Reference: Firstborn
American
This phrase is not always to be understood literally; it is sometimes taken for the prime, most excellent, most distinguished of things, Ps 89:27; Ro 8:29; Heb 1:4-6. Thus Jesus Christ is "the firstborn of every creature," Col 1:15, inasmuch as he was the "Only begotten" of the Father before any creature was produced. He is "the firstborn from the dead," Col 1:18, because he is the beginning, and the author of the resurrection of all who die in faith.
After the destroying angel had slain the firstborn of the Egyptians, God ordained that all the Jewish firstborn, both of men and of beasts for service, should be consecrated to him; but the male children only were subject to this law. If a man had several wives, he was obliged to offer the firstborn son by each one of them to the Lord. The firstborn were offered at the temple, and redeemed for five shekels. The firstling of a clean beast was offered at the temple, not to be redeemed, but to be killed; an unclean beast, a horse, an ass, or a camel, was either redeemed or exchanged; an ass was redeemed by a lamb or five shekels; if not redeemed, it was killed, Ex 13:2,11, etc. The firstborn son among the Hebrews, as among all other nations, enjoyed particular privileges. See BIRTHRIGHT.
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Sanctify to me all the first-born, whatever opens the womb among the sons of Israel. Both of man and of beast, it is mine.
And it shall be, when LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as he swore to thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it to thee,
I also will make him first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth.
Because whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be of similar nature of the form of his Son, in order for him to be the firstborn son among many brothers.
who is an image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might become preeminent in all things.
Having become so much better than the heavenly agents, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they. For to which of the heavenly agents did he ever say, Thou are my Son, today I have begotten thee? And again, I will be to him for a Father, and he will be to me for a Son? read more. And again when he brings the firstborn into the world he says, And let all the agents of God worship him.
Fausets
(See BIRTHRIGHT.) Primogeniture gave princedom and priesthood in patriarchal times. So Esau and Jacob (Ge 25:23-33; Heb 12:16), Reuben (Ge 49:3; 1Ch 5:1). The oldest son in all Israelite families was regarded as sacred to God, because Israel's firstborn were exempted from the stroke which destroyed all the firstborn of Egypt on the first Passover night. The firstborn represented the whole people; Jehovah said to Pharaoh, "Israel is My son, My firstborn, and I say unto thee, Let My son go, that he may serve He; and if thou refuse to let him go, behold I will slay thy son, thy firstborn" (Ex 4:22-23). Israel, as Jehovah's firstborn, was designed to be a" kingdom of priests and an holy nation" (Ex 19:6).
It shall hereafter realize this high Calling in a degree that it has not yet realized it, standing as "the firstborn among many brethren" (like the antitypical Israel, Messiah, Ro 8:29; Heb 2:12), and priest among all nations, which in subordination to Jerusalem, the spiritual metropolis, shall be the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, then manifested (Isa 61:6; 66:21; Re 11:15; Zec 14:16; Jer 3:17). The tribe of Levi was substituted for all Israel's firstborn to minister to the Lord (Nu 3:12,45,50). There being 273 more of the firstborn in Israel than the males in Levi, the 273 were redeemed at five shekels apiece. Still, to mark the consecration of Israel to Jehovah, the redemption money was exacted for every firstborn (Nu 18:15). But the firstlings of cattle were to be offered to the Lord.
An donkey was however redeemed with a lamb, or else killed (Ex 13:13). Christ is the First-begotten. As such, He has the rights of primogeniture; for, as Heb 1:6 is in the Greek, "when God shall bring in again the First. begotten into the world, the shall be deemed worthy of not less honor, for "He saith (Ps 97:7), Let all the angels of God worship Him." His being "brought into the world" (oikoumenee, "the inhabited world"), as the theater of His power, mainly applies to His second advent. In (Col 1:16, "the Firstborn of every creature"; implying priority and superlative dignity. Ps 89:27, "My Firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth," David's antitype, the Messiah.
