. / Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright. / And though Judah prevailed over his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph. Genesis 49:3-4 Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. / Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch, and defiled it. Genesis 30:1-2 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. / Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?” Genesis 37:3-4 Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons, because Joseph had been born to him in his old age; so he made him a robe of many colors. / When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. 1 Samuel 1:4-5 And whenever the day came for Elkanah to present his sacrifice, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. / But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb. 2 Samuel 13:21-22 When King David heard all this, he was furious. / And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for violating his sister Tamar. Treasury of Scripture 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: two wives Genesis 29:18,20,30,31,33 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter… 1 Samuel 1:4,5 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: … Jump to Previous Bear Belongs Beloved Born Borne Child Children Disliked Hated Hers Loved Unloved Wife WivesJump to Next Bear Belongs Beloved Born Borne Child Children Disliked Hated Hers Loved Unloved Wife WivesDeuteronomy 21 1. The Atonement for an Unsolved Murder10. 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 If a man has two wives In ancient Israel, polygamy was practiced, though it was not part of God's original design for marriage as seen in Genesis 2:24. The patriarchs, such as Jacob, had multiple wives, which often led to familial strife and complications. This law addresses the realities of such situations, providing guidance to ensure justice and fairness. one beloved and the other unloved and both bear him sons but the unloved wife has the firstborn son Persons / Places / Events 1. The ManRepresents the head of the household, responsible for maintaining justice and fairness within his family. 2. Two Wives Symbolizes a polygamous family structure, common in ancient Israel, where one wife is loved and the other is unloved. 3. The Firstborn Son The son of the unloved wife, who holds a significant position in terms of inheritance rights. 4. Inheritance Rights The cultural and legal framework within ancient Israel that dictated the distribution of a father's estate. 5. Ancient Israel The setting for the Mosaic Law, which provided guidelines for family and societal conduct. Teaching Points Fairness in Family DynamicsThe passage underscores the importance of fairness and justice within family structures, especially in inheritance matters. The Impact of Favoritism Favoritism can lead to discord and resentment within families. This passage warns against allowing personal preferences to dictate justice. God's Concern for the Unloved The law reflects God's concern for those who are marginalized or unloved, ensuring their rights are protected. Cultural Context and Biblical Principles While polygamy was culturally accepted in ancient Israel, the underlying principle of justice transcends cultural practices and remains relevant. Application in Modern Contexts In modern times, this passage can be applied to any situation where favoritism or inequality might arise, urging believers to act justly and love all family members equally. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 21:15?2. How does Deuteronomy 21:15 address fairness in family inheritance practices? 3. What does Deuteronomy 21:15 teach about God's view on family dynamics? 4. How can Deuteronomy 21:15 guide modern Christian families in handling favoritism? 5. Compare Deuteronomy 21:15 with Ephesians 6:4 on parental responsibilities. 6. How can we apply Deuteronomy 21:15 to promote justice in our families? 7. How does Deuteronomy 21:15 address the issue of polygamy in biblical times? 8. What does Deuteronomy 21:15 reveal about the cultural context of ancient Israelite family structures? 9. How should modern Christians interpret the inheritance rights outlined in Deuteronomy 21:15? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 21? 11. Deuteronomy 21:15–17: How does the inheritance rule for a hated wife’s son reconcile with other biblical teachings on fairness and favoritism? 12. What does being an heir mean in the Bible? 13. Proverbs 5:15–17: How does the “drink from your own cistern” analogy reconcile with the fact that polygamy was practiced in biblical times? 