Birthright

How Nave’s arranged it

• Belonged to the first bornDeuteronomy 21:15Deuteronomy 21:16
• Entitled the firstborn to a double portion of inheritanceDeuteronomy 21:15–17
• Royal succession2 Chronicles 21:3
• An honorable titleExodus 4:22Psalms 89:27Jeremiah 31:9Romans 8:29Colossians 1:15Hebrews 1:6Hebrews 12:23Revelation 1:5
• Sold by Esau with 25:33Genesis 25:29–34Genesis 27:36Hebrews 12:16Romans 9:12Romans 9:13
• Forfeited by Reuben1 Chronicles 5:11 Chronicles 5:2
• Set aside
• That of ManassehGenesis 48:15–20
• Adonijah1 Kings 2:15
• Hosah's son1 Chronicles 26:10
• See Firstborn

The passages, in Bible order (21)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 25:29–34

   One day, while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the field and was famished.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 25:29–341 voice

   “Sod pottage - יזד נזיד yazed nazid, he boiled a boiling; and this we are informed, Gen 25:34, was of עדשים adashim, what the Septuagint render φακος, and we, following them and the Vulgate lens, translate lentils, a sort of pulse.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 25:29–34→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 27:36

   So Esau declared, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice. He took my birthright, and now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 27:362 voices

   “Is not he rightly named Jacob? - See note on Gen 25:26. He took away my birthright - So he might say with considerable propriety; for though he sold it to Jacob, yet as Jacob had taken advantage of his perishing situation, he considered the act as a species of robbery.

   “(Verse 36.) And Esau said, rightly is his name called Jacob: for he hath supplanted me these two times. Jacob is interpreted supplanter. And therefore, because he had deceived his brother by art, he alluded to the name. Therefore, he was called Jacob before, because he had taken hold of his brother's heel in his birth.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 27:36→

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3. Genesis 48:15–20

   Then he blessed Joseph and said: “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,

   ›Commentary on Genesis 48:15–201 voice

   “He blessed Joseph - The father first, and then the sons afterwards. And this is an additional proof to what has been adduced under Gen 48:12, of Jacob’s superiority; for the less is always blessed of the greater. The God which fed me all my life long - Jacob is now standing on the verge of eternity, with his faith strong in God.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 48:15–20→

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4. Exodus 4:22

   Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,

   ›Commentary on Exodus 4:221 voice

   “My firstborn - The expression would be perfectly intelligible to Pharaoh, whose official designation was “son of Ra.” In numberless inscriptions the Pharaohs are styled “own sons” or “beloved sons” of the deity. It is here applied for the first time to Israel; and as we learn from Exo 4:23, emphatically in antithesis to Pharaoh’s own firstborn.

   Everything gathered on Exodus 4:22→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Deuteronomy 21:15

   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,

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:152 voices

   “If a man have two wives,.... Which is supposed, but not approved of, though permitted because of the hardness of men's hearts; for it was not so from the beginning, when only one man and one woman were created, and joined together in marriage; but as it was connived at, and become customary, a law is made to prevent confusion, and preserve order in families: one beloved and another hated; or less loved, yet continued his wife, and not divorced.

   “Moses did not originate the rights of primogeniture (compare Gen 25:31), but recognized them, since he found them pre-existing in the general social system of the East. Paternal authority could set aside these rights on just grounds Gen 27:33, but it is forbidden here to do so from mere partiality.

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 21:15→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. 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.

   Verse page →Original language →

7. 1 Kings 2:15

   “You know that the kingship was mine,” he said. “All Israel expected that I should reign, but the kingship has turned to my brother, for it has come to him from the LORD.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 2:151 voice

   “Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine - It certainly was his by the right of primogeniture, and it was his by the voice of the people, and the consent of the high priest. But there was a right paramount to all these, the right of God; it was his kingdom; the kings were his lieutenants, and he had a right to give the crown to whomsoever he pleased, and he was pleased to give it to Solomon.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 2:15→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. 1 Chronicles 5:1

   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.

   ›Commentary on 1 Chronicles 5:11 voice

   “His birthright was given ... - In particular, the right of the first-born to a double inheritance Deu 21:17 was conferred on Joseph, both by the expressed will of Jacob Gen 48:22 and in the actual partition of Canaan Josh. 16–17. But though the birthright, as respecting its material privileges, passed to Joseph, its other rights, those of dignity and pre-eminence, fell to Judah; of whom came the chief ruler, an allusion especially to David, though it may reach further, and include a glance at the Messiah, the true “Ruler” of Israel Mic 5:2.

