Deuteronomy 21:17 
Context| NET © | Rather, he must acknowledge the son of the less loved 1 wife as firstborn and give him the double portion 2 of all he has, for that son is the beginning of his father’s procreative power 3 – to him should go the right of the firstborn. |
| NIV © | He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father’s strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him. |
| NASB © | "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 beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn. |
| NLT © | He must give the customary double portion to his oldest son, who represents the strength of his father’s manhood and who owns the rights of the firstborn son, even though he is the son of the wife his father does not love. |
| MSG © | No, he must acknowledge the inheritance rights of the real firstborn, the son of the hated wife, by giving him a double share of the inheritance: that son is the first proof of his virility; the rights of the firstborn belong to him. |
| BBE © | But he is to give his first son his birthright, and twice as great a part of his property: for he is the first-fruits of his strength and the right of the first son is his. |
| NRSV © | He must acknowledge as firstborn the son of the one who is disliked, giving him a double portion of all that he has; since he is the first issue of his virility, the right of the firstborn is his. |
| NKJV © | "But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his. |
| KJV | |
| NASB © | |
| HEBREW | |
| LXXM | prwtotokia {N-APN} |
| NET © [draft] ITL | Rather <03588> , he must acknowledge <05234> the son <01121> of the less <08130> loved wife as firstborn <01060> and give <05414> him the double <08147> portion of all <03605> he has <04672> <0834> , for that <03588> son is the beginning <07225> of his father’s procreative power <0202> – to him should go the right <04941> of the firstborn .<01062> |
| NET © | Rather, he must acknowledge the son of the less loved 1 wife as firstborn and give him the double portion 2 of all he has, for that son is the beginning of his father’s procreative power 3 – to him should go the right of the firstborn. |
| NET © Notes |
1 tn See note on the word “other” in v. 15. 2 tn Heb “measure of two.” The Hebrew expression פִּי שְׁנַיִם (piy shÿnayim) suggests a two-thirds split; that is, the elder gets two parts and the younger one part. Cf. 2 Kgs 2:9; Zech 13:8. The practice is implicit in Isaac’s blessing of Jacob (Gen 25:31-34) and Jacob’s blessing of Ephraim (Gen 48:8-22). 3 tn Heb “his generative power” (אוֹן, ’on; cf. HALOT 22 s.v.). Cf. NAB “the first fruits of his manhood”; NRSV “the first issue of his virility.” |
