Deuteronomy 21:16

“then on the day that he gives his sons as an inheritance what he has, he may not make firstborn the son of the loved one in place of the son of the hated one, the firstborn.”

Deuteronomy 21:16 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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With the Hebrew beneath

16

Deuteronomy 21:16, word by word

thenהָיָהhaya

happen

For something to occur or take place; many stories open with this word.

Where else “haya” appears
on the dayיוֹםyom

day

The day, the hours of light, or a whole day.

Where else “yom” appears
that he gives his sons as an inheritanceהַנְחִילhanchil

inherit

To receive as one's own what another gives or leaves, above all land.

Where else “hanchil” appears
that he gives his sons as an inheritanceבָּנָיbanay

son

The male born of a father and mother; in the plural, also sons and daughters.

Where else “banay” appears
he may notיוּכַלyuchal

be able

To have the strength, the permission or the opportunity to do something.

Where else “yuchal” appears
make firstbornבַכֵּרvaker

be firstborn

Give birth for the first time; treat as the eldest son.

Where else “vaker” appears
of the loved oneאֲהוּבָהahuva

love

To care for someone from the heart and seek their good.

Where else “ahuva” appears
in placeפְּנֵיpene

before

Literally "to the face of": in sight of someone, or on account of something.

Where else “pene” appears
of the hated oneשְּׂנוּאָהsenua

love less

To love one less than another, even without hating him outright.

Where else “senua” appears
the firstbornבְּכֹרbechor

firstborn

The son who came into the world before his brothers, with a special place in the family.

Where else “bechor” appears

The context

15If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other hated, and they have borne him sons, the loved and the hated, and the firstborn son is the hated one's,

16 · This verse (above)

17But the firstborn, the son of the hated one, he shall acknowledge by giving him a double portion of all that is found to be his, for he is the firstfruits of his vigor; to him belongs the right of the firstborn.

Read all of Deuteronomy 21

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