King James Bible Dictionary

FIRST, adjective furst. [See fare and for.]

1. Advanced before or further than any other in progression; foremost in place; as the first man in a marching company or troop is the man that precedes all the rest. Hence,

2. Preceding all others in the order of time. Adam was the first man. Cain was the first murderer. Monday was the first day of January.

3. Preceding all others in numbers or a progressive series; the ordinal of one; as, 1 is the first number.

4. Preceding all others in rank, dignity or excellence. Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece. Burke was one of the first geniuses of his age. Give God the first place in your affections.

FIRST, adverb furst.

1. Before any thing else in the order of time.

Adam was first formed, then Eve. 1 Timothy 2:1.

2. Before all others in place or progression.

Let the officers enter the gate first

3. Before any thing else in order of proceeding or consideration. first let us attend to the examination of the witnesses.

4. Before all others in rank. He stands or ranks first in public estimation.

At first at the first as the beginning or origin.

FIRST or last, at one time or another; at the beginning or end.

And all fools and lovers first or last.

First ripe of fruits, grain, oil, wine, and first of fleece, required as an offering
Exodus 22:29; Leviticus 2:12-16; Numbers 18:12; Deuteronomy 18:4; 2 Chronicles 31:5; Nehemiah 10:35; Nehemiah 10:37; Nehemiah 10:39; Proverbs 3:9; Jeremiah 2:3; Romans 11:16

Offerings of:

Must be free from blemish
Numbers 18:12

Presented at the tabernacle
Exodus 22:29; Exodus 23:19; Exodus 34:26; Deuteronomy 26:3-10

Belonged to the priests
Leviticus 23:20; Numbers 18:12-13; Deuteronomy 18:3-5

Free-Will offerings of, given to the prophets
2 Kings 4:42

Wave offering of
Leviticus 23:10-14; Leviticus 23:17

As a heave offering
Numbers 15:20; Nehemiah 10:37; Ezekiel 44:30

To be offered as a thank offering upon entrance into the Land of Promise
Deuteronomy 26:3-10

Figurative
Romans 8:23; Romans 11:16; 1 Corinthians 15:20; 1 Corinthians 15:23; James 1:18

FIRST-BEGOT'TEN, adjective First produced; the eldest of children.

Sons enjoyed certain special privileges (Deuteronomy 21:17; Genesis 25:23, 31, 34; 49:3; 1 Chronicles 5:1; Hebrews 12:16; Psalms 89:27). (See BIRTHRIGHT.)

The "first-born of the poor" signifies the most miserable of the poor (Isaiah 14:30). The "church of the first-born" signifies the church of the redeemed.

The destruction of the first-born was the last of the ten plagues inflicted on the Egyptians (Exodus 11:1-8; 12:29, 30).

Menephtah is probably the Pharaoh whose first-born was slain. His son did not succeed or survive his father, but died early. The son's tomb has been found at Thebes unfinished, showing it was needed earlier than was expected. Some of the records on the tomb are as follows: "The son whom Menephtah loves; who draws towards him his father's heart, the singer, the prince of archers, who governed Egypt on behalf of his father. Dead."

Of man and beast, reserved to Himself by God
Exodus 13:2; Exodus 13:12-16; Exodus 22:29-30; Exodus 34:19-20; Leviticus 27:26; Numbers 3:13; Numbers 8:17-18; Deuteronomy 15:19-23; Nehemiah 10:36

Redemption of
Exodus 13:13; Exodus 34:20; Leviticus 27:27; Numbers 3:40-51; Numbers 18:15-17

Levites taken instead of firstborn of the families of Israel
Numbers 3:12; Numbers 3:40-45; Numbers 8:16-18

Of Egyptians, slain
Exodus 11:5; Exodus 12:12; Exodus 12:29; Exodus 13:15; Numbers 33:4; Psalms 78:51; Psalms 105:36; Psalms 136:10

Of idolaters, sacrificed
Ezekiel 20:26

Birthright of:

Authority over younger members of the household
Genesis 4:7

A double portion of inheritance
Deuteronomy 21:15-17

Royal succession
2 Chronicles 21:3

Honorable distinction of
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; Romans 9:12-13; Hebrews 12:16

Forfeited by Reuben
Genesis 49:3-4; 1 Chronicles 5:1-2

Set aside:

That of Manasseh
Genesis 48:15-20; 1 Chronicles 5:1

That of Adonijah
1 Kings 2:15

That of Hosah's son
1 Chronicles 26:10
Birthright

Under the law, in memory of the exodus (when the first-born of the Egyptians were slain), the eldest son was regarded as devoted to God, and was in very case to be redeemed by an offering not exceeding five shekels, within one month from birth. If he died before the expiration of thirty days, the Jewish doctors held the father excused, but liable to the payment if he outlived that time. (Exodus 13:12-15,16; Leviticus 27:6) The eldest son received a double portion of the father's inheritance, (21:17) but not of the mother's. Under the monarchy the eldest son usually, but no always, as appears in the case of Solomon, succeeded his father in the kingdom. (1 Kings 1:30; 2:22) The male first-born of animals was also devoted to God. (Exodus 13:2,12,13; 22:29; 34:19,20) Unclean animals were to be redeemed with the addition of one-fifth of the value, or else put to death; or, if not redeemed, to be sold, and the price given to the priests. (Leviticus 27:13,27,28)

FIRST'-BORN, adjective

1. First brought forth; first in the order of nativity; eldest; as the first-born son.

2. Most excellent; most distinguished or exalted. Christ is called the first-born of every creature. Colossians 1:1.

FIRST'-BORN, noun The eldest child; the first in the order of birth.

