First-Begotten, First-Born (Bekor, πρωτότοκος)

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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1. Moses was to say to Pharaoh, "Thus saith the Lord, Israel is My son, even my first-born" (Ex. 4:22). God called him out of Egypt, which is applied also to the Lord Jesus (Hos. 11:1; Matt. 2:15).
2. Because Pharaoh refused to let God's first-born go, all the first-born of Egypt were slain (Ex. 12:29).
3. God claimed for Himself all the first-born of the children of Israel, and of their cattle. The first-born of Israel were redeemed by the sons of Levi, as far as they went, and the remainder were redeemed with money (Num. 3:12-51).
4. To the first-born son in a family pertained the birthright. Esau was called a profane person for selling his birthright: it was despising the gift of God. The first-born son was to inherit a double portion of his father's property (Deut. 21:15-17).
5. In the N. T. the term is applied to the Lord: He was Mary's first-born (Matt. 1:25). He is also called, in pre-eminence, “the first-born of every creature” (Col. 1:15); “the first-born among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29); and “the first-born from the dead” (Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5). In bringing “the first-begotten” into the world, God says, "Let all the angels of God worship him" (Heb. 1:6).
In the O. T. also the title had the force of pre-eminence, irrespective of the time of birth. David, though the youngest, was made the firstborn: (Compare Psalm 89:27). Christ also in every relationship must have the first place, as is manifest in the above passages.