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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Consecrate (appoint) (sanctify) all the first-born males to me. Every first-born male Israelite and every first-born male animal belongs to me!
When Jehovah brings you to the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he swore to you and your ancestors,
I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
Those he first recognized, he ordained in advance that they be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
He is the image (likeness) (representation) of the invisible God. He is the firstborn (Greek: prototokos: childbirth, offspring) of all creation.
He is the head of the body, the congregation. He is the beginning (commencement), the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (first place).
He has become better than the angels and has inherited a more excellent name than theirs. To which of the angels did God ever say at any time: You are my son; this day I have begotten you? And again: I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son? read more. And again: when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God pay him homage.
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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Jehovah said: Two nations are within you. You will give birth to two rival peoples. One will be stronger than the other. The older will serve the younger. The time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to twin sons. read more. The first one was reddish. His skin was like a hairy robe, so he was named Esau. The second one was born holding on tightly to the heel of Esau. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born. The boys grew up. Esau became a skilled hunter, a man who loved the outdoors. Jacob was an upright man who stayed at home. Isaac preferred Esau. This is because he enjoyed eating the animals Esau killed. Rebecca preferred Jacob. One day while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from hunting. He was hungry. He said to Jacob: I am starving! Give me some of that red stuff. (That is why he was named Edom.) Jacob answered: I will give it to you if you give me your birthright as the firstborn son. Esau said: All right! I am about to die. What good are rights as firstborn to me? Jacob answered: First make a vow that you will give me your birthright. Esau made the vow and gave his rights as firstborn to Jacob.
Reuben, you are my firstborn; you are my strength and the first child of my manhood. You are the proudest and strongest of all my sons.
Say to Pharaoh: 'Thus says Jehovah, Israel is my son, my firstborn. So I said to you: 'Let My son go that he may serve me. But you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.'
It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy any firstborn donkey back from Jehovah. You must break the donkey's neck if you do not buy it back. You must also buy every firstborn son back from Jehovah.
You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. These are the words you must speak to the children of Israel.'
Out of all the Israelites, I have taken the Levites to be substitutes for every firstborn male offspring among them. The Levites are mine,
Take the Levites to be substitutes for all the firstborn Israelites and the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for their animals. The Levites will be mine. I am Jehovah.
The silver Moses collected for the firstborn Israelites weighed thirty-four pounds using the standard weight of the holy place.
Every firstborn male, human or animal that is brought to Jehovah is yours. But you must buy back every firstborn son and the firstborn male of any unclean animal.
It eats away parts of his skin. Death's firstborn devours his limbs.
I will proclaim the decree of Jehovah: He said to me: You are my Son. Today I have become your Father. (I have begotten you.)
I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
All those who serve graven images are put to shame. Those who boast themselves in idols and all God-like ones bow down before Him.
You will be called the priests of Jehovah. You will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, you will boast in their riches.
I will make some of them priests and Levites, declares Jehovah.
At that time, they will call Jerusalem the throne of Jehovah. All nations will gather in Jerusalem because the name of Jehovah will be found there. They will no longer follow their own stubborn, evil ways.
Every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, Jehovah of Hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
Jesus replied: Truly I say to you, when all things are made new, and the Son of man is seated in his glory, you who have come after me will be seated on twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
They cannot die anymore for they are equal to the angels. They are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
John spoke about him and declared: He is the one I said would come after me. He is greater than I am because he lived before me.
This is he whom I said would come after me. He is greater than I am because he came before me.
If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you.
God has fulfilled this promise to their children by resurrecting Jesus. Just as it is written in the second psalm: You are my Son, today I have become your father. (Psalms 2:7)
He was declared to be the Son of God with power through the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from among the dead dwells with you, he who raised Christ from among the dead shall also make your mortal bodies alive. This is on account of his Spirit that dwells with you.
For the earnest expectation of the creation is waiting for the manifestation (revelation) (disclosure) of the sons of God.
We also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption and the release from our bodies by ransom.
Those he first recognized, he ordained in advance that they be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Those he first recognized, he ordained in advance that they be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
All things in the heavens and upon the earth where created through him. The things visible and invisible were created through him. Whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.
All things in the heavens and upon the earth where created through him. The things visible and invisible were created through him. Whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.
He is the head of the body, the congregation. He is the beginning (commencement), the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (first place).
And again: when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God pay him homage.
