Lexical Summary bekirah: Firstborn daughter Original Word: בְּכִירָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance firstborn Feminine from bakar; the eldest daughter -- firstborn. see HEBREW bakar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom bakar Definition first-born (always of women) NASB Translation firstborn (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs בְּכִירָה noun feminine first-born, always of women Genesis 19:31; Genesis 9:33; Genesis 19:34,37; Genesis 29:26 (JE) 1 Samuel 14:49. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Semantic Range The term denotes the elder or firstborn daughter within a family. It functions not merely as a genealogical marker but as a relational title that carries expectations of precedence, responsibility, and, at times, privilege in Near-Eastern family structures. Occurrences and Narrative Settings Genesis 19:31–37 – Lot’s elder daughter is consistently called בְּכִירָה. Her initiative—“Our father is old, and there is no man on earth to sleep with us as is the custom all over the earth” (Genesis 19:31)—drives the disturbing episode that results in the birth of Moab. Scripture records the incident four times to emphasize her primacy in the plan and its far-reaching national consequences. Genesis 29:26 – Laban cites local custom to justify giving Leah, the בְּכִירָה, to Jacob before Rachel: “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.” The verse shows the cultural weight attached to birth order, affecting covenantal history by leading to the birth of Judah and, ultimately, Messiah. 1 Samuel 14:49 – Saul’s eldest daughter Merab is introduced as בְּכִירָה. Her promised but deferred marriage to David illustrates royal politics and foreshadows the conflict between Saul’s house and David’s line. Role in Family Order 1. Social Responsibility: The firstborn daughter often mediated between parents and younger siblings, as implied by the leadership of Lot’s elder daughter. Cultural and Legal Implications a. Honor and Shame: A family’s honor could hinge on securing a suitable match for the בְּכִירָה. Delay, as in Saul’s household, risked political embarrassment. b. Covenant Trajectory: Decisions involving a firstborn daughter repeatedly influence redemptive history—Leah becomes mother to six tribes, including Judah; Lot’s daughter becomes ancestral mother of Moab, a nation later entwined with Israel through Ruth. c. Custom versus Revelation: Laban’s appeal to custom contrasts with the sovereign overruling of human convention seen throughout Genesis, reminding readers that divine purpose is not thwarted by cultural norms. Theological Reflections • Providence over Birth Order: Whether through the tragic initiative of Lot’s elder daughter or the unloved status of Leah, God advances His redemptive plan independent of human merit. Applications for Ministry 1. Family and Discipleship: The responsibilities traditionally assigned to an elder daughter encourage teaching about servant-leadership within the home. Summary בְּכִירָה draws attention to the firstborn daughter as a nexus of family duty, cultural expectation, and divine purpose. Across its six occurrences the word frames decisive moments—some fraught with sin, others marked by covenantal advance—each demonstrating that God weaves even flawed human decisions into the tapestry of redemption fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations הַבְּכִירָ֛ה הַבְּכִירָֽה׃ הַבְּכִירָה֙ הבכירה הבכירה׃ hab·bə·ḵî·rāh habbechiRah habbəḵîrāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 19:31 HEB: וַתֹּ֧אמֶר הַבְּכִירָ֛ה אֶל־ הַצְּעִירָ֖ה NAS: Then the firstborn said KJV: And the firstborn said INT: said the firstborn to the younger Genesis 19:33 Genesis 19:34 Genesis 19:37 Genesis 29:26 1 Samuel 14:49 6 Occurrences |
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