birthright
part of speech
noun (a birthright, birthrights)
meaning for a pupil
1) A birthright is something that a person has a right to just because they were born into a certain family, country or position. tree →
2) (Bible) In the Old Testament, the birthright was the special share the eldest son got from his father; Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew. tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: The special right and larger share of the firstborn son, which Esau gave up to Jacob. Interpretation: Tradition sees Esau's easy sale as showing he did not value the holy duties of the firstborn, such as leading the family service. In the primary lessons: In religious education the story of Esau and Jacob shows someone trading something precious for something small. In citizenship talk, freedom or education may be called every child's birthright. Phrases: «sell your birthright», «a birthright citizen», «freedom is our birthright».
examples
- And Jacob said: 'Sell me first thy birthright.' (Torah GEN.25.31, JPS 1917) tree →
- And Jacob said: 'Swear to me first'; and he swore unto him; and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. (Torah GEN.25.33, JPS 1917) tree →
- And Esau said: 'Behold, I am at the point to die; and what profit shall the birthright do to me?' (Torah GEN.25.32, JPS 1917) tree →
- For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came he that is the prince; but the birthright was Joseph's — (Writings 1CH.5.2, JPS 1917) tree →
- Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. tree →
- Education should be every child's birthright. tree →
- The prince's birthright was to become king. tree →
- Being able to speak your own language is a birthright. tree →
- Jacob tricked his brother out of his birthright. tree →
- In some countries citizenship is a birthright if you are born there. tree →
- Don't sell your birthright for a quick treat. tree →
note
Countable. One word: birth + right. «Sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage» is an old saying from the Esau story: to give up something precious for something small.
In the corpora
- And Jacob said: 'Sell me first thy birthright.'
- And Jacob said: 'Swear to me first'; and he swore unto him; and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
- So Esau despised his birthright.
- For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came he that is the prince; but the birthright was Joseph's —
- Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright and his father's blessing.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «birthright» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.