The Meaning of Deuteronomy 21:17 Explained

Deuteronomy 21:17

KJV: But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

YLT: But the first-born, son of the hated one, he doth acknowledge, to give to him a double portion of all that is found with him, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him is the right of the first-born.

Darby: but he shall acknowledge as firstborn the son of the hated, by giving him a double portion of all that is found with him; for he is the firstfruits of his vigour: the right of the firstborn is his.

ASV: but he shall acknowledge the first-born, the son of the hated, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath; for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the first-born is his.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But he shall acknowledge  the son  of the hated  [for] the firstborn,  by giving  him a double  portion  of all that he hath:  for he [is] the beginning  of his strength;  the right  of the firstborn  [is] his. 

What does Deuteronomy 21:17 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 21

1  The Atonement for an Unsolved Murder
10  The usage of a captive taken to wife
15  The firstborn is not to be disinherited upon private affection
18  A rebellious son is to be stoned to death
22  The malefactor must not hang all night on a tree

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 21:17 mean?

But - the firstborn the son of the unloved wife he shall acknowledge [as] by giving him a portion double of all that has he for he [is] the beginning of his strength [is] his the right of the firstborn -
כִּי֩ אֶת־ הַבְּכֹ֨ר בֶּן־ הַשְּׂנוּאָ֜ה יַכִּ֗יר לָ֤תֶת לוֹ֙ פִּ֣י שְׁנַ֔יִם בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־ יִמָּצֵ֖א ל֑וֹ כִּי־ הוּא֙ רֵאשִׁ֣ית אֹנ֔וֹ ל֖וֹ מִשְׁפַּ֥ט הַבְּכֹרָֽה ס

אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַבְּכֹ֨ר  the  firstborn 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בְּכֹר  
Sense: firstborn, firstling.
בֶּן־  the  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
הַשְּׂנוּאָ֜ה  of  the  unloved  wife 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, feminine singular
Root: שָׂנֵא  
Sense: to hate, be hateful.
יַכִּ֗יר  he  shall  acknowledge  [as] 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָכַר 
Sense: to recognise, acknowledge, know, respect, discern, regard.
לָ֤תֶת  by  giving 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
פִּ֣י  a  portion 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
שְׁנַ֔יִם  double 
Parse: Number, md
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
בְּכֹ֥ל  of  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
הוּא֙  he  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
רֵאשִׁ֣ית  the  beginning 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: רֵאשִׁית  
Sense: first, beginning, best, chief.
אֹנ֔וֹ  of  his  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹון  
Sense: vigour, generative power.
ל֖וֹ  [is]  his 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
מִשְׁפַּ֥ט  the  right 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
הַבְּכֹרָֽה  of  the  firstborn 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּכֹרָה  
Sense: birthright, primogeniture, right of the first-born.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation