The concept of the birthright in biblical times is deeply rooted in the cultural and legal traditions of ancient Israel. The birthright, known in Hebrew as "bekorah," was a significant aspect of family inheritance and leadership, primarily associated with the firstborn son. This entry explores the biblical understanding of the birthright, its implications, and notable biblical narratives involving the birthright.

Definition and Significance

In ancient Israelite society, the birthright was a privilege and responsibility bestowed upon the firstborn son. It included a double portion of the family inheritance, as outlined in Deuteronomy 21:17: "But he must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father’s strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him." This double portion was not merely a financial advantage but also symbolized the firstborn's role as the future leader and spiritual head of the family.

The birthright also carried with it the responsibility of maintaining the family's legacy and spiritual heritage. The firstborn was expected to uphold the family's honor, manage its affairs, and ensure the continuation of its covenantal relationship with God.

Biblical Narratives

Several key biblical narratives highlight the importance and complexity of the birthright:

1. Esau and Jacob: One of the most well-known accounts involving the birthright is that of Esau and Jacob, the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah. Esau, the firstborn, was entitled to the birthright, but he famously sold it to his younger brother Jacob for a bowl of stew. Genesis 25:31-34 recounts this transaction: "Jacob replied, 'First sell me your birthright.' 'Look,' said Esau, 'I am about to die, so what good is a birthright to me?' But Jacob said, 'Swear to me first.' So he swore to Jacob and sold him the birthright. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and went away. So Esau despised his birthright." This narrative underscores the spiritual and moral dimensions of the birthright, as Esau's disregard for it is portrayed as a grave mistake.

2. Reuben and Joseph: Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob, lost his birthright due to his misconduct with Bilhah, his father's concubine (Genesis 35:22). As a result, the birthright was transferred to Joseph, the firstborn of Jacob's favored wife, Rachel. 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 explains, "The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, so that he is not listed in the genealogy according to the birthright; and though Judah prevailed over his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph)."

3. Manasseh and Ephraim: In Genesis 48, Jacob blesses Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, but crosses his hands to give the greater blessing to the younger Ephraim. This act of giving the birthright blessing to the younger son over the elder reflects the theme of God's sovereign choice, which often transcends human customs and expectations.

Theological Implications

The birthright in the Bible is not merely a matter of inheritance but is deeply intertwined with God's covenantal promises and purposes. It often serves as a vehicle for God's unfolding plan of redemption. The narratives involving the birthright illustrate themes of divine election, human responsibility, and the consequences of valuing or despising God's gifts.

In the New Testament, the concept of the birthright is spiritually fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the "firstborn over all creation" (Colossians 1:15) and the "firstborn from the dead" (Revelation 1:5). Believers, as co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), are invited to share in this spiritual inheritance, emphasizing the continuity and fulfillment of the birthright theme in the Christian faith.Birthright

the advantages accruing to the eldest son. These were not definitely fixed in patriarchal times. Great respect was paid to him in the household, and, as the family widened into a tribe, this grew into a sustained authority, undefined save by custom, in all matters of common interest. Thus the "princes" of the congregation had probably rights of primogeniture. (Numbers 7:2; 21:18; 25:14) (Gradually the rights of the eldest son came to be more definite: (1) The functions of the priesthood in the family with the paternal blessing. (2) A "double portion" of the paternal property was allotted by the Mosaic law. (21:16-17) (3) The eldest son succeeded to the official authority of the father. The first-born of the king was his successor by law. (2 Chronicles 21:3) In all these Jesus was the first-born of the father.

Birthright

The privilege of the firstborn son. Among the Hebrews, as indeed among most other nations, the firstborn enjoyed particular privileges; and wherever polygamy was tolerated, it was highly necessary to fix them, De 21:15-17. Besides the father's chief blessing, Genesis 27:1-46, and various minor advantages, the firstborn son was, first, specially consecrated to the Lord,

Exodus 13:11-16 22:29; and the firstborn son of a priest succeeded his father in the priestly office. Among the sons of Jacob, Reuben the firstborn forfeited the right of the firstborn, Genesis 35:22 49:3,4, and God gave it to Levi, Numbers 3:12,13 8:18. Secondly, the firstborn was entitled to a share of his father's estate twice as large as any of the other brethren received, De 21:17. Thirdly, he succeeded to the official dignities and rights of his father, 2 Chronicles 21:3. In some of these privileges there is an allusion to Him, who is "the firstborn among many brethren," Romans 8:29 Colossians 1:18 Hebrews 1:2-6. Universal dominion is his, and an everlasting priesthood.

