Lexical Summary sani: Scarlet Original Word: שָׂנִיא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance hated From sane'; hated -- hated. see HEBREW sane' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sane Definition hated, held in aversion NASB Translation unloved (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שָׂנִיא] adjective hated, held in aversion; — feminine singular הַשְּׂנִיאָה Deuteronomy 21:15b the hated wife; see √ 1a); but read probably הַשְּׂנוּאָה (as Deuteronomy 21:15 a lis, 16). Topical Lexicon Hebrew BackgroundThe noun שָׂנִיא appears only once in the Hebrew canon and functions adjectivally, describing a wife who is regarded as “hated” or “unloved.” The rarity of the term highlights the deliberate choice of vocabulary in the legislation that regulates family life in Israel. Rather than the more common verb for “hate,” the text employs this specialized form to underscore the emotional disfavor felt toward one spouse in a polygamous household. Contextual Usage Deuteronomy 21:15 sets forth a case law: “If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved bear him sons, but the unloved wife bears the firstborn son…” (Berean Standard Bible). Within Moses’ covenant address, the word signals a tension between affection and legal responsibility. The passage mandates that a father must honor the birthright of the firstborn even when that firstborn is from the “hated” wife. Thus שָׂנִיא serves to spotlight partiality and to safeguard justice for the vulnerable. Theological Themes 1. Covenant Impartiality God’s law refuses to allow personal preference to override covenant obligations (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34). The stipulation concerning the “hated” wife reinforces divine impartiality within the household. 2. Love versus Hate in Biblical Ethics Scripture juxtaposes love and hate to expose the heart’s loyalty (Malachi 1:2-3; Luke 14:26). By requiring righteousness toward the “hated” wife’s son, the Torah demonstrates that genuine obedience is measured by just treatment of those least favored. 3. Protection of the Weak The command anticipates later prophetic concern for widows and orphans (Isaiah 1:17; James 1:27). The “hated” wife and her child symbolize all who are susceptible to neglect within community structures. Historical and Cultural Insights • Ancient Near Eastern law codes often favored the children of the preferred wife, yet Israel’s law curbs patriarchal bias. Ministry Implications • Marital Fidelity and Equal Honor: Ministers may draw on Deuteronomy 21:15 to counsel couples on the destructiveness of favoritism and the biblical call to honor marriage vows without partiality. Cross-Referencing Scripture • Genesis 29:31 – The Lord “saw that Leah was unloved.” Same thematic concept of divine compassion for the undervalued. Christological and Redemptive Connections Jesus Christ, the true Firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15), experienced rejection (“hated without cause,” John 15:25) yet secured the inheritance for all who believe. The statute that guards the firstborn of the “hated” wife foreshadows the gospel paradox: the despised One becomes the heir whose rights establish justice for many. שָׂנִיא therefore stands as a single yet significant marker in Scripture, reminding readers that God’s redemptive plan affirms the worth of the unloved and insists on righteousness that transcends human preference. Forms and Transliterations לַשְּׂנִיאָֽה׃ לשניאה׃ laś·śə·nî·’āh laśśənî’āh lasseniAhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 21:15 HEB: הַבֵּ֥ן הַבְּכ֖וֹר לַשְּׂנִיאָֽה׃ NAS: son belongs to the unloved, KJV: son be hers that was hated: INT: son the firstborn to the unloved 1 Occurrence |
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