He says: I will declare your name to my brothers; in the middle of the congregation I will sing praises to you.
Let no one become immoral or unspiritual like Esau. He sold his birthright for a single meal!
to the general assembly and congregation of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just (righteous) (holy) men made perfect (mature) (having all needed qualities).
Using his own will, he gave us birth through the word of truth. This way we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
And from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness, and the firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and released us from our sins by his blood. He made us to be a kingdom of kings and priests to his God and Father. To him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
The seventh angel blew his trumpet. There were great voices in heaven, saying: The kingdom of the world has become our God's, and his Christ will rule as king forever and ever.
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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She said to Abraham: Get rid of that slave woman and her son.
Jehovah said: Two nations are within you. You will give birth to two rival peoples. One will be stronger than the other. The older will serve the younger.
One day while Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from hunting. He was hungry. He said to Jacob: I am starving! Give me some of that red stuff. (That is why he was named Edom.) read more. Jacob answered: I will give it to you if you give me your birthright as the firstborn son. Esau said: All right! I am about to die. What good are rights as firstborn to me? Jacob answered: First make a vow that you will give me your birthright. Esau made the vow and gave his rights as firstborn to Jacob. Jacob gave him some bread and some of the soup. He ate and drank and then got up and left. Esau did not care about his birthright.
Then Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right, facing Israel's left, and Manasseh on his left, facing Israel's right, and brought them close to him. But Israel crossed his hands and reached out. He put his right hand on Ephraim's head, although Ephraim was the younger son. He put his left hand on Manasseh's head, although Manasseh was older. read more. Jacob blessed Joseph. He said: May God, in whose presence my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac walked, may this God who has been my shepherd all my life to this very day, May the being who rescued me from all evil bless these boys! May they be called by my name and by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. May they have many children on the earth. Joseph saw that his father had put his right hand on Ephraim's head. Joseph did not like it. So he took his father's hand in order to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's. He said to his father: That is not right, Father! This is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head. His father refused and said: I know, Son, I know! Manasseh, too, will become a nation. He, too, will be important. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be more important than he. His descendants will become many nations. That day he blessed them. He said: Because of you, Israel will speak this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!' In this way Israel put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
Reuben, you are my firstborn; you are my strength and the first child of my manhood. You are the proudest and strongest of all my sons.
Say to Pharaoh: 'Thus says Jehovah, Israel is my son, my firstborn.
Say to Pharaoh: 'Thus says Jehovah, Israel is my son, my firstborn.
Moses answered: Then you would have to provide us with animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings to offer to Jehovah our God.
Moses approached the king. He said: I have come to let you know what Jehovah is going to do. About midnight he will go through the land of Egypt, and wherever he goes, the first-born son in every family will die. Your own son will die. So will the son of the lowest slave woman. Even the first-born males of cattle will die. read more. Everywhere in Egypt there will be loud crying. Nothing like this has ever happened before or will ever happen again. But against any of the sons of Israel a dog will not even bark, whether against man or beast. This is so you may understand how Jehovah makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. All these your servants will come down to me and bow themselves before me. They will say: Go out, you and all the people who follow you. Then I will go out. He went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.
Jehovah said: That night I will go through the land of Egypt. I will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast. I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt! I am Jehovah!
Jehovah will pass through to strike the Egyptians. When he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, Jehovah will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to kill you.
You shall say: 'It is a Passover sacrifice to Jehovah who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He killed the Egyptians, but spared our homes. The people bowed low and worshiped.'
At midnight Jehovah killed every firstborn male in Egypt from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who ruled the land to the firstborn son of the prisoner in jail, and also every firstborn animal.
The people picked up their bread dough before it had risen. They carried it on their shoulders in bowls and wrapped up in their clothes.
Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. No leavened bread shall be seen with you or in all your borders.
When Jehovah brings you to the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he swore to you and your ancestors,
When Jehovah brings you to the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he swore to you and your ancestors, sacrifice every firstborn male offspring to Jehovah. The firstborn male offspring of each of your animals belongs to Jehovah.
sacrifice every firstborn male offspring to Jehovah. The firstborn male offspring of each of your animals belongs to Jehovah. It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy any firstborn donkey back from Jehovah. You must break the donkey's neck if you do not buy it back. You must also buy every firstborn son back from Jehovah.