See Col 1:16 (proototokos pasees ktiseoos, as Joh 1:15,30; 15:18, prootos mou, "long before Me"), "begotten long before every creature"; the reason why He is so designated follows, "for He is before all things." "First-begotten" marks at once His eternal priority and His condescending to brotherhood with us (Ro 8:29). "Only begotten" marks His relation to the Father by generation from everlasting. Since He is "long before every creature," He cannot be a creature Himself but the Creator. And as He is the first begotten, originating the natural creation, so He is "the firstborn (proototokos, 'first begotten,' Re 1:5) from ("out of", ek) the dead," and therefore "the Beginning" (Col 1:18) of "the church of the firstborn" (Heb 12:23), the originating Agent of the new creation.
He was "begotten" of the Father to a new life at His resurrection (the day when the Father fulfilled Ps 2:7 according to Ac 13:33; Ro 1:4) which is His "regeneration"; so He is "the Prince-leader (archeegos) of life." "Regeneration," begun in the soul now, will extend to the body at the resurrection of the saints; and to nature, now groaning under the curse (Mt 19:28; Lu 20:36; 1Jo 3:2; Ro 8:11,19,23). As He is "the firstborn" in relation to the election church, so it is "the church of the firstborn," "a kind of first-fruits of His creatures" (Jas 1:18), in relation to the millennial church, and to the hereafter to be regenerated natural creation. As Christ is "the firstfruits," earnest and pledge of the coming resurrection, so believers are "a kind of first-fruits," a pledge and earnest of the ultimate regeneration of creation.
As He is first begotten by generation from everlasting, so believers by adoptions, "begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible," etc. (1Pe 1:3.) As Israel, on the ground of being God's "firstborn," was a king-priestly nation, so believers (Re 1:6). The figurative phrase, "the firstborn of death," means the deadliest disease that death (personified) ever gendered (Job 18:13). "The firstborn of the poor," the poorest.
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And LORD said to her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels. And the one people shall be stronger than the other people. And the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. read more. And the first came forth red all over like a hairy garment, and they called his name Esau. And after that his brother came forth, and his hand had hold on Esau's heel, and his name was called Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. And the boys grew. And Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field. And Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Now Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his venison. And Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob boiled pottage. And Esau came in from the field, and he was faint. And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red [pottage], for I am faint. Therefore his name was called Edom. And Jacob said, First sell me thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am about to die, and what profit shall the birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me first. And he swore to him, and he sold his birthright to Jacob.
Reuben, thou are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power.
And thou shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says LORD, Israel is my son, my first-born, and I have said to thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me, and thou have refused to let him go. Behold, I will slay thy son, thy first-born.
And every firstling of a donkey thou shall redeem with a lamb, and if thou will not redeem it, then thou shall break its neck. And all the first-born of man among thy sons thou shall redeem.
and ye shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shall speak to the sons of Israel.
And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of all the first-born who opens the womb among the sons of Israel. And the Levites shall be mine,
Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. And the Levites shall be mine. I am LORD.
He took the money from the first-born of the sons of Israel, a thousand three hundred and sixty-five [shekels], according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer to LORD, both of man and beast shall be thine. Nevertheless the first-born of man thou shall surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts thou shall redeem.
And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp,
The members of his body shall be devoured. The first-born of death shall devour his body-parts.
I will tell of the decree. LORD said to me, Thou are my son, this day I have begotten thee.
I also will make him first-born, the highest of the kings of the earth.
Let all those be put to shame who serve graven images, who boast themselves of idols. Bow yourselves to him, all ye gods.
But ye shall be named the priests of LORD. Men shall call you the ministers of our God. Ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory ye shall boast yourselves.
And of them also I will take for priests [and] for Levites, says LORD.
And it shall come to pass, that everyone who is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, that ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man will sit on the throne of his glory, ye also will sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
For neither can they die any more, for they are like the heavenly agents, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
John testified about him, and cried out, saying, This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me came to be before me, because he was before me.
This is he about whom I said, After me comes a man who has become before me, because he was before me.
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you.
as also it is written in the second psalm, Thou are my Son, today I have begotten thee.
He who was designated Son of God in power, according to a spirit of holiness, from a resurrection of the dead--Jesus Christ our Lord--
But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up the Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwells in you.
For the eager expectation of the creation is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God.
And not only so, but also ourselves who have the first fruit of the Spirit. And we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
Because whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be of similar nature of the form of his Son, in order for him to be the firstborn son among many brothers.
