Deuteronomy 21:15

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ 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:

Complete Jewish Bible:

"If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and unloved wives have borne him children, and if the firstborn son is the child of the unloved wife;

Berean Standard Bible:

If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son,

American Standard Version:

If a man have two wives, the one beloved, and the other hated, and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the first-born son be hers that was hated;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

If a man^{H376} have two^{H8147} wives^{H802}, one^{H259} beloved^{H157}, and another^{H259} hated^{H8130}, and they have born^{H3205} him children^{H1121}, both the beloved^{H157} and the hated^{H8130}; and if the firstborn^{H1060} son^{H1121} be hers that was hated^{H8146}:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 21:15

1. The verse Deuteronomy 21:15 addresses a situation within the context of ancient Israelite society where polygamy was practiced. It outlines a scenario involving a man with two wives, one whom he favors ("beloved") and another whom he does not ("hated"). The use of these terms reflects the emotional dynamics that could exist within such a family structure.

2. The primary concern of the verse is the rights of the firstborn son, particularly if he is born to the wife who is not favored. In ancient Israel, the status of the firstborn son held significant importance, as it entailed inheritance rights and a double portion of the father's estate (Deuteronomy 21:17). The verse underscores that despite the mother's status in the eyes of her husband, the legal rights of the firstborn son must be upheld.

3. Historically, this law served to protect the social order by ensuring that the rights of the eldest son were not infringed upon by the father's personal preferences or affections. It also reflects a broader biblical theme of justice and fairness, requiring that legal and moral obligations be fulfilled regardless of personal feelings.

4. The verse is part of a larger section of Deuteronomy that deals with various laws and social ordinances, many of which are aimed at maintaining the stability and integrity of the family unit and the distribution of property within the tribal system of ancient Israel.

5. In summary, Deuteronomy 21:15 speaks to the preservation of the firstborn's rights within a polygamous family structure, emphasizing impartiality and justice in the allocation of inheritance, despite the complex dynamics of love and disfavor that might exist between a husband and his wives. This law would have served to mitigate potential conflicts and ensure a measure of fairness in a society where multiple marriages could lead to complex familial relationships.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a 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); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
2. Strong's Number: H8147
   There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
   Transliteration: shᵉnayim
   Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
   Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
   
3. Strong's Number: H802
   There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִשָּׁה
   Transliteration: ʼishshâh
   Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
   Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
   
4. Strong's Number: H259
   There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶחָד
   Transliteration: ʼechâd
   Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
   Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
   
5. Strong's Number: H157
   There are 257 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָהַב
   Transliteration: ʼâhab
   Pronunciation: aw-hab'
   Description: or אָהֵב ; a primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise); (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8130
   There are 139 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׂנֵא
   Transliteration: sânêʼ
   Pronunciation: saw-nay'
   Description: a primitive root; to hate (personally); enemy, foe, (be) hate(-ful, -r), odious, [idiom] utterly.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3205
   There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַד
   Transliteration: yâlad
   Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
   Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).
   
8. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a 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.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
9. Strong's Number: H1060
   There are 96 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בְּכוֹר
   Transliteration: bᵉkôwr
   Pronunciation: bek-ore'
   Description: from בָּכַר; firstborn; hence, chief; eldest (son), firstborn(-ling).
   
10. Strong's Number: H8146
    There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׂנִיא
    Transliteration: sânîyʼ
    Pronunciation: saw-nee'
    Description: from שָׂנֵא; hated; hated.