King James Bible Dictionary

As soon as a child was born it was washed, and rubbed with salt (Ezekiel 16:4), and then swathed with bandages (Job 38:9; Luke 2:7, 12). A Hebrew mother remained forty days in seclusion after the birth of a son, and after the birth of a daughter double that number of days. At the close of that period she entered into the tabernacle or temple and offered up a sacrifice of purification (Leviticus 12:1-8; Luke 2:22). A son was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth, being thereby consecrated to God (Genesis 17:10-12; comp. Romans 4:11). Seasons of misfortune are likened to the pains of a woman in travail, and seasons of prosperity to the joy that succeeds child-birth (Isaiah 13:8; Jeremiah 4:31; John 16:21, 22). The natural birth is referred to as the emblem of the new birth (John 3:3-8; Galatians 6:15; Titus 3:5, etc.).

Pangs in giving
Psalms 48:6; Isaiah 13:8; Isaiah 21:3; Jeremiah 4:31; Jeremiah 6:24; Jeremiah 30:6; Jeremiah 31:8

Giving, ordained to be in sorrow
Genesis 3:16
Abortion; Children

BIRTH, noun berth. [Latin partus, the participle of pario, to bear.]

1. The act of coming into life, or of being born. Except in poetry, it is generally applied to human beings; as the birth of a son.

2. Lineage; extraction; descent; as, Grecian birth

It is used of high or low extraction; but is often used by way of distinction for a descent from noble or honorable parents and ancestors; as a man of birth

3. The condition in which a person is born.

A foe by birth to Troy.

4. That which is born; that which is produced, whether animal or vegetable.

5. The act of bringing forth; as, she had two children at a birth

6. In a theological sense, regeneration is called the new birth

7. Origin; beginning; as the birth of an empire.

BIRTH, BERTH, noun A station in which a ship rider. [See Berth.]

The observance of birth-days was common in early times (Job 1:4, 13, 18). They were specially celebrated in the land of Egypt (Genesis 40:20). There is no recorded instance in Scripture of the celebration of birth-days among the Jews. On the occasion of Herod's birth-day John the Baptist was beheaded (Matthew 14:6).

Celebrated by feasts
Genesis 40:20; Matthew 14:6

Cursed
Matthew 18:3; Jeremiah 20:14; Jeremiah 20:18

The custom of observing birthdays is very ancient, (Genesis 40:20; Jeremiah 20:15) and in (Job 1:4) etc., we read that Job's sons "feasted every one his day." In Persia birthdays were celebrated with peculiar honors and banquets, and in Egypt those of the king were kept with great pomp. It is very probable that in (Matthew 14:6) the feast to commemorate Herod's accession is intended, for we know that such feasts were common, and were called "the day of the king." (Hosea 7:5)

BIRTH'DAY, noun [birth and day.] The day in which any person is born.

1. The same day of the month, in which a person was born, in every succeeding year; often celebrated as a joyful anniversary. It sometimes has the form of an attribute; as a birth-day ode.

BIRTH'DOM, noun [birth and dom.] Privilege of birth. [Not used.]

BIRTH'ING, noun Any thing added to raise the sides of a ship.

BIRTH'NIGHT, noun [birth and night.] The night in which a person is born; and the anniversary of that night in succeeding years.

BIRTH'PLACE, noun [birth and place.] The town, city or country, where a person is born; more generally, the particular town, city, or other local district.

1. This word denotes the special privileges and advantages belonging to the first-born son among the Jews. He became the priest of the family. Thus Reuben was the first-born of the patriarchs, and so the priesthood of the tribes belonged to him. That honour was, however, transferred by God from Reuben to Levi (Numbers 3:12, 13; 8:18).

2. The first-born son had allotted to him also a double portion of the paternal inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:15-17). Reuben was, because of his undutiful conduct, deprived of his birth-right (Genesis 49:4; 1 Chronicles 5:1). Esau transferred his birth-right to Jacob (Genesis 25:33).

3. The first-born inherited the judicial authority of his father, whatever it might be (2 Chronicles 21:3). By divine appointment, however, David excluded Adonijah in favour of Solomon.

4. The Jews attached a sacred importance to the rank of "first-born" and "first-begotten" as applied to the Messiah (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 1:4-6). As first-born he has an inheritance superior to his brethren, and is the alone true priest.

Belonged to the firstborn
Deuteronomy 21:15-16

Entitled the firstborn to a double portion of inheritance
Deuteronomy 21:15-17

Entitled the firstborn to royal succession
2 Chronicles 21:3

An honorable title
Exodus 4:22; Psalms 89:27; Jeremiah 31:9; Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:6; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 1:5

Sold by Esau
Genesis 25:29-34; Genesis 27:36; Hebrews 12:16; Romans 9:12-13

Forfeited by Reuben
1 Chronicles 5:1-2

Set aside, that of:

Manasseh
Genesis 48:15-20

Adonijah
1 Kings 2:15

Hosah's son
1 Chronicles 26:10
Firstborn

the advantages accruing to the eldest son. These were not definitely fixed in patriarchal times. Great respect was paid to him in the household, and, as the family widened into a tribe, this grew into a sustained authority, undefined save by custom, in all matters of common interest. Thus the "princes" of the congregation had probably rights of primogeniture. (Numbers 7:2; 21:18; 25:14) (Gradually the rights of the eldest son came to be more definite: (1) The functions of the priesthood in the family with the paternal blessing. (2) A "double portion" of the paternal property was allotted by the Mosaic law. (21:16-17) (3) The eldest son succeeded to the official authority of the father. The first-born of the king was his successor by law. (2 Chronicles 21:3) In all these Jesus was the first-born of the father.

BIRTH'RIGHT, noun [birth and right.] Any right or privilege, to which a person is entitled by birth, such as an estate descendible by law to an heir, or civil liberty under a free constitution.

Esau, for a morsel, sold his birthright Hebrews 12:16.

It may be used in the sense of primogeniture, or the privilege of the first born, but is applicable to any right which results from descent.

BIRTH'-SONG, noun A song sung at the birth of a person.

BIRTH'-STRANGLED, adjective [birth and strangle.] Strangled or suffocated in being born.

BIRTH'WORT, noun [birth and wort.] A genus of plants, Aristolochia, of many species. Of these are the snake root of America, and the contrayerva of Jamaica.