Because whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be of similar nature of the form of his Son, in order for him to be the firstborn son among many brothers.
Because in him all things were created, things in the heavens and things upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or lordships or principal offices or positions of authority, all things have been created
Because in him all things were created, things in the heavens and things upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or lordships or principal offices or positions of authority, all things have been created
And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might become preeminent in all things.
And again when he brings the firstborn into the world he says, And let all the agents of God worship him.
saying, I will declare thy name to my brothers. In the midst of the congregation I will sing praise to thee.
lest a fornicator or profane man like Esau, who, in place of one meal sold his birthright.
to a festal gathering and assembly of firstborn sons who were enrolled in the heavens, and to God, a Judge of all, and to spirits of righteous men who were made fully perfect,
Having deliberated, he begot us by the word of truth for us to be a certain first fruit of his creatures.
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who begot us again according to his abundant mercy for a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and washed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him is the glory and the dominion into the ages of the ages. Truly.
And the seventh agent sounded, and great voices occurred in heaven, saying, The kingdom of the world has become of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he will reign into the ages of the ages.
Hastings
1. The dedication of the firstborn of men and beasts was probably a primitive nomadic custom, and therefore earlier than the offering of first-fruits, which could not arise until the Israelites had settled into agricultural life in Canaan. The origin of the belief that a peculiar value attached to the firstborn cannot be definitely traced; but it would be a natural inference that what was valuable to the parent would be valuable to his God. And thus the word 'firstborn' could be used figuratively of Israel as the firstborn of Jahweh among the nations (Ex 4:22, cf. Jer 31:9), and the seed of David among dynasties (Ps 89:28). The law of the dedication of the firstborn is found in Jewish Encyclopedia (Ex 13:11-16; 22:29 b, Ex 22:30; 34:19 f.), Deuteronomist (De 15:19-23), Priestly Narrative (Ex 13:1 f., Nu 3:11-13,40-51; 18:15-18). It is not impossible that in very primitive times firstborn sons were sometimes actually sacrificed (cf. 2Ki 3:27; Mic 6:7), but the practice would soon grow up of 'redeeming' them by money or payments in kind.
2. The firstborn (bekh
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Therefore she said to Abraham, Cast out this handmaid and her son. For the son of this handmaid shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
And LORD said to her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels. And the one people shall be stronger than the other people. And the elder shall serve the younger.
And Jacob boiled pottage. And Esau came in from the field, and he was faint. And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red [pottage], for I am faint. Therefore his name was called Edom. read more. And Jacob said, First sell me thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am about to die, and what profit shall the birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me first. And he swore to him, and he sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils. And he ate and drank, and rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.
And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near to him. And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands deliberately, for Manasseh was the firstborn. read more. And he blessed Joseph, and said, The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, the [heavenly] agent who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. And he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn, put thy right hand upon his head. And his father refused, and said, I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee will Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh. And he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
Reuben, thou are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power.
And thou shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says LORD, Israel is my son, my first-born,
And thou shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says LORD, Israel is my son, my first-born,
And Moses said, Thou must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt-offerings, that we may sacrifice to LORD our God.
And Moses said, Thus says LORD, About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt, and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sits upon his throne, even to the first-born of the maid-servant that is behind the mill, and all the first-born of cattle. read more. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been, nor shall be any more. But against any of the sons of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast, that ye may know how that LORD makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel. And all these thy servants shall come down to me, and bow themselves down to me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people who follow thee. And after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.
For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast, and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments. I am LORD.
For LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side-posts, LORD will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.
that ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of LORD's Passover, who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
And it came to pass at midnight, that LORD smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the first-born of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the first-born of cattl
And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading-troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days, and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy borders.
And it shall be, when LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as he swore to thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it to thee,
And it shall be, when LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as he swore to thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it to thee, that thou shall set apart to LORD all that opens the womb. And every firstling which thou have that comes of a beast, the males shall be LORD's.
that thou shall set apart to LORD all that opens the womb. And every firstling which thou have that comes of a beast, the males shall be LORD's. And every firstling of a donkey thou shall redeem with a lamb, and if thou will not redeem it, then thou shall break its neck. And all the first-born of man among thy sons thou shall redeem.
