Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 21:15
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
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Study note
Setting — The text addresses a household scenario involving a man with two wives, positioned within a legal code regulating family inheritance and marital conduct.
The words — אֲהוּבָה ('a.hu.Vah) translates literally as "[is] loved," establishing the emotional disparity that triggers the legal ruling.
The thread — This marital dynamic echoes the Jacob narrative, where favoritism toward Rachel over Leah is documented in Genesis 29:18, Genesis 29:20, and Genesis 29:33.
Why it lands — The verse states that inheritance rights must follow biological birth order rather than parental preference, requiring readers to separate legal entitlement from emotional bias.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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:
Cross-references
- Genesis 29:33 Again 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.
- Genesis 29:20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, yet it seemed but a few days because of his love for her.
- Genesis 29:18 Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
- Genesis 29:30 Jacob slept with Rachel as well, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. So he worked for Laban another seven years.
- 1 Samuel 1:4 And 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.