Deuteronomy 21:15

BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

“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,”

What this verse means

A short, plain-language explanation of Deuteronomy 21:15 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.

Compare translations
BSBPD

“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,”

Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)
KJVPD

“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:”

King James Version · Public Domain
ASVPD

“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;”

American Standard Version · Public Domain
YLTPD

“`When a man hath two wives, the one loved and the other hated, and they have borne to him sons (the loved one and the hated one), and the first-born son hath been to the hated one;”

Young's Literal Translation · Public Domain
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Cross references

Other passages that echo Deuteronomy 21:15 — 6 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  1. Genesis 29:18Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
  2. Genesis 29:20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
  3. Genesis 29:30Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.
  4. Genesis 29:33Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon.
  5. 1 Samuel 1:4And whenever the day came for Elkanah to present his sacrifice, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.
  6. 2 Chronicles 11:22Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king.

Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

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