And every firstling of a donkey thou shall redeem with a lamb, and if thou will not redeem it, then thou shall break its neck. And all the first-born of man among thy sons thou shall redeem. And it shall be, when thy son asks thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shall say to him, By strength of hand LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. read more. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that LORD slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to LORD all that opens the womb, being And it shall be for a sign upon thy hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes, for by strength of hand LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.
Thou shall not delay to offer from thy harvest, and from the outflow of thy presses. The first-born of thy sons thou shall give to me. Likewise thou shall do with thine oxen, [and] with thy sheep. Seven days it shall be with its dam. On the eighth day thou shall give it me.
All that opens the womb is mine, and all thy cattle that is male, the firstlings of cow and sheep.
that your generations may know that I made the sons of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am LORD your God.
And LORD spoke to Moses, saying, And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of all the first-born who opens the womb among the sons of Israel. And the Levites shall be mine, read more. for all the first-born are mine. On the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I hallowed to me all the first-born in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be mine. I am LORD.
And LORD said to Moses, Number all the first-born males of the sons of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. And thou shall take the Levites for me (I am LORD) instead of all the first-born among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the sons of Israel. read more. And Moses numbered, as LORD commanded him, all the first-born among the sons of Israel. And all the first-born males according to the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three. And LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. And the Levites shall be mine. I am LORD. And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the first-born of the sons of Israel, who are over and above [the number of] the Levites, thou shall take five shekels apiece by the poll. According to the shekel of the sanctuary thou shall take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs), and thou shall give the money, with which the odd number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and to his sons. And Moses took the redemption-money from those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites. He took the money from the first-born of the sons of Israel, a thousand three hundred and sixty-five [shekels], according to the shekel of the sanctuary. And Moses gave the redemption-money to Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of LORD, as LORD commanded Moses.
Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer to LORD, both of man and beast shall be thine. Nevertheless the first-born of man thou shall surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts thou shall redeem. And those that are to be redeemed of them from a month old shall thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the same is twenty gerahs). read more. But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shall not redeem. They are holy. Thou shall sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shall burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a And the flesh of them shall be thine. As the wave-breast and as the right thigh, it shall be thine.
All the firstling males that are born of thy herd and of thy flock thou shall sanctify to LORD thy God. Thou shall do no work with the firstling of thy herd, nor shear the firstling of thy flock.
All the firstling males that are born of thy herd and of thy flock thou shall sanctify to LORD thy God. Thou shall do no work with the firstling of thy herd, nor shear the firstling of thy flock. Thou shall eat it before LORD thy God year by year in the place which LORD shall choose, thou and thy household. read more. And if it has any blemish, [as] lame or blind, any ill blemish whatever, thou shall not sacrifice it to LORD thy God. Thou shall eat it within thy gates. The unclean [man] and the clean [man] alike, as the gazelle, and as the hart. Only thou shall not eat the blood of it. Thou shall pour it out upon the ground as water.
Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to LORD thy God, for in the month of Abib LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night. And thou shall sacrifice the Passover to LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which LORD shall choose to cause his name to dwell there. read more. Thou shall eat no leavened bread with it. Seven days thou shall eat unleavened bread with it, even the bread of affliction, for thou came forth out of the land of Egypt in haste, that thou may remember the day when thou came forth And there shall be no leaven seen with thee in all thy borders seven days. Neither shall any of the flesh, which thou sacrifice the first day at evening, remain all night until the morning. Thou may not sacrifice the Passover within any of thy gates, which LORD thy God gives thee, but at the place which LORD thy God shall choose to cause his name to dwell in, there thou shall sacrifice the Passover at evening, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou came forth out of Egypt. And thou shall roast and eat it in the place which LORD thy God shall choose, and thou shall turn in the morning, and go to thy tents. Six days thou shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to LORD thy God. Thou shall do no work.
If a man has two wives, the one beloved, and the other regarded inferior, and they have borne him sons, both the beloved and the one regarded inferior, and if the first-born son be hers who was regarded inferior, 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 beloved the first-born before the son of the one regarded inferior, who is the first-born. read more. But he shall acknowledge the first-born, the son of the one regarded inferior, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength. The right of the first-born is his.
But he shall acknowledge the first-born, the son of the one regarded inferior, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength. The right of the first-born is his.