The first-born of the poor are the most wretched. Isaiah 14:1.

The first-born of death is the most terrible death.

Job 18:1.

From the beginning the office of the priesthood in each family belonged to the eldest son. But when the extensive plan of sacrificial worship was introduced, requiring a company of men to be exclusively devoted to this ministry, the primitive office of the first-born was superseded by that of the Levites (Numbers 3:11-13), and it was ordained that the first-born of man and of unclean animals should henceforth be redeemed (18:15).

The laws concerning this redemption of the first-born of man are recorded in Exodus 13:12-15; 22:29; 34:20; Numbers 3:45; 8:17; 18:16; Leviticus 12:2, 4.

The first-born male of every clean animal was to be given up to the priest for sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:6; Exodus 13:12; 34:20; Numbers 18:15-17).

But the first-born of unclean animals was either to be redeemed or sold and the price given to the priest (Leviticus 27:11-13, 27). The first-born of an ass, if not redeemed, was to be put to death (Exodus 13:13; 34:20).

A peculiar sanctity was attached to the first-born both of man and of cattle. God claimed that the first-born males of man and of animals should be consecrated to him, the one as a priest (Exodus 19:22, 24), representing the family to which he belonged, and the other to be offered up in sacrifice (Genesis 4:4).

FIRST-CREA'TED, adjective Created before any other.

FIRST-FRUIT,

FIRST-FRUITS, noun

1. The fruit or produce first matured and collected in any season. Of these the Jews made an oblation to God, as an acknowledgment of his sovereign dominion.

2. The first profits of any thing. In the church of England, the profits of every spiritual benefice for the first year.

3. The first or earliest effect of any thing, in a good or bad sense; as the first-fruits of grace in the heart, or the first-fruits of vice.

The first-fruits of the ground were offered unto God just as the first-born of man and animals.

The law required,

1. That on the morrow after the Passover Sabbath a sheaf of new corn should be waved by the priest before the altar (Leviticus 23:5, 6, 10, 12; 2:12).

2. That at the feast of Pentecost two loaves of leavened bread, made from the new flour, were to be waved in like manner (Leviticus 23:15, 17; Numbers 28:26).

3. The feast of Tabernacles was an acknowledgement that the fruits of the harvest were from the Lord (Exodus 23:16; 34:22).

4. Every individual, besides, was required to consecrate to God a portion of the first-fruits of the land (Exodus 22:29; 23:19; 34:26; Numbers 15:20, 21).

5. The law enjoined that no fruit was to be gathered from newly-planted fruit-trees for the first three years, and that the first-fruits of the fourth year were to be consecrated to the Lord (Leviticus 19:23-25). Jeremiah (2:3) alludes to the ordinance of "first-fruits," and hence he must have been acquainted with the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, where the laws regarding it are recorded.

1. The law ordered in general that the first of all ripe fruits and of liquors, or, as it is twice expressed, the first of first-fruits, should be offered in God's house. (Exodus 22:29; 23:19; 34:27) It was an act of allegiance to God as the giver of all. No exact quantity was commanded, but it was left to the spiritual and moral sense of each individual.
2. On the morrow after the passover sabbath, i.e. on the 16th of Nisan, a sheaf of new corn was to be brought to the priest and waved before the altar, in acknowledgment of the gift of fruitfulness. (Leviticus 2:12; 23:5,6,10,12)
3. At the expiration of seven weeks from this time, i.e. at the feast of pentecost, an oblation was to be made from the new flour, which were to be waved in like manner with the passover sheaf. (Exodus 34:22; Leviticus 23:15,17; Numbers 28:26)
4. The feast of ingathering, i.e. the feast of tabernacles, in the seventh month, was itself an acknowledgment of the fruits of the harvest. (Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Leviticus 23:39) These four sorts of offerings were national. Besides them, the two following were of an individual kind.
5. A cake of the first dough that was baked was to be offered as a heave-offering. (Numbers 15:19,21)
6. The first-fruits of the land were to be brought in a basket to the holy place of God's choice, and there presented to the priest, who was to set the basket down before the altar. (26:2-11) The offerings were the perquisite of the priests. (Numbers 18:11; 18:4) Nehemiah, at the return from captivity, took pains to reorganize the offerings of first-fruits of both kinds, and to appoint places to receive them. (Nehemiah 10:35,37; 12:44) An offering of first-fruits is mentioned as an acceptable one to the prophet Elisha. (2 Kings 4:42)

See Firstborn
Firstborn

FIRST'LING, adjective First produced; as firstling males. Deuteronomy 15:19.

FIRST'LING, noun

1. The first produce or offspring; applied to beasts; as the firstlings of cattle.

2. The thing first thought or done. [Not used.]

The very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand.

FIRST'-RATE, adjective

1. Of the highest excellence; preeminent; as a first-rate scholar or painter.

2. Being of the largest size; as a first-rate ship.