KJV ORIGINAL
If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
If a man has two wives—one he loves and one he doesn't love—and both wives have given him children, and if the firstborn son belongs to the wife he doesn't love:
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse begins a law about treating children fairly, even when they come from a wife the father doesn't prefer.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, polygamy was practiced and legally recognized, though it often led to family conflicts and favoritism. This law was given to protect the rights of children, especially inheritance rights, from being affected by their father's personal feelings toward their mothers. The practice of polygamy created complex family dynamics that required legal guidelines to ensure fairness.
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