What does בְּכוֹרָה (bĕkwōrāh) mean in the Bible?
בְּכוֹרָה (bĕkwōrāh): The right and privilege of the firstborn; inheritance priority bestowed by birth order, carrying legal and covenantal weight
Hebrew · H1062
בְּכוֹרָה
The firstling of man or beast; abstractly primogeniture
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
בְּכוֹרָהH1062
Pronunciationbĕkwōrāh
What does בְּכוֹרָה (bĕkwōrāh) mean in the Bible?
בְּכוֹרָה (bĕkwōrāh): The right and privilege of the firstborn; inheritance priority bestowed by birth order, carrying legal and covenantal weight
Full entry for בְּכוֹרָה (H1062) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1062?
The BSB source-word alignment has 10 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include his birthright (2), the birthright (2), according to birthright (1), in order by age (1), is a birthright (1).
Where does בְּכוֹרָה (bĕkwōrāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 25:31. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (6), 1 Chronicles (3), Deuteronomy (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ithis birthright2×Genesis 25:34, 1 Chronicles 5:1
the birthright2×Genesis 25:33, 1 Chronicles 5:2
according to birthright1×1 Chronicles 5:1
in order by age1×Genesis 43:33
is a birthright1×Genesis 25:32
my birthright1×Genesis 27:36
of the firstborn1×Deuteronomy 21:17
your birthright1×Genesis 25:31
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 25:31בְּכֹֽרָתְךָ֖toyour birthrightNoun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularGenesis 25:32בְּכֹרָֽה׃tois a birthrightNoun - feminine singularGenesis 25:33בְּכֹרָת֖וֹtothe birthrightNoun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularGenesis 25:34הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃סtohis birthrightArticle | Noun - feminine singularGenesis 27:36בְּכֹרָתִ֣יtomy birthrightNoun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularGenesis 43:33כִּבְכֹ֣רָת֔וֹtoin order by agePreposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 21:17הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃סtoof the firstbornArticle | Noun - feminine singular1 Chronicles 5:1בְּכֹ֣רָת֔וֹtohis birthrightNoun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular1 Chronicles 5:1לַבְּכֹרָֽה׃toaccording to birthrightPreposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular1 Chronicles 5:2וְהַבְּכֹרָ֖הtothe birthrightConjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 25:31
Aligned rows10
Books represented3
Genesis6Deuteronomy11 Chronicles3
Source forms
הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃ס2xhab·bə·ḵō·rāhGenesis 25:34, Deuteronomy 21:17
בְּכֹרָֽה׃1xbə·ḵō·rāhGenesis 25:32
בְּכֹרָת֖וֹ1xbə·ḵō·rā·ṯōwGenesis 25:33
בְּכֹ֣רָת֔וֹ1xbə·ḵō·rā·ṯōw1 Chronicles 5:1
בְּכֹרָתִ֣י1xbə·ḵō·rā·ṯîGenesis 27:36
בְּכֹֽרָתְךָ֖1xbə·ḵō·rā·ṯə·ḵāGenesis 25:31
וְהַבְּכֹרָ֖ה1xwə·hab·bə·ḵō·rāh1 Chronicles 5:2
כִּבְכֹ֣רָת֔וֹ1xkiḇ·ḵō·rā·ṯōwGenesis 43:33
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - feminine singular2xGenesis 25:34, Deuteronomy 21:17
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular2xGenesis 25:33, 1 Chronicles 5:1
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular1x1 Chronicles 5:2
Noun - feminine singular1xGenesis 25:32
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular1xGenesis 27:36
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular1xGenesis 25:31
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular1xGenesis 43:33
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular1x1 Chronicles 5:1
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. The right and privilege of the firstborn; inheritance priority bestowed by birth order, carrying legal and covenantal weight
Source Gloss
the firstling of man or beast; abstractly primogeniture
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
The right and privilege of the firstborn; inheritance priority bestowed by birth order, carrying legal and covenantal weight
the firstling of man or beast; abstractly primogeniture BDB: right of first-born Usage: birthright, firstborn(-ling).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
The inheritable right and privilege of the firstborn son, sold for immediate gratification
Showing 1 selected witness from 14 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
בְּכוֹרָה is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.