If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies, and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of a And it shall be, that the first-born who she bears shall succeed in the name of his brother who is dead, that his name be not blotted out of Israel. read more. And if the man does not want to take his brother's wife, then his brother's wife shall go up to the gate to the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuses to raise up to his brother a name in Israel. He will not perform the duty Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak to him. And if he stands, and says, I do not want to take her, then his brother's wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face. And she shall answer and say, So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother's h And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him who has his shoe loosed.
Then he took his eldest son who should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall. And there was great wrath against Israel, and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
And the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born, but, inasmuch as he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, and so the genealogy is not to be reckone
Also Hosah, of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (for though he was not the first-born, yet his father made him chief),
And their father gave them great gifts, of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah. But the kingdom he gave to Jehoram, because he was the first-born.
and smote all the first-born in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.
I will keep my loving kindness for him for evermore. And my covenant shall stand fast with him.
He also smote all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast,
to him who smote Egypt in their firstborn, for his loving kindness [is] forever,
They shall come with weeping. And I will lead them with supplications. I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble. For I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Will LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, [or] with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Because whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be of similar nature of the form of his Son, in order for him to be the firstborn son among many brothers.
who is an image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might become preeminent in all things.
And again when he brings the firstborn into the world he says, And let all the agents of God worship him.
By faith he performed the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who was destroying the firstborn would not touch them.
to a festal gathering and assembly of firstborn sons who were enrolled in the heavens, and to God, a Judge of all, and to spirits of righteous men who were made fully perfect,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and washed us from our sins by his blood
Smith
First-born.
Under the law, in memory of the exodus (when the first-born of the Egyptians were slain), the eldest son was regarded as devoted to God, and was in very case to be redeemed by an offering not exceeding five shekels, within one month from birth. If he died before the expiration of thirty days, the Jewish doctors held the father excused, but liable to the payment if he outlived that time.
The eldest son received a double portion of the father's inheritance,
De 21:17
but not of the mother's. Under the monarchy the eldest son usually, but no always, as appears in the case of Solomon, succeeded his father in the kingdom.
The male first-born of animals was also devoted to God.
Ex 13:2,12-13; 22:29; 34:19-20
Unclean animals were to be redeemed with the addition of one-fifth of the value, or else put to death; or, if not redeemed, to be sold, and the price given to the priests.
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Sanctify to me all the first-born, whatever opens the womb among the sons of Israel. Both of man and of beast, it is mine.
that thou shall set apart to LORD all that opens the womb. And every firstling which thou have that comes of a beast, the males shall be LORD's.
that thou shall set apart to LORD all that opens the womb. And every firstling which thou have that comes of a beast, the males shall be LORD's. And every firstling of a donkey thou shall redeem with a lamb, and if thou will not redeem it, then thou shall break its neck. And all the first-born of man among thy sons thou shall redeem.
And every firstling of a donkey thou shall redeem with a lamb, and if thou will not redeem it, then thou shall break its neck. And all the first-born of man among thy sons thou shall redeem. And it shall be, when thy son asks thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shall say to him, By strength of hand LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. read more. And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that LORD slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to LORD all that opens the womb, being And it shall be for a sign upon thy hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes, for by strength of hand LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.
Thou shall not delay to offer from thy harvest, and from the outflow of thy presses. The first-born of thy sons thou shall give to me.
All that opens the womb is mine, and all thy cattle that is male, the firstlings of cow and sheep. And the firstling of a donkey thou shall redeem with a lamb, and if thou will not redeem it, then thou shall break its neck. All the first-born of thy sons thou shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.
And if it be from a month old even to five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver.
But if he will indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of it to thy estimation.
And if it be of an unclean beast, then he shall ransom it according to thine estimation, and shall add to it the fifth part of it, or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to thy estimation. Notwithstanding, nothing set apart, that a man shall set apart to LORD of all that he has, whether of man or beast, or of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed; everything set apart is most holy to LORD.
But he shall acknowledge the first-born, the son of the one regarded inferior, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength. The right of the first-born is his.
truly as I swore to thee by LORD, the God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead. Truly so I will do this day.
And king Solomon answered and said to his mother, And why do thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my elder brother, even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of