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# birthright

«birthright» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **something that a person has a right to just because they…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### 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 →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/birthright/#m1)

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 →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/birthright/#m2)

### 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 →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/birthright/#x1)
- 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 →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/birthright/#x2)
- 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 →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/birthright/#x3)
- 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 →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/birthright/#x4)
- Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/birthright/#x5)
- Education should be every child's birthright. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/birthright/#x6)
- The prince's birthright was to become king. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/birthright/#x7)
- Being able to speak your own language is a birthright. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/birthright/#x8)
- Jacob tricked his brother out of his birthright. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/birthright/#x9)
- In some countries citizenship is a birthright if you are born there. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/birthright/#x10)
- Don't sell your birthright for a quick treat. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/birthright/#x11)

### 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.'](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.728/)
- [And Jacob said: 'Swear to me first'; and he swore unto him; and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.730/)
- [So Esau despised his birthright.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/torah/jps/GEN.732/)
- [For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came he that is the prince; but the birthright was Joseph's —](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/1CH.209/)
- [Jacob tricked Esau out of his birthright and his father's blessing.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/religion-ethics/4-abraham-isaac-and-jacob/14/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «birthright» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/birthright/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.