Hebrewisms of The Bible Part 6:
Being the first-born among the Jew’s is of extreme importance, carrying many privileges, and responsibilities. He, or it, that is first-born, is head, or chief, having, or taking preference over anything, or anyone in a family, the firstborn having an eminent role in the things pertaining to the family.
Genesis 49:3, Jacob said to his sons, “Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power.”
But Jacob also said speaking of Reuben, “Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou went up to thy father’s bed.”
Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn, now because he had committed fornication with his father’s wife, Reuben had forfeited all the privileges of his birthright. Judah was now given all the privileges of the firstborn.
Job 18:13, “The firstborn of death shall devour his strength.”
This is a personification full of poetical horror. Bil-dad is saying, Job is dying, he is seized by the first-born of death, or the most deadly disease that death has ever produced.
Isaiah 14:30, “The firstborn of the poor shall feed.”
The firstborn of the poor denotes those who are extremely poor and unhappy, this from grief, sickness, pain, etc.
Psalms 89:27, “I = (the Father) will make him = (Jesus) my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.” Jesus shall become the most eminent of kings, “The King of Kings.”
Romans 8:29, “For whom He = (the Father) did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Jeremiah 31:9, The LORD said, “I am a Father to Israel, and E-phra-im is my first-born.”
Ephraim having gone astray, was no longer worthy to be called a son by God. Yet again they shall be called a son.
1. Exodus 4:22-23, “Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me.”
God serves this notice on all people, for all time. “Let my son (Israel) go, that he may serve me.” So of the elect church:
1 Corinthians 6:18, “And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
Colossians 1:15, Speaks of Jesus, “Who is the image of the invisible God = (the Father,) the firstborn = (first in rank) of every creature.”
Colossians 1:18, “He = (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church.”
Hebrews 12:23, “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn.”
The words son, sons, and children have various peculiar meanings.
The “sons or children of Belial,” so often spoken of in the O.T. represent wicked men, vile, base and good for nothing, also those who live outside the law, being governed by nothing, or by no person.
Ephesians 2:2, “Ye walked according to the course = (age) of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”
Phillip Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com