Deuteronomy 21:16
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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,

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
then it shall be on the day that he wills what he owns as an inheritance to his sons, he is not allowed to treat the son of the loved wife as the firstborn, at the expense of the son of the unloved, who actually is the firstborn son.

NASB 1995
then it shall be in the day he wills what he has to his sons, he cannot make the son of the loved the firstborn before the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn.

NASB 1977
then it shall be in the day he wills what he has to his sons, he cannot make the son of the loved the first-born before the son of the unloved, who is the first-born.

Legacy Standard Bible
then it shall be in the day he wills what he has to his sons, he cannot make the son of the loved the firstborn before the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn.

Amplified Bible
then on the day when he wills his possessions to his sons, he cannot treat the son of his loved wife as firstborn in place of the son of the unloved wife—the [actual] firstborn.

Christian Standard Bible
when that man gives what he has to his sons as an inheritance, he is not to show favoritism to the son of the loved wife as his firstborn over the firstborn of the neglected wife.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
when that man gives what he has to his sons as an inheritance, he is not to show favoritism to the son of the loved wife as his firstborn over the firstborn of the unloved wife.

American Standard Version
then it shall be, in the day that he causeth his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved the first-born before the son of the hated, who is the first-born:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
In the day when he gives the inheritance to his children, whatever he has, it is not legal for him to place the son of the beloved as the eldest before the son of the hated woman:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
then it shall be that whensoever he shall divide by inheritance his goods to his sons, he shall not be able to give the right of the first-born to the son of the loved one, having overlooked the son of the hated, which is the first-born.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he meaneth to divide his substance among his sons: he may not make the son of the beloved the firstborn, and prefer him before the son of the hated.

English Revised Version
then it shall be, in the day that he causeth his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved the firstborn before the son of the hated, which is the firstborn:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When the day comes for the father to give his sons their inheritance, he can't treat the son of the wife he loves as if that son were the firstborn. This would show a total disregard for the real firstborn (the son of the wife he doesn't love).

Good News Translation
When the man decides how he is going to divide his property among his children, he is not to show partiality to the son of his favorite wife by giving him the share that belongs to the first-born son.

International Standard Version
then when he bequeaths his possessions to his sons, he must not give preference to the firstborn of the beloved wife over the firstborn of the unloved wife.

JPS Tanakh 1917
then it shall be, in the day that he causeth his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved the first-born before the son of the hated, who is the first-born;

Literal Standard Version
then it has been, in the day of his causing his sons to inherit that which he has, he is not able to declare firstborn the son of the loved one, in the face of the son of the hated one—the firstborn.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

New American Bible
when he comes to bequeath his property to his sons he may not consider as his firstborn the son of the wife he loves, in preference to the son of the wife he does not love, the firstborn.

NET Bible
In the day he divides his inheritance he must not appoint as firstborn the son of the favorite wife in place of the other wife's son who is actually the firstborn.

New Revised Standard Version
then on the day when he wills his possessions to his sons, he is not permitted to treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the disliked, who is the firstborn.

New Heart English Bible
then it shall be, in the day that he causes his sons to inherit that which he has, that he may not make the son of the loved the firstborn before the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn:

Webster's Bible Translation
Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not prefer the son of the beloved first-born, before the son of the hated, which is indeed the first-born:

World English Bible
then it shall be, in the day that he causes his sons to inherit that which he has, that he may not give the son of the beloved the rights of the firstborn before the son of the hated, who is the firstborn;

Young's Literal Translation
then it hath been, in the day of his causing his sons to inherit that which he hath, he is not able to declare first-born the son of the loved one, in the face of the son of the hated one -- the first-born.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Inheritance Rights of the Firstborn
15If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, 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. 17Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.…

Cross References
Genesis 25:31
"First sell me your birthright," Jacob replied.

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,

Deuteronomy 21:17
Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father's strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.


Treasury of Scripture

Then it shall be, when he makes his sons to inherit that which he has, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:

1 Chronicles 5:2
For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:)

1 Chronicles 26:10
Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)

2 Chronicles 11:19-22
Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham…

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Able Actual Assigns Beloved Causes Causeth Causing Declare Disliked Hated Heritage Indeed Inherit Inheritance Loved Maketh Possessions Prefer Preference Property Treat Unloved Wife Wills
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Able Actual Assigns Beloved Causes Causeth Causing Declare Disliked Hated Heritage Indeed Inherit Inheritance Loved Maketh Possessions Prefer Preference Property Treat Unloved Wife Wills
Deuteronomy 21
1. The Atonement for an Unsolved Murder
10. 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














Verse 16. - He may not make; literally, is not able to make; i.e. is legally incapable of making.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
when
בְּיוֹם֙ (bə·yō·wm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

that man
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

assigns his inheritance
הַנְחִיל֣וֹ (han·ḥî·lōw)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5157: To inherit, to occupy, to bequeath, distribute, instate

to his sons
בָּנָ֔יו (bā·nāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

he must not [appoint]
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

the son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of the beloved wife
הָ֣אֲהוּבָ֔ה (hā·’ă·hū·ḇāh)
Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular
Strong's 157: To have affection f

as the firstborn
פְּנֵ֥י (pə·nê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

over
בֶן־ (ḇen-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

[the son]
לְבַכֵּר֙ (lə·ḇak·kêr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

of the unloved wife.
הַשְּׂנוּאָ֖ה (haś·śə·nū·’āh)
Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular
Strong's 8130: To hate


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 21:16 Then it shall be in the day (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 21:15
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