Lexical Summary
bekorah: Birthright
Original Word: בְּכוֹרָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: bkowrah
Pronunciation: beh-koh-RAH
Phonetic Spelling: (bek-o-raw')
KJV: birthright, firstborn(-ling)
NASB: birthright, firstborn
Word Origin: [feminine of H1060 (בְּכוֹר - firstborn)]
1. the firstling of man or beast
2. abstractly primogeniture
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
bakarDefinitionthe right of first- born
NASB Translationbirthright (9), firstborn (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Genesis 25:32;
Genesis 23:34 (J)
Deuteronomy 21:17;
1 Chronicles 5:1,2; suffix
Genesis 27:36 (JE);
Genesis 25:31 (J);
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.
• Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25:31-34; 27:36). Esau barters the privilege “for a single meal” and thus “despised his birthright.” Jacob, despite questionable tactics, esteems what God esteems, demonstrating both the transferability and sanctity of the birthright.
• Seating in Egypt (Genesis 43:33). Joseph arranges his brothers “from the firstborn according to his birthright to the youngest,” underscoring the social order still recognized even in exile.
• Reuben, Joseph, Judah (1 Chronicles 5:1-2). Reuben forfeits the right through immorality; the double portion passes to Joseph, while royal authority rests with Judah. God parcels out different dimensions of the birthright to accomplish redemptive purposes.
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.
• Maintain moral integrity; sin forfeits influence and reward.
• Offer God the first and best in worship and stewardship.
• Submit to divine ordering; God may elevate the unlikely to fulfill His covenant plan.
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 wəhabbəḵōrāh
Links
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Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
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