Deuteronomy 21:15
13 and put aside the clothing of her captivity. After she has lived in your house a full month and mourned her father and mother, you may have relations with her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife.
14 And if you are not pleased with her, you are to let her go wherever she wishes. But you must not sell her for money or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her.
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,
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.
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.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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,
- KJV
- If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
- WEB
- If a man has two wives, the one beloved and the other hated, and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated, and if the firstborn son is hers who was hated,
- ASV
- If a man have two wives, the one beloved, and the other hated, and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the first-born son be hers that was hated;
- DARBY
- If a man have two wives, one beloved, and one hated, and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated, and the firstborn son be hers that was hated;
- BLB
- If a man has two wives, one loved and one hated, and they have borne to him sons, the loved and the hated, and the firstborn son is to the hated one,
- ÅB
- Når en mann har to hustruer, en som han elsker, og en som han ikke synes om, og han har fått sønner med dem begge, både med den han elsker og med den han ikke synes om, og den førstefødte er sønn til den han ikke synes om,
- OTB
- Hvis en mann har to koner, en elsket og den andre ikke elsket, og begge føder ham sønner, men den førstefødte er sønn av den ikke elskede kona,
- B1930
- Når en mann har to hustruer, en som han elsker, og en som han ikke synes om, og han har fått sønner med dem begge, både med den han elsker og med den han ikke synes om, og den førstefødte er sønn til den han ikke synes om,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 29:33
Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon.
Read in contextGenesis 29:20
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
Read in contextGenesis 29:30–31
Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.
Read in contextGenesis 29:18
Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
Read in context1 Samuel 1:4–5
And whenever the day came for Elkanah to present his sacrifice, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.
Read in context