It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy any firstborn donkey back from Jehovah. You must break the donkey's neck if you do not buy it back. You must also buy every firstborn son back from Jehovah. In the future when your children ask you, 'What does this mean?' tell them: 'Jehovah used his mighty hand to bring us out of slavery in Egypt.'' read more. Pharaoh was too stubborn to let us go. Because of this every firstborn male in Egypt-human and animal was killed. This is why we sacrifice every firstborn male to Jehovah and buy every firstborn son back from Jehovah. This festival will be like a mark on your hand and like a band on your forehead, because Jehovah used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt.
Do not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. Give the firstborn of your sons to me. Do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. Its mother may keep it for seven days. On the eighth day give it to me.
Every first male offspring is mine. The firstborn males of all your livestock, whether cattle, sheep, or goats are mine.
This is how generations to come may learn how I made the people of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am Jehovah your God!'
Jehovah said to Moses: Out of all the Israelites, I have taken the Levites to be substitutes for every firstborn male offspring among them. The Levites are mine, read more. because every firstborn is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set apart as holy every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They will be mine. I am Jehovah.
Jehovah said to Moses: Register every firstborn male of the Israelites who is at least one month old, and make a list of their names. I am Jehovah. Take the Levites for me to be substitutes for all firstborn Israelites. Also take the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for all firstborn animals of the Israelites. read more. Moses registered all the firstborn Israelites as Jehovah commanded him. The total of all the firstborn males at least one month old was twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy three. They were listed by name. Jehovah said to Moses: Take the Levites to be substitutes for all the firstborn Israelites and the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for their animals. The Levites will be mine. I am Jehovah. There are two hundred and seventy-three more firstborn male Israelites than there are Levites. It will cost you two ounces of silver per person, using the standard weight of the holy place, to buy them back. Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It will buy back those Israelites who outnumber the Levites. Moses took this ransom money from the Israelites who outnumbered the Levites. The silver Moses collected for the firstborn Israelites weighed thirty-four pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Then Moses did what Jehovah said and gave Aaron and his sons this ransom money as he had been commanded.
Every firstborn male, human or animal that is brought to Jehovah is yours. But you must buy back every firstborn son and the firstborn male of any unclean animal. When they are one month old, you must buy them back at the fixed price of two ounces of silver using the standard weight of the holy place. read more. You must never buy back a firstborn bull, sheep, or goat. They are holy. Throw the blood from these animals against the altar. Burn the fat as an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Jehovah. The meat is yours, like the breast and the right thigh that are presented.
To Jehovah your God you shall consecrate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock; you shall not work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.
To Jehovah your God you shall consecrate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock; you shall not work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. You and your household shall eat it every year before Jehovah your God in the place Jehovah chooses. read more. If it has any defect, such as lameness or blindness, or any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to Jehovah your God. Eat it within your gates. The unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as a gazelle or a deer. Do not eat its blood! Pour it out on the ground like water.
Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to Jehovah your God. It was in the month of Abib that Jehovah your God brought you out of Egypt by night. Sacrifice the Passover to Jehovah your God from the flock and the herd, in the place where Jehovah chooses to establish his name. read more. Do not eat leavened bread with it. Eat unleavened bread for seven days. It is the bread of affliction. You should remember all the days of your life the day when you came out of the land of Egypt in haste. No leaven should be seen with you in all your territory for seven days. None of the flesh you sacrifice on the evening of the first day shall remain overnight until morning. You are not allowed to sacrifice the Passover in any of your towns Jehovah your God is giving you. It must be at the place where Jehovah your God chooses to establish his name. Sacrifice the Passover in the evening at sunset, at the time that you came out of Egypt. Cook and eat it in the place Jehovah your God chooses. In the morning you are to return to your tents. Eat unleavened bread for six days. On the seventh day there shall be a solemn assembly to Jehovah your God. Do not do work on it.
