Bible/Deuteronomy/21

Deuteronomy 21:15

21:14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.
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:

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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;

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:

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:

21:16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:

What does Deuteronomy 21:15 mean?

Deuteronomy 21:15 is a verse in the book of Deuteronomy, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אִישׁ (ʼîysh), שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim), אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh). It connects to 16 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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If
a
manאִישׁʼîysh/eesh/H376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
have
twoשְׁנַיִםshᵉnayim/shen-ah'-yim/H8147two; also (as ordinal) twofold
wives,אִשָּׁהʼishshâh/ish-shaw'/H802a woman
oneאֶחָדʼechâd/ekh-awd'/H259properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
beloved,אָהַבʼâhab/aw-hab'/H157to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
and
anotherאֶחָדʼechâd/ekh-awd'/H259properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
hated,שָׂנֵאsânêʼ/saw-nay'/H8130to hate (personally)
and
they
have
bornיָלַדyâlad/yaw-lad'/H3205to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
him
children,בֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
both
the
belovedאָהַבʼâhab/aw-hab'/H157to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
and
the
hated;שָׂנֵאsânêʼ/saw-nay'/H8130to hate (personally)
and
if
the
firstbornבְּכוֹרbᵉkôwr/bek-ore'/H1060firstborn; hence, chief
sonבֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
be
hers
that
was
hated:שָׂנִיאsânîyʼ/saw-nee'/H8146hated

Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:15

HENRY_FULL · Deuteronomy 21:15
ut.14" Moses in this chapter teaches them, I. To distinguish themselves from their neighbours by a singularity, 1. In their mourning, ver. 1, 2 . 2. In their meat, ver. 3-21 . II. To devote themselves unto God, and, in token of that, to give him his dues out of their estates, the yearly tithe, and that every third year, for the maintenance of their religious feasts, the Levites, and the poor, ver. 22 , &c.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 19:5

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Exodus 19:6

And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Leviticus 11:45

For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Leviticus 19:2

Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.

Leviticus 20:26

And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.

Deuteronomy 7:6

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 21:21

And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Deuteronomy 26:18

And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;

Deuteronomy 26:19

And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.

Deuteronomy 28:9

The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.

Isaiah 6:13

But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. and it: or, when it is returned, and hath been broused substance: or, stock, or, stem

Ezekiel 21:2

Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,

Daniel 8:24

And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. holy: Heb. people of the holy ones

Daniel 12:7

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. a time: or, part

Titus 2:14

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1 Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: peculiar: or, purchased praises: or, virtues

Topics

BirthrightChildrenHeirPolygamy

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Deuteronomy 21:15.

2 Chronicles 11:21

And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)

2 Samuel 11:27

And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. displeased: Heb. was evil in the eyes of

Deuteronomy 25:11

When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets:

Exodus 26:25

And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

Exodus 26:6

And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.

Exodus 29:1

And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish,

Exodus 36:30

And there were eight boards; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets. under: Heb. two sockets, two sockets under one board

Exodus 37:8

One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the other end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he the cherubims on the two ends thereof. on the end: or, out of, etc on the other end: or, out of, etc

Frequently asked questions

What does Deuteronomy 21:15 say?

Deuteronomy 21:15 (King James Version) reads: "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:"

Is Deuteronomy 21:15 in the Old or New Testament?

Deuteronomy 21:15 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Deuteronomy.

Reflect

As you read Deuteronomy 21:15, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Deuteronomy 21:15
21:14Read all of Deuteronomy 2121:16