(1.) This word denotes the special privileges and advantages belonging to the first-born son among the Jews. He became the priest of the family. Thus Reuben was the first-born of the patriarchs, and so the priesthood of the tribes belonged to him. That honour was, however, transferred by God from Reuben to Levi (Numbers 3:12, 13; 8:18).

(2.) The first-born son had allotted to him also a double portion of the paternal inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:15-17). Reuben was, because of his undutiful conduct, deprived of his birth-right (Genesis 49:4; 1 Chronicles 5:1). Esau transferred his birth-right to Jacob (Genesis 25:33).

(3.) The first-born inherited the judicial authority of his father, whatever it might be (2 Chronicles 21:3). By divine appointment, however, David excluded Adonijah in favour of Solomon.

(4.) The Jews attached a sacred importance to the rank of "first-born" and "first-begotten" as applied to the Messiah (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 1:4-6). As first-born he has an inheritance superior to his brethren, and is the alone true priest.

(n.) Any right, privilege, or possession to which a person is entitled by birth, such as an estate descendible by law to an heir, or civil liberty under a free constitution; esp. the rights or inheritance of the first born.BIRTHRIGHT

burth'-rit (bekhorah, from bekhor, "firstborn"; prototokia): Birthright is the right which naturally belonged to the firstborn son. Where there were more wives than one, the firstborn was the son who in point of time was born before the others, apparently whether his mother was a wife or a concubine. Sarah protests against Ishmael being heir along with Isaac, but it is possible that the bestowal of the rights of the firstborn on Isaac was not due to any law, but rather to the influence of a favorite wife (Genesis 21:10). The birthright of the firstborn consisted in the first place of a double portion of what his father had to leave. This probably means that he had a double share of such property as could be divided. We have no certain knowledge of the manner in which property was inherited in the patriarchal age, but it seems probable that the lands and flocks which were the possession of the family as a whole, remained so after the death of the father. The firstborn became head of the family and thus succeeded to the charge of the family property, becoming responsible for the maintenance of the younger sons, the widow or widows, and the unmarried daughters. He also, as head, succeeded to a considerable amount of authority over the other members. Further, he generally received the blessing, which placed him in close and favored covenant-relationship with Yahweh. According to the accounts which have come down to us, all these gifts and privileges could be diverted from the firstborn son. This could happen with his own consent, as in the case of Esau, who sold his birthright to Jacob (Genesis 25:29-34), or by the decision of the father, as in the case of Reuben (Genesis 48:22; Genesis 49:3, 4 1 Chronicles 5:1, 2) and of Shimri (1 Chronicles 26:10). In the Deuteronomic version of the law, a provision is made, prohibiting the father from making the younger son the possessor of the birthright, just because his mother was specially beloved (Deuteronomy 21:15-17). The blessing also could be diverted from the eldest son. This was done when Jacob blessed the children of Joseph, and deliberately put the younger before the elder (Genesis 48:13, 14, 17-19); even when the blessing was obtained by the younger son in a fraudulent manner, it could not be recalled (Genesis 27). Jacob does not appear to have inherited any of the property of his father, although he had obtained both the birthright and the blessing.

In the New Testament "birthright," prototokia, is mentioned only once (Hebrews 12:16), where the reference is to Esau. In various passages where our Lord is spoken of as the firstborn, as in Colossians 1:15-19 Hebrews 1:2, the association of ideas with the Old Testament conception of birthright is easy to trace.

See also FIRSTBORN; FAMILY; HEIR; INHERITANCE; LAW.