If a man have two wives and loves one more than the other. The first son of either wife is the man's first-born son, even if the boy's mother is the wife he does not love. A man near death and dividing up his property must give a double share to his first-born son. This is because he was the first to be born. The day he wills his possessions to his sons, he should not put the firstborn son of the loved wife before the firstborn son of the unloved wife. read more. He should acknowledge the firstborn son of the unloved wife. And give him a double portion of all that he has. He is the beginning of his strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
He should acknowledge the firstborn son of the unloved wife. And give him a double portion of all that he has. He is the beginning of his strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
When brothers live together and one of them dies without a son the wife of the deceased shall not marry outside the family to a strange man. Her husband's brother shall marry her and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. The firstborn son she bears will assume the name of the dead brother. That way his name will not be blotted out from Israel. read more. If the man does not desire to take his brother's wife, his brother's wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say: My husband's brother refuses to establish a name for his brother in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a husband's brother to me. The elders of his city must summon him and speak to him. If he persists and says: I do not desire to take her, his brother's wife shall must to him in the sight of the elders. She will pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face. Then she will declare: It is done to the man who does not build up his brother's house. His name in Israel will be: 'The house of him whose sandal is removed.'
He took his oldest son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him on the city wall as a sacrifice to the god of Moab. The Israelites were terrified and so they drew back from the city and returned to their own country.
The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father's marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright,
Hosah the Merarite had sons: Shimri the first although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him the first,
Their father gave them large amounts of gold, silver, and other valuable possessions, and placed each one in charge of one of the fortified cities of Judah. But because Jehoram was the oldest, Jehoshaphat made him his successor.
He destroyed every firstborn in Egypt, the ones born in the tents of Ham when their fathers were young.
I will keep my loving kindness for him forevermore. My covenant will stand firm with him.
He killed all the firstborn sons, the first ones born in the land when their fathers were young.
He destroyed the first-born of Egypt, both of man and animal.
To him who destroyed the Egyptians in their firstborn. His loving kindness is everlasting.
With weeping they will come. By supplication I will lead them. I will make them walk by streams of waters on a straight path in which they will not stumble. For I am a father to Israel and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for my sin?
Those he first recognized, he ordained in advance that they be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
He is the image (likeness) (representation) of the invisible God. He is the firstborn (Greek: prototokos: childbirth, offspring) of all creation.
He is the head of the body, the congregation. He is the beginning (commencement), the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (first place).
And again: when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says: Let all the angels of God pay him homage.
By faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
to the general assembly and congregation of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just (righteous) (holy) men made perfect (mature) (having all needed qualities).
And from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness, and the firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and released 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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Consecrate (appoint) (sanctify) all the first-born males to me. Every first-born male Israelite and every first-born male animal belongs to me!
sacrifice every firstborn male offspring to Jehovah. The firstborn male offspring of each of your animals belongs to Jehovah.
sacrifice every firstborn male offspring to Jehovah. The firstborn male offspring of each of your animals belongs to Jehovah. It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy any firstborn donkey back from Jehovah. You must break the donkey's neck if you do not buy it back. You must also buy every firstborn son back from Jehovah.
It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy any firstborn donkey back from Jehovah. You must break the donkey's neck if you do not buy it back. You must also buy every firstborn son back from Jehovah. In the future when your children ask you, 'What does this mean?' tell them: 'Jehovah used his mighty hand to bring us out of slavery in Egypt.'' read more. Pharaoh was too stubborn to let us go. Because of this every firstborn male in Egypt-human and animal was killed. This is why we sacrifice every firstborn male to Jehovah and buy every firstborn son back from Jehovah. This festival will be like a mark on your hand and like a band on your forehead, because Jehovah used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt.
Do not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. Give the firstborn of your sons to me.
Every first male offspring is mine. The firstborn males of all your livestock, whether cattle, sheep, or goats are mine. It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy back the firstborn donkey. If you do not buy it back, then you must break the donkey's neck. You must buy back every firstborn of your sons. No one may come into my presence without an offering.
For a boy from one month to five years old, give two ounces of silver and for a girl give about one ounce.
If you want to buy it back, you must pay its full value plus one-fifth more.
If it is an unclean animal it must be bought back. The payment will be its full value plus one-fifth more. If it is not bought back, it must be sold at the value given it. However, everything dedicated to Jehovah for destruction, a person, an animal, or a field that belongs to you, must not be sold or bought back. Everything dedicated in that way is very holy. It belongs to Jehovah.
He should acknowledge the firstborn son of the unloved wife. And give him a double portion of all that he has. He is the beginning of his strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.
that today I will keep the promise I made to you in the name of Jehovah the God of Israel, that your son Solomon would succeed me as king.
Then King Solomon answered: Why are you requesting me to give Abishag the Shunammite to Adonijah? Take the kingdom for him in addition, for he is my older brother, and Abiathar the priest and Joab, the son of Zeruiah, are on his side.