Meaning of PRIMOGENITURE

The right of birthright was considered the exclusive property of the first born of a family.

Generally, the firstborn inherited the rank, status, and prerogatives of his father; he became head of the family or tribe; He also inherited a double portion of the paternal property, a right guaranteed to the firstborn son, even if there was a second wife preferred to the mother of the firstborn (Deut. 21:17; cf. 2 Kings 2: 9).

The right of birthright could be sold to a younger brother, as Esau did to Jacob (Gen. 25:29, 34; Heb. 12:1; a record of a similar case can be found in the article NUZU). The birthright could also be lost through misconduct (1 Chron. 5:1).

The title of Firstborn is given to the Lord Jesus Christ in several senses: (a) In his place in his earthly family, as Mary's firstborn (Mt. 1:25; Luke 2:7). (b) The firstborn of all creation (Col. 1:15).

Here we have the sense of the preeminence and dignity, of right, that the firstborn received from his father. It is not therefore an identification with Creation, as if He were the most preeminent part of it, but rather he is presented as the firstborn over creation, its head.

Thus, this title denotes his position and character, not his origin. This is why this character of birthright over all creation is mentioned in relation to the fact that He is the image of the invisible God (see FULLNESS).

(c) He is the firstborn from the dead (Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5). (d) In addition to being the head of creation, since “everything was created through him and for him” (Col. 1:16; cf. v. 17), (e) he is also the head of all the new creation (see CREATION [THE NEW]) beyond death, on the ground of resurrection.

An example that the title of firstborn is one of dignity and authority is seen in Ps. 89:27, where Solomon, tenth son of David (1 Chron. 3), receives along with the title of "firstborn" the right to the throne. of his father.

And the eternal Son, upon becoming man, receives, after His work of Redemption and subsequent exaltation, this position of preeminence additional to His eternal dignity: that of "Firstborn of the dead", which corresponds to that of "Firstfruit of those who fell asleep" (1 Cor. 15:20, 23), although the first title has more to do with His dignity and the second with His priority in time and His character as a precursor in power.

Thus, the title of Firstborn denotes that He is Sovereign Lord over all spheres, temporal and eternal.