What is the significance of the first born son?

I was curious about the significance of the first born son in the Bible, as I came across it in the book of Luke. There is a large amount of importance placed on the first born son, and I wanted to know why. At first, I thought maybe the significance came from the son literally being the first born; therefore, making the parents proud to be first-time parents. I soon found out that the meaning of first born son goes far beyond being the first out of the womb.

I wanted to highlight two instances where the first born son aspect comes into play. The Lord informed Moses to tell Pharaoh that Israel is his first born son: “This signified Israel's favored status among the nations to be in covenant relationship with God”. God held Israel in high regard, and the statements that he makes about Israel shows that Israel is his beloved. The second instance is when the Lord warns Pharaoh about the death of all of the first born sons: "[A]ll the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the maidservant who is behind the hand mill, and all the firstborn of the beasts" (Exodus 11:5). These situations in the Bible show that the first born son can be one son or a group of people, and the best way to teach a Pharaoh to listen is to kill his first born.

The importance of the first born son is mentioned throughout the Bible, and one reason for its prominence is the double portion inheritance that comes with it. Here’s a little of what to expect if you find yourself lucky enough to be the first born son: “The firstborn son in patriarchal society was regarded as special ( Gen 49:3 ; Exod 13:2 ). He became the head of the family upon his father's death, having received his father's blessing ( Gen 27 ) and a double portion of the inheritance ( Deut 21:17 )”. This tells us that the first born son is automatically seen as special in the eyes of everyone, and the weight of being named head of the family if the father dies is an easy burden to carry once the double inheritance factor is considered.

The first born boys from each family were all unique and different from their siblings and other children. The Lord let Moses know how special these boys were to him: “Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine” (Exodus 13:2). It was considered an honor by the people of Israel to be the first born, because they were literally seen as the properties of the Lord. These guys are considered the elite in the Bible simply by entering the world first.

Lastly, Jesus is considered the ultimate example of the first born son. His inheritance far outweighs a double portion, which is the standard amount promised to the first born sons. Jesus is known as the first and only child of God: “John 1:18: ‘The only-begotten (only-fathered) god (the one in the favored position of the Father) has explained Him”. He is the only child whom God personally fathered, and it makes since for the Lord to have a very special son. Here again there is mention of Jesus being the first born: “He’s the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15)”. The fact that Jesus is the most important first born edition is shown throughout the Bible in order to convey the major importance of his role.

In conclusion, the high status of being a first born son is evident throughout the Bible. The first born son enjoys a double inheritance, head of household if the father passes away, and a special place in the eyes of God. These guys have hit the jackpot upon arrival into the world, because they won the race to be first out of the womb. The value of being the first born is worth a lot, and we can come to this conclusion because it is constantly seen throughout the Bible and society.