Thematic Bible: The First-born


Thematic Bible



"Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it--he went up to my couch!

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 the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son; Verse ConceptsConcubinesBirthrightsFirstborn Sons

"Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons shall bow down before you. Verse ConceptsBowingCommendationSalutationsOvercoming EnemiesShowing Forth His Praiseserenity

With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Verse ConceptsGod, Fatherhood OfAdoption, nature ofFirstbornIntimacyPeople Of God, In OtSpring Of WaterWeepingAnswered PromisesSpiritual AdoptionFirstborn SonsStraight PathsNot StumblingBrookssupplication

Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he my darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I do remember him still. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, declares the LORD. Verse ConceptsGod, Joy OfGod, Compassion OfGod, Suffering OfIntimacyRejection Of God, Results OfBowelsSpiritual AdoptionIsrael As Sons Of GodGod Remembering His PeopleGod Will Show Mercy

Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Verse ConceptsFathers, Examples OfPrejudiceTastePartialityThose Who LovedMan's FavouriteDeergames

"Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the people of Israel. The Levites shall be mine, Verse ConceptsCovenant, God's with Israel's priestsVicarious Substitution

And the LORD said to Moses, "List all the firstborn males of the people of Israel, from a month old and upward, taking the number of their names. And you shall take the Levites for me--I am the LORD--instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the people of Israel." So Moses listed all the firstborn among the people of Israel, as the LORD commanded him. read more.
And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names, from a month old and upward as listed were 22,273.

and I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel. Verse ConceptsSubstitution


And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. Verse ConceptsFirstbornBrothersChrist The Firstborn


For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.' Verse ConceptsStubbornness, Consequences OfDeath Of The FirstbornGod KillingMale AnimalsBoth Men And Animals KilledHindering God's WorkGod Killed The PeoplesRegulating Sacrifices

for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my own all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and of beast. They shall be mine: I am the LORD." Verse ConceptsClaimsDeath Of The FirstbornI Am The LordPeople Belong To God

For all the firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of man and of beast. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I consecrated them for myself, Verse ConceptsDeath Of The Firstborn

"Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Verse ConceptsFirstborn SonsStrong IndividualsPowerful IndividualsFamily StrengthPowerExcellencemanhoodstrenghdignity

but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his. Verse ConceptsHeirsDouble Portions

she was told, "The older will serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

And the LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger." Verse ConceptsBabies In The WombFavouritismJacob, The PatriarchSubjectionTwo GroupsFreshness Of YouthWombServing PeopleStrong NationsOvercoming Adversity

You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me. Verse ConceptsCowsDay 8Seven DaysYoung AnimalAnimal MothersLess Than A Year OldSeven Days For Legal Purposes

"When an ox or sheep or goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be acceptable as a food offering to the LORD. Verse ConceptsSeven DaysYoung AnimalAnimal MothersLess Than A Year OldSeven Days For Legal PurposesRegulating Sacrifices

Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!" Verse ConceptsJacob, Life And Character OfServing PeopleSalutationsBlessing Through God's PeopleCursing Israel

He said, 'Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.' For this reason he has not come to the king's table." Verse ConceptsBrothersethics, personalTown

Jacob said, "Swear to me now." So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Verse ConceptsOaths, HumanYielding To Temptation

Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright now." Verse ConceptsBirthrights

But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing." Verse ConceptsInjustice, Examples OfPeople BlessingThose Who Deceived

and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die." Verse ConceptsTasteRequesting FoodSavourinessBefore DeathLoving Other ThingsPeople Blessing

The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty-handed. Verse ConceptsDonkeysLambsRansomRedemption, In Everyday LifeDislocatingEmpty HandedRules About Killing Animals

Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast, which they offer to the LORD, shall be yours. Nevertheless, the firstborn of man you shall redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem. Verse ConceptsFirstbornAnimals, religious role ofWomb

He said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. However, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the LORD.

King Solomon answered his mother, "And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my older brother, and on his side are Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah." Verse ConceptsBrothersThe Kingdom Of Others

Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. Verse ConceptsRedemption, In Everyday LifeDislocatingRules About Killing Animalsredeemed

The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty-handed. Verse ConceptsDonkeysLambsRansomRedemption, In Everyday LifeDislocatingEmpty HandedRules About Killing Animals


Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" Verse ConceptsFirstbornBodyRamsA Thousand AnimalsSacrificing The Firstborn

"You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. Verse ConceptsFirstbornChild sacrificeTypes Of ChristProcrastinationFirst fruitsTithes And Offering

"Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine." Verse ConceptsBaby dedicationClaimsCeremoniesHoliness, As Set Apart For GodThe Act Of OpeningConsecrationOpening The WombPeople Belong To GodMaking People HolyRegulating SacrificesDedicationSanctification

"If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him children, and if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, then on the day when he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn,

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 the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son; though Judah became strong among his brothers and a chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph),

"If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.

"All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and flock you shall dedicate to the LORD your God. You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. Verse ConceptsFirstbornBullsSheep Shearing

"All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and flock you shall dedicate to the LORD your God. You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. Verse ConceptsFirstbornBullsSheep Shearing

Their father gave them great gifts of silver, gold, and valuable possessions, together with fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn. Verse ConceptsFirstbornGoldInheritance, MaterialBirthrights

but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his. Verse ConceptsHeirsDouble Portions

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before him." But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." read more.
Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here." And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he."

God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year."

And he blessed Joseph and said, "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. read more.
And Joseph said to his father, "Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head." But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations." So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, 'God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.'"Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

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 him. And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn).

"But a firstborn of animals, which as a firstborn belongs to the LORD, no man may dedicate; whether ox or sheep, it is the LORD's. Verse ConceptsClaimsAll Things Belong To God

and give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are over." So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites. From the firstborn of the people of Israel he took the money, 1,365 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary. read more.
And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

And as the redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the people of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites, you shall take five shekels per head; you shall take them according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel of twenty gerahs),

also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks; Verse ConceptsFirstbornClaims

To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born. Verse ConceptsAncestors

and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.

But their flesh shall be yours, as the breast that is waved and as the right thigh are yours. Verse ConceptsBodies Of AnimalsAnimal Sacrifices, Wave OfferingSwingingThighs Of AnimalsFood For Priests DefinedOther Right Parts


And their redemption price (at a month old you shall redeem them) you shall fix at five shekels in silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs. Verse ConceptsCoinageLess Than A Year OldValuation Of PeopleRight Measuresredeemed

But the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar and shall burn their fat as a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. Verse ConceptsFatnessAromasSmellsSprinklingFat Of The SacrificesRefreshing God

Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast, which they offer to the LORD, shall be yours. Nevertheless, the firstborn of man you shall redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem. Verse ConceptsFirstbornAnimals, religious role ofWomb

And the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land.

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")


The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.