Topical Encyclopedia
The term "eldest" in the Bible often refers to the firstborn child in a family, who traditionally held a place of prominence and responsibility. The concept of the eldest is significant in biblical narratives and laws, reflecting both familial and spiritual dimensions.
Primogeniture and InheritanceIn ancient Israelite culture, the eldest son typically inherited a double portion of the father's estate, a practice known as primogeniture. This is outlined in
Deuteronomy 21:17, which states, "But he must 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 firstfruits of his virility; the right of the firstborn is his." The eldest son was expected to assume leadership of the family and carry on the family name and legacy.
Spiritual SignificanceThe role of the eldest extends beyond material inheritance to spiritual responsibilities. The firstborn son was often consecrated to God, as seen in
Exodus 13:2: "Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, both of man and beast." This consecration underscores the idea that the eldest holds a special place in God's covenantal relationship with His people.
Notable Biblical Examples1.
Cain and Abel: Cain, as the eldest son of Adam and Eve, is a notable figure whose account illustrates the complexities of the eldest's role. Despite his position, Cain's failure to offer an acceptable sacrifice to God and his subsequent actions led to his downfall (
Genesis 4:1-16).
2.
Esau and Jacob: Esau, the eldest son of Isaac, sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob for a meal, demonstrating the potential for the eldest to forfeit his privileges (
Genesis 25:29-34). This narrative highlights the importance of valuing one's birthright and responsibilities.
3.
Reuben: As the eldest son of Jacob, Reuben was initially in line to receive the birthright. However, due to his transgression with Bilhah, his father's concubine, he lost his preeminent status (
Genesis 35:22, 49:3-4).
4.
Manasseh and Ephraim: In a reversal of expectations, Jacob blessed Ephraim, the younger son of Joseph, over Manasseh, the eldest, indicating that God's purposes can transcend traditional human customs (
Genesis 48:13-20).
Christ as the FirstbornIn the New Testament, Jesus Christ is referred to as the "firstborn" in several contexts, emphasizing His preeminence and authority.
Colossians 1:15 describes Him as "the firstborn over all creation," signifying His supremacy and role in creation. Additionally,
Romans 8:29 refers to Christ as "the firstborn among many brothers," highlighting His role in the spiritual family of believers.
ConclusionThe concept of the eldest in the Bible encompasses both familial duties and spiritual significance. While the eldest son traditionally held a place of honor and responsibility, biblical narratives often illustrate that God's purposes can redefine human expectations, emphasizing faithfulness and obedience over mere birth order.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Oldest; longest in duration.
2. (a.) Born or living first, or before the others, as a son, daughter, brother, etc.; first in origin. See Elder.
Greek
4416. prototokos -- first-born... first-born. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: prototokos Phonetic Spelling:
(pro-tot-ok'-os) Short Definition: first-born Definition: first-born,
eldest...4245. presbuteros -- elder
... man (1), older ones (1), older women (1), women (1).eldest, old. Comparative
of presbus (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specially...
4502. Rhouben -- Reuben, a son of Jacob, also a tribe of Isr.
... Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Rhouben Phonetic Spelling:
(hroo-bane') Short Definition: Reuben Definition: Reuben,eldest son of...
Strong's Hebrew
7223. rishon -- former, first, chief... previously (1). ancestor, that were beforetime, beginning,
eldest, first,
forefather most, former thing, of old time,. Or riishon
...1060. bekor -- first-born
...eldest son, firstborn. From bakar; firstborn; hence, chief --eldest (son),
firstborn(-ling). see HEBREW bakar. 1059, 1060. bekor. 1061 . Strong's Numbers.
1067. bekirah -- first-born (always of women)
... firstborn. Feminine from bakar; theeldest daughter -- firstborn. see HEBREW
bakar. 1066, 1067. bekirah. 1068 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
The Blossoming Desert.
... "On Sabbath, March 26th, we were permitted to receive into the fellowship of the
Christian Church ten individuals, eight men and two women, theeldest a widow...
"Something"
... BIBLE STORIES AND RELIGIOUS CLASSICS "SOMETHING". By HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN. "I
will be Something," declared theeldest of five brothers; "I will be of use in...
The Escape from Egypt
... At midnight Jehovah destroyed all theeldest sons in the land of Egypt, from the
eldest son of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to theeldest son of the captive...
How, Upon Saul's Transgression of the Prophet's Commands, Samuel...
... When, therefore, he had gotten the sacrifice ready, he called Jesse and his sons
to partake of those sacrifices; and when he saw hiseldest son to be a tall...
Life.
... [10] Of the nine survivors theeldest was a daughter, named, after her
grandmother, Macrina. Theeldest of the sons was Basil, the...
The Flight into Egypt and St. John the Baptist in the Desert
... [February 27 ^th:] This evening I saw Anna and hereldest her house to... [February
28:] This evening I saw Anna and hereldest daughter with the Blessed Virgin....
Jacob and Esau
... And you must recollect, that it was not at all a regular custom in the East for
theeldest son to be his father's heir, as it is in England....
Burleigh
... The poem titled "Blessed Are They That Mourn" was born of sorrow. Within the space
of two years he buried his father, wife,eldest daughter, andeldest son....
Death of Constantius, who Leaves his Son Constantine Emperor.
... whom he was surrounded, in his own palace, and on the imperial couch, he bequeathed
the empire, according to the law of nature, [3098] to hiseldest son, and...
Of the Generations of the Three Sons of Noah.
... But Assur, father of the Assyrian, was not one of the sons of Ham, Noah's
son, but is found among the sons of Shem, hiseldest son....
Thesaurus
Eldest (17 Occurrences)... See Elder. Multi-Version Concordance
Eldest (17 Occurrences).
... The
eldest of them
married, but died childless, leaving his wife to his brother. (WEY).
...Primogeniture
... 2. (n.) The exclusive right of inheritance which belongs to theeldest
son. Thus in England the right of inheriting the estate of...
Eliab (20 Occurrences)
... (2) A Reubenite, father of Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 16:11, 12; Numbers 26:8
Deuteronomy 11:6). (3)Eldest son of Jesse and brother of David (1 Samuel 16:6...
Youngest (26 Occurrences)
... Genesis 44:12 He searched, beginning with theeldest, and ending at the youngest....
1 Samuel 17:14 David was the youngest; and the threeeldest followed Saul....
Jesse (45 Occurrences)
... Both Samuel and Jesse fail to discern at first Yahweh's choice, Samuel thinking
that it would be theeldest son (1 Samuel 16:6), while Jesse had not thought it...
Inherit (98 Occurrences)
... receive as a right or title descendible by law from an ancestor at his decease;
as, the heir inherits the land or real estate of his father; theeldest son of...
Reuben (73 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Behold a son!, theeldest son of Jacob and Leah
(Genesis 29:32). His sinful conduct, referred to in Genesis...
Eli'ab (19 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 17:13 And the threeeldest sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle;
and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the...
Enoch (18 Occurrences)
... Initiated. (1.) Theeldest son of... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ENOCH. e'-nok
(chanokh, "initiated"; Henoch): (1) Theeldest son of Cain (Genesis 4:17, 18)....
Cainan (8 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Possession; smith. (1.) The fourth antediluvian
patriarch, theeldest son of Enos. He was 70 years old...
Resources
Who was Joseph in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Athaliah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Judah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgEldest: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
