Bible Dictionary
First-born
The first-born was the eldest son or first male offspring of an animal. The first-born son ordinarily received special family privileges, including a double inheritance, while the first-born of Egypt were struck in the final plague.
Definition
The first-born was ordinarily the eldest son or first male offspring. The first-born son possessed special family privileges, including a double inheritance. The expression could also describe the most miserable of the poor or the redeemed people of God.
Biblical Usage
The destruction of Egypt’s first-born was the final plague before Israel’s deliverance. Biblical language also uses first-born for the church of the redeemed and for a person holding a position of special privilege.
Historical Background
The first-born held an important place in family inheritance and succession. The source identifies Menephtah as probably the Pharaoh whose first-born was slain.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Sons enjoyed certain special privileges (Deut. 21:17; Gen. 25:23, 31, 34; 49:3; 1 Chr. 5:1; Heb. 12:16; Ps. 89:27). (See BIRTHRIGHT.) The “first-born of the poor” signifies the most miserable of the poor (Isa. 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 (Ex. 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.”