Lexical Summary bekorah: Birthright Original Word: בְּכוֹרָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance birthright, firstborn Or (short) bkorah {bek-o-raw'}; feminine of bkowr; the firstling of man or beast; abstractly primogeniture -- birthright, firstborn(-ling). see HEBREW bkowr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of bakar Definition the right of first- born NASB Translation birthright (9), firstborn (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בְּכֹרָה noun feminine right of first-born Genesis 25:32; Genesis 23:34 (J) Deuteronomy 21:17; 1 Chronicles 5:1,2; suffix בְּכֹרָתִי Genesis 27:36 (JE); בְּכֹרָתְךָ Genesis 25:31 (J); בְּכֹרָתוֺ Genesis 25:33; Genesis 43:33 (J) 1 Chronicles 5:1. Topical Lexicon Concept and ScopeThe birthright denotes the special prerogatives that God assigned to a firstborn son: a double share of inheritance, headship of the clan, and covenant representation before the Lord (Deuteronomy 21:17). Because lineage was the conduit of promise, the birthright carried profound spiritual weight alongside its material benefits. Narrative Illustrations • Abel’s Offering (Genesis 4:4). “Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock, and the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering.” The acceptance of the firstborn sacrifice signals that what is “first and best” rightly belongs to God. Legal Codification The Mosaic covenant protects firstborn rights against paternal favoritism: “He must acknowledge the firstborn … by giving him a double portion of all he has” (Deuteronomy 21:17). Firstborn animals, grain, wine, and oil were likewise to be presented at the chosen sanctuary (Deuteronomy 12:6, 17; 14:23), binding personal inheritance to national worship. Tribal and National Implications Though Levi replaced the natural firstborn in priestly service (Numbers 3:12-13), the principle of consecrating the first still governed Israel’s relationship with God. Shifting birthrights—Reuben to Joseph, kingship to Judah, priesthood to Levi—highlight divine sovereignty over human convention. Messianic Foreshadowing The pattern culminates in Jesus Christ, “the firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). He embodies the ultimate birthright, and believers, united to Him, become “fellow heirs” (Romans 8:17), warned by Esau’s folly not to despise their eternal inheritance (Hebrews 12:16-17). Ministry Applications • Cherish spiritual privilege; do not yield it to momentary appetite. Key References Genesis 4:4; 25:31-34; 27:36; 43:33; Deuteronomy 12:6, 17; 14:23; 21:17; 1 Chronicles 5:1-2. Forms and Transliterations בְּכֹ֣רָת֔וֹ בְּכֹֽרָתְךָ֖ בְּכֹרָֽה׃ בְּכֹרָת֖וֹ בְּכֹרָתִ֣י בכרה׃ בכרתו בכרתי בכרתך הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃ הבכרה׃ וְהַבְּכֹרָ֖ה וּבְכֹרֹ֥ת ובכרת והבכרה כִּבְכֹ֣רָת֔וֹ כבכרתו לַבְּכֹרָֽה׃ לבכרה׃ מִבְּכֹר֥וֹת מבכרות bə·ḵō·rā·ṯə·ḵā bə·ḵō·rā·ṯî bə·ḵō·rā·ṯōw bə·ḵō·rāh bechoRah bechorateCha bechoraTi bechoraTo bəḵōrāh bəḵōrāṯəḵā bəḵōrāṯî bəḵōrāṯōw hab·bə·ḵō·rāh habbechoRah habbəḵōrāh kiḇ·ḵō·rā·ṯōw kiḇḵōrāṯōw kivChoraTo lab·bə·ḵō·rāh labbechoRah labbəḵōrāh mib·bə·ḵō·rō·wṯ mibbechoRot mibbəḵōrōwṯ ū·ḇə·ḵō·rōṯ ūḇəḵōrōṯ uvechoRot vehabbechoRah wə·hab·bə·ḵō·rāh wəhabbəḵōrāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 4:4 HEB: גַם־ ה֛וּא מִבְּכֹר֥וֹת צֹאנ֖וֹ וּמֵֽחֶלְבֵהֶ֑ן KJV: also brought of the firstlings of his flock INT: his part he of the firstlings of his flock their fat Genesis 25:31 Genesis 25:32 Genesis 25:33 Genesis 25:34 Genesis 27:36 Genesis 43:33 Deuteronomy 12:6 Deuteronomy 12:17 Deuteronomy 14:23 Deuteronomy 21:17 1 Chronicles 5:1 1 Chronicles 5:1 1 Chronicles 5:2 14 Occurrences |
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