   Everything gathered on 1 Chronicles 5:1→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. 1 Chronicles 5:2

   And though Judah prevailed over his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph.

   ›Commentary on 1 Chronicles 5:21 voice

   “And of him came the chief ruler - This is, by both the Syriac and Arabic, understood of Christ: “From Judah the King Messiah shall proceed.” The Chaldee paraphrases the verse thus: “Seeing Judah prevailed over his brethren, so the kingdom was taken from Reuben and given to Judah; and because he was strong, so was his kingdom. Levi also was godly, and did not transgress in the matter of the golden calf; therefore the high priesthood was taken away from the children of Reuben, and on their account from all the first-born, and given to Aaron and his sons.

   Everything gathered on 1 Chronicles 5:2→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. 1 Chronicles 26:10

    Hosah the Merarite also had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him as the first),

    ›Commentary on 1 Chronicles 26:101 voice

    “Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons,.... Who was a fellow porter of Obededom's at the ark, 1Ch 16:38. Simri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief); the firstborn being unfit for service, either through want of an intellectual capacity, or of strength of body, or through some defect or another; according to the Syriac version, he was dead; so some understand the words, he, the father, had no firstborn remaining or living.

    Everything gathered on 1 Chronicles 26:10→

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11. 2 Chronicles 21:3

    Their father had given them many gifts of silver and gold and precious things, as well as the fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.

    ›Commentary on 2 Chronicles 21:31 voice

    “Jehoshaphat departed from Rehoboam’s policy (2Ch 11:23 note), actually making over to his sons the “fenced cities” in which they dwelt. This, it is probable, provoked the jealousy of Jehoram, and induced him to put them to death 2Ch 21:4. Because he was the firstborn - Compare Deu 21:15-17. Exceptions to this rule in the northern and southern kingdoms are Solomon, where divine appointment superseded the natural order, Abijah 2Ch 11:22 note), and Jehoahaz (2Ki 23:30 note).

    Everything gathered on 2 Chronicles 21:3→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Psalms 89:27

    I will indeed appoint him as My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

    ›Commentary on Psalms 89:271 voice

    “Also I will make him my firstborn,.... Or, "make him the firstborn"; make him great, as Jarchi interprets it; give him the blessing, the double portion of inheritance: so Christ is made most blessed for ever, and has all spiritual blessings in his hands; and is heir of all things, and his people joint-heirs with him.

    Everything gathered on Psalms 89:27→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. Jeremiah 31:9

    They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.”

    Verse page →Original language →

14. Romans 8:29

    For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

    ›Commentary on Romans 8:292 voices

    “But as for this too which he said, "Conformed to the image of his Son," I wish to inquire to which form they are said to become conformed. For we read that the Son of God was placed sometimes in the form of God, sometimes in the form of a servant. To which, then, of these two forms the Apostle says that those who love God and for whom all things work together for good will be conformed — this seems to me no idle distinction.

    “For whom he did foreknow - The word used here προέγνω proegnō has been the subject of almost endless disputes in regard to its meaning in this place. The literal meaning of the word cannot be a matter of dispute. It denotes properly to “know beforehand;” to be acquainted with future events. But whether it means here simply to know that certain persons would become Christians; or to ordain, and constitute them to be Christians, and to be saved, has been a subject of almost endless discussion.

    Everything gathered on Romans 8:29→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. Romans 9:12

    not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

    ›Commentary on Romans 9:122 voices

    “One was chosen and loved, and the other hated, so that everything might be the work of God and of His election and foreknowledge, and not from works, but from Him who calls.

    “The elder shall serve the younger - These words, with those of Malachi, Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated, are cited by the apostle to prove, according to their typical signification, that the purpose of God, according to election, does and will stand, not of works, but of him that calleth; that is, that the purpose of God, which is the ground of that election which he makes among men, unto the honor of being Abraham’s seed, might appear to remain unchangeable in him; and to be even the same which he had declared unto Abraham.

    Everything gathered on Romans 9:12→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. Romans 9:13

    So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

    ›Commentary on Romans 9:131 voice

    “As it is written - Mal 1:2-3. That is, the distribution of favors is on the principle advanced by the prophet, and is in accordance with the declaration that God had in fact loved the one and hated the other. Jacob - This refers, doubtless, to the posterity of Jacob. Have I loved - I have shown affection for that people; I have bestowed on them great privileges and blessings, as proofs of attachment. I have preferred Jacob to Esau. Esau - The descendants of Esau, the Edomites; see Mal 1:

    Everything gathered on Romans 9:13→

    Verse page →Original language →