J. Macartney Wilson

4415. prototokia -- the rights of the first-born
... the first-born. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: prototokia Phonetic
Spelling: (pro-tot-ok'-ee-ah) Short Definition: the birthright Definition: the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4415.htm - 6k1062. bekorah -- the right of first- born
... the right of first- born. Transliteration: bekorah or bekorah Phonetic Spelling:
(bek-o-raw') Short Definition: birthright. ... birthright, firstborn. ...
/hebrew/1062.htm - 6k

1069. bakar -- to bear new fruit, to constitute as first-born
... to burst the womb, ie (causatively) bear or make early fruit (of woman or tree);
also (as denominative from bikkuwr) to give the birthright -- make firstborn ...
/hebrew/1069.htm - 6k

Pottage Versus Birthright
... GENESIS POTTAGE VERSUS BIRTHRIGHT. 'Esau despised his birthright'"Genesis
25:34. Broad lessons ... points:". (a) Birthright."What? None ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/pottage versus birthright.htm

Every Believer's Birthright.
... EVERY BELIEVER'S BIRTHRIGHT. ... Sometimes we hear it said that to be filled with the
Spirit is the Christian privilege; but birthright is a stronger word. ...
/.../macneil/the spirit-filled life/chapter ii every believers birthright.htm

Wherefore, Since it is Manifest that the Baptism Remains in the ...
... Nor does any one "yield his birthright, and give it to a heretic," [1509] because
he says that he took away with him what he could not give lawfully, but what ...
/.../chapter 16 wherefore since it.htm

The Story of Jacob
... This was called his "birthright," for it was his right as the oldest born. So Esau,
as the older, had a "birthright" to more of Isaac's possessions than Jacob. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of jacob.htm

A Bad Bargain
... And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at
the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/a bad bargain.htm

The Power of Ambition.
... (Therefore his name was called Edom, Red.) But Jacob said, Sell me first of all
your birthright. ... Thus Esau despised his birthright."Hist. Bible. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kent/the making of a nation/study vi the power of.htm

Jacob and Esau
... And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at
the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon vi jacob and esau.htm

How Jacob Deceived his Father
... So of what use is this birthright to me?" Jacob said, "First solemnly promise to
give it to me." So Esau solemnly promised and sold his birthright to Jacob. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/how jacob deceived his father.htm

Spiritual Liberty
... REV. CH SPURGEON. At Exeter Hall, Strand. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there
is liberty.""2 Corinthians 3:17. LIBERTY is the birthright of every man. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/spiritual liberty.htm

Psalm XLVII.
... Esau was born first, and Jacob was born last; but he who was last born, was preferred
to the first-born, who through gluttony lost his birthright. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlvii.htm

Birthright (10 Occurrences)
...BIRTHRIGHT. burth'-rit (bekhorah, from bekhor, "firstborn"; prototokia): Birthright
is the right which naturally belonged to the firstborn son. ...
/b/birthright.htm - 15k

Esau (89 Occurrences)
... The name of Edom, "red", was also given to him from his conduct in connection with
the red lentil "pottage" for which he sold his birthright (30, 31). ...
/e/esau.htm - 41k

Isaac (127 Occurrences)
... II. FAMILY AND KINDRED 1. Birth and Place in the Family 2. Relation to
the Religious Birthright 3. Significance of Marriage III. ...
/i/isaac.htm - 60k

Rights (35 Occurrences)
... (WEY DBY). Hebrews 12:16 lest any one be a fornicator, or a profane person, as Esau,
who in exchange for one morsel of food did sell his birthright, (See NIV). ...
/r/rights.htm - 16k

Primogeniture
... The father in such cases seems to have had the right to transfer the birthright
from one son to another, from the days of Abraham in the case of Ishmael and ...
/p/primogeniture.htm - 13k

Registered (21 Occurrences)
... Chronicles 5:1 And the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn;
but, inasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given ...
/r/registered.htm - 13k

Enrolled (23 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 5:1 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn;
but, because he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given to ...
/e/enrolled.htm - 13k

Morsel (14 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 12:16 the King James Version, "For one morsel of meat (the Revised Version
(British and American) "mess of meat") sold his birthright," literally, "for ...
/m/morsel.htm - 11k

Profaning (10 Occurrences)
... to sons of Reuben, first-born of Israel -- for he 'is' the first-born, and on account
of his profaning the couch of his father hath his birthright been given ...
/p/profaning.htm - 9k

Polluted (80 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 5:1 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn;
but, because he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given to ...
/p/polluted.htm - 31k

What is the difference between a blessing and a birthright (Genesis 25)? | GotQuestions.org

Why is the birthright so emphasized in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Esau in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Birthright: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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