Deuteronomy 21 16

Deuteronomy 21:16 kjv

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:

Deuteronomy 21:16 nkjv

then it shall be, on the day he bequeaths his possessions to his sons, that he must not bestow firstborn status on the son of the loved wife in preference to the son of the unloved, the true firstborn.

Deuteronomy 21:16 niv

when he wills his property to his sons, he must not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he loves in preference to his actual firstborn, the son of the wife he does not love.

Deuteronomy 21:16 esv

then on the day when he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn,

Deuteronomy 21:16 nlt

When the man divides his inheritance, he may not give the larger inheritance to his younger son, the son of the wife he loves, as if he were the firstborn son.

Deuteronomy 21 verses

Deuteronomy 21 16 Meaning

Deuteronomy 21:16 dictates that when a father, who has two wives (one loved and one unloved), bequeaths his inheritance to his sons, he is prohibited from assigning the rights of the firstborn to the son of his beloved wife if the son of his unloved wife is, in fact, the biologically true firstborn. This law ensures that the legal and traditional rights of the firstborn son are upheld, preventing a father's emotional preference from overriding divine justice and established law concerning primogeniture and inheritance.

Deuteronomy 21 16 Context

Deuteronomy 21:16 is part of a larger section (Deuteronomy 12-26) detailing laws and ordinances that govern various aspects of Israelite life as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. Specifically, this verse follows directly from Deuteronomy 21:15, which addresses the issue of a man having two wives, one loved and one unloved, and the potential conflict arising from parental favoritism.

The immediate context (21:15-17) forms a distinct unit concerning inheritance in a polygamous household, with verse 17 clarifying the firstborn's right to a double portion of the father's estate. This set of laws emphasizes principles of justice, order, and preventing the capricious exercise of power by the family patriarch, particularly where emotional bias could lead to injustice. Historically and culturally, primogeniture—the right of the firstborn son to inherit the principal share (usually a double portion) of his father's estate—was a foundational principle in ancient Near Eastern societies, including Israel. This law serves to protect the firstborn's legal rights, preventing their usurpation by paternal favoritism. It highlights that God's law provides a framework for stability and fairness, even in complex family situations like polygamy.

Deuteronomy 21 16 Word analysis

• Then it shall be (wəhāyāh - וְהָיָה): A common Hebrew phrase indicating a consequence or future occurrence based on a preceding condition. Here, it marks the implementation of the law under specific circumstances.

• On the day he wills his possessions (bəyōm hanḥîlōw 'et-bānâw - בְּיוֹם הַנְחִילוֹ אֶת־בָּנָיו):

  • hanḥîlōw (from nāḥal): To cause to inherit, to bequeath, to give as a heritage. This term emphasizes the legal act of formally distributing an estate. It's a structured and recognized act, not an informal gesture.
  • et-bānâw: His sons. Indicates the beneficiaries of the inheritance.
  • Significance: This phrase points to the formal process of inheritance distribution, emphasizing that this is a legal decree applied during a structured transfer of property. It prevents arbitrary changes to established norms even at the point of distribution.

• Cannot make (lō' yûkal lahărît - לֹא־יוּכַל לְהַקְדִּים):

  • lō' (no, not) yûkal (he will be able) lahărît (to prefer/put first).
  • Significance: This is a strong legal prohibition. It underscores that the father's personal desire or preference does not supersede the divinely mandated law concerning primogeniture. His authority is bound by God's justice.

• The son of the beloved ('et-ben-hā'ăhuvah - אֶת־בֶּן־הָאֲהוּבָה): Refers to the son born to the preferred wife, as mentioned in the preceding verse (21:15).

  • Significance: Highlights the source of potential injustice: human favoritism. The law directly addresses the challenge posed by emotional biases within polygamous families.

• In preference to (al-pənê - עַל־פְּנֵי): Literally "upon the face of," meaning "in preference to" or "before."

• The son of the unloved ('et-ben-haśśĕnu'āh - אֶת־בֶּן־הַשְּׂנוּאָה): Refers to the son born to the less favored, or even disliked, wife (from 21:15).

  • Significance: This is the party protected by the law, often vulnerable due to lack of parental affection. It emphasizes divine protection for the vulnerable and less favored.

• Who is the true firstborn (habbĕkōr - הַבְּכוֹר): Literally "the firstborn," but the context clearly implies "the one who is the firstborn," i.e., the one legally and naturally recognized as such.

  • Significance: This is the linchpin of the verse. habbĕkôr signifies the birthright, which included a double portion of the inheritance (as stated in Deut 21:17) and sometimes leadership responsibilities. This law confirms that natural birth order, which bestows this specific status, is upheld against human emotional whim.

Deuteronomy 21 16 Bonus section

• This law implicitly addresses the potential for deep family dysfunction and conflict stemming from polygamy, providing a clear legal framework to mitigate some of its most unjust consequences regarding inheritance.
• The emphasis on the "true firstborn" connects to a broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty often working contrary to human expectations or traditional primogeniture (e.g., God choosing Abel over Cain, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Ephraim over Manasseh, David over his older brothers). However, in this specific legal context, the divine law upholds the biological firstborn's rights, establishing a civil rule that parallels God's consistent standard of justice in His Law, regardless of human preferences.
• This statute is a testament to the comprehensive nature of the Mosaic Law, which delved into specific social dilemmas to establish a society built on righteousness (tzedek) and justice (mishpat), mirroring God's own impartial character.

Deuteronomy 21 16 Commentary

Deuteronomy 21:16 establishes a crucial legal safeguard for inheritance in ancient Israel, particularly within the context of polygamy. It explicitly prohibits a father from reassigning the legal rights and greater portion of the firstborn to a younger son from a favored wife, at the expense of his biologically true firstborn son, who was born to an "unloved" wife. This divine command underscores that God’s law prioritizes justice and established order over human emotional bias or capricious will. The law functions to prevent disputes, maintain social stability, and ensure fairness where favoritism could lead to great injustice and division within families. It highlights God’s concern for the vulnerable and for upholding the principles of the legal system He established for Israel, thereby distinguishing Israel from cultures where a patriarch's absolute discretion might rule.