14. What does the Bible say about plural marriage? What Does Deuteronomy 21:15 Mean If a man has two wivesDeuteronomy 21:15 opens, “If a man has two wives….” Scripture consistently presents one-man/one-woman marriage as the ideal (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6), yet it also records instances—often troubled—of polygamy. Here the Law acknowledges that such situations existed in Israel and provides a just response. • God’s standard never changes, but He mercifully gives regulations to limit sin’s fallout (cf. Exodus 21:10-11). • The verse immediately signals a real-life setting where imperfect choices require righteous guidance, reminding us that the Lord rules even in messy family dynamics. One beloved and the other unloved “…one beloved and the other unloved….” Favoritism between wives (or children) breeds conflict (Genesis 29:30-31; 1 Samuel 1:4-6). • Jacob’s preference for Rachel over Leah sowed decades of rivalry, yet God still worked through the less-favored Leah (Genesis 29:32-35). • The law confronts partiality head-on, reflecting the Lord’s own impartial character (Deuteronomy 10:17; James 2:1). • Love is more than affection; in this context it influences legal decisions. The beloved wife must not become the excuse to sideline the rights of the unloved one. Both bear him sons “…and both bear him sons….” Sons were the principal heirs, carrying the family name and property (Numbers 27:8-11). • Multiple sons complicate inheritance; this statute ensures clarity (cf. Deuteronomy 25:5-6). • The text highlights that blessings can flow from every branch of a household, not just the favored one (Psalm 127:3-5). • God values each child’s place in His covenant people, regardless of parental feelings. But the unloved wife has the firstborn son “…but the unloved wife has the firstborn son.” By birthright, the firstborn received a “double portion” (Deuteronomy 21:17). • The father may be tempted to deny that legal privilege and elevate a son of his beloved wife instead (illustrated negatively by Jacob’s later preference for Joseph, Genesis 37:3). • The Lord forbids such injustice: “He must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all he has” (Deuteronomy 21:17). • The birthright could be forfeited only for serious sin (1 Chronicles 5:1-2), not for the father’s shifting affections. • God defends the vulnerable—here, the unloved woman and her son—showing that covenant rights stand on His decree, not human emotions (Malachi 3:6). summary Deuteronomy 21:15 introduces a statute that guards the firstborn’s inheritance when family favoritism threatens justice. While acknowledging the imperfect reality of polygamy, the passage upholds God’s unchanging standard of impartiality: a father’s feelings must never override the lawful rights God assigns. The verse therefore affirms God’s sovereignty over family structures, His protection of the overlooked, and the enduring principle that His commands, not human preferences, determine righteousness. Deuteronomy 21:15-17. THE BIRTHRIGHT.(15) One beloved, and another hated--i.e., one preferred above the other, according to the idiomatic use of this phrase in Hebrew. (17) A double portion.--Literally, the mouth of two, i.e., two shares. Supposing there were four sons, the estate would be divided into five shares, and the firstborn would take two. So Jacob said to Joseph (Genesis 48:22): "I have given thee one portion above thy brethren." The birthright of which Reuben was deprived for ill conduct, was given to Joseph's sons (1Chronicles 5:1). So Elisha said to Elijah before they were parted. "I pray thee let a double portion (the first-born's share) of thy spirit be upon me (2Kings 2:9). Verses 15-17. - If a man have two wives, one of whom is a favorite and the other disliked, and if his firstborn son be the child of the latter, he is not to allow his love for the other to prejudice the right of the son, but must allow him, both in his own lifetime and in the disposition of his property after death, the full privilege and right of a firstborn son.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Ifכִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction a man לְאִ֜ישׁ (lə·’îš) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person has תִהְיֶ֨יןָ (ṯih·ye·nā) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be two שְׁתֵּ֣י (šə·tê) Number - fdc Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) wives, נָשִׁ֗ים (nā·šîm) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female one הָאַחַ֤ת (hā·’a·ḥaṯ) Article | Number - feminine singular Strong's 259: United, one, first beloved אֲהוּבָה֙ (’ă·hū·ḇāh) Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular Strong's 157: To have affection f and the other וְהָאַחַ֣ת (wə·hā·’a·ḥaṯ) Conjunctive waw, Article | Number - feminine singular Strong's 259: United, one, first unloved, שְׂנוּאָ֔ה (śə·nū·’āh) Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular Strong's 8130: To hate and [both] הָאֲהוּבָ֖ה (hā·’ă·hū·ḇāh) Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular Strong's 157: To have affection f bear וְיָֽלְדוּ־ (wə·yā·lə·ḏū-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage him sons, בָנִ֔ים (ḇā·nîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1121: A son but the unloved לַשְּׂנִיאָֽה׃ (laś·śə·nî·’āh) Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 8146: Hated, held in aversion wife has וְהָיָ֛ה (wə·hā·yāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be the firstborn הַבְּכ֖וֹר (hab·bə·ḵō·wr) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief son, הַבֵּ֥ן (hab·bên) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1121: A son Links Deuteronomy 21:15 NIVDeuteronomy 21:15 NLT Deuteronomy 21:15 ESV Deuteronomy 21:15 NASB Deuteronomy 21:15 KJV Deuteronomy 21:15 BibleApps.com Deuteronomy 21:15 Biblia Paralela Deuteronomy 21:15 Chinese Bible Deuteronomy 21:15 French Bible Deuteronomy 21:15 Catholic Bible OT Law: Deuteronomy 21:15 If a man have two wives (Deut. 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