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בְּכוֹרָה

𐤁𐤊𐤅𐤓𐤄

bᵉkôwrâh

H1062 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בכר to be firstborn, bear first, come early

Definition

The state or condition of being a firstborn, particularly pertaining to the rights, honors, or privileges associated with being the first child born in a family. More abstractly, refers to the status of primogeniture — the legal or customary right of the firstborn to inheritance or special position. In ritual and legal contexts, may refer to the right to inherit a double portion or to assume the family leadership responsibilities.

Semantic Range

birthright; right of the firstborn; primogeniture; status of firstborn; inheritance right of the firstborn; privilege associated with being firstborn

Root / Etymology

From the root בכר meaning 'to be firstborn, to bear first', with בכורה being the feminine noun form, indicating the condition or status related to being a firstborn.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בְּכוֹרָה (bᵉkôwrâh) is used to denote both the concrete status of 'firstborn' and the abstract right or privilege (birthright) that accompanies this status. In patriarchal and early monarchic periods, possessing the בְּכוֹרָה signified both honor and special legal standing within Israelite families, as reflected in inheritance laws (see Genesis 25:31-34; Deuteronomy 21:17). However, the actual recipient of the בְּכוֹרָה could in practice change through family or divine intervention (cf. Esau and Jacob). The term is distinct from בְּכוֹר (bekhôr, 'firstborn [male]'), which designates the individual; בְּכוֹרָה refers primarily to the status or right itself. In post-exilic literature, while the status of the firstborn retains importance, legal and social developments influence its application, and the concept can become an emblem of special favor or selection. Standard English translations often render בְּכוֹרָה as 'birthright', 'primogeniture', or 'firstborn status', though the legal and cultural implications vary across texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (short) בְּכֹרָה; feminine of בְּכוֹר; the firstling of man or beast; abstractly primogeniture; birthright, firstborn(-ling).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בכר (b-k-r) — be firstborn, bear first, come early

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1060 בְּכוֹר firstborn of
H1061 בִּכּוּר first yields of
H1063 בִּכּוּרָה first-ripe fig
H1064 בְּכוֹרַת Bekorath
H1067 בְּכִירָה the firstborn daughter

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1062-09 וּ/בְכֹרֹ֥ת uvekhorot HC/Ncbpc and firstborns and birthrights of 3
H1062-04 בְּכֹרָת֖/וֹ bekhorato HNcbsc/Sp3ms his birthright his firstborn-right 2
H1062-05 הַ/בְּכֹרָֽה habekhorah HTd/Ncbsa of the firstborn the firstborn-right 2
H1062-08 מִ/בְּכֹר֥וֹת mibekhorot HR/Ncbpc from the firstborn from firstborn-rights of 1
H1062-10 וְ/הַ/בְּכֹרָ֖ה vehabekhorah HC/Td/Ncbsa but the birthright the firstborn-right 1
H1062-06 כִּ/בְכֹ֣רָת֔/וֹ kivekhorato HR/Ncbsc/Sp3ms according to his birthright his firstborn-right 1
H1062-02 בְּכֹֽרָתְ/ךָ֖ bekhoratekha HNcbsc/Sp2ms your birthright your firstborn-right 1
H1062-01 בְּכֹרָֽה bekhorah HNcbsa birthright firstborn-right 1
H1062-07 לַ/בְּכֹרָֽה labekhorah HRd/Ncbsa as the firstborn to the firstborn-right 1
H1062-03 בְּכֹרָתִ֣/י bekhorati HNcbsc/Sp1cs my birthright my firstborn-right 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1062-08 Genesis 4:4 מִ/בְּכֹר֥וֹת mibekhorot HR/Ncbpc from the firstborn from firstborn-rights of
H1062-02 Genesis 25:31 בְּכֹֽרָתְ/ךָ֖ bekhoratekha HNcbsc/Sp2ms your birthright your firstborn-right
H1062-01 Genesis 25:32 בְּכֹרָֽה bekhorah HNcbsa birthright firstborn-right
H1062-04 Genesis 25:33 בְּכֹרָת֖/וֹ bekhorato HNcbsc/Sp3ms his birthright his firstborn-right
H1062-05 Genesis 25:34 הַ/בְּכֹרָֽה habekhorah HTd/Ncbsa the birthright the firstborn-right
H1062-03 Genesis 27:36 בְּכֹרָתִ֣/י bekhorati HNcbsc/Sp1cs my birthright my firstborn-right
H1062-06 Genesis 43:33 כִּ/בְכֹ֣רָת֔/וֹ kivekhorato HR/Ncbsc/Sp3ms according to his birthright his firstborn-right
H1062-09 Deuteronomy 12:6 וּ/בְכֹרֹ֥ת uvekhorot HC/Ncbpc and firstborns and birthrights of
H1062-09 Deuteronomy 12:17 וּ/בְכֹרֹ֥ת uvekhorot HC/Ncbpc or the firstborn and birthrights of
H1062-09 Deuteronomy 14:23 וּ/בְכֹרֹ֥ת uvekhorot HC/Ncbpc and the firstborn and birthrights of
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