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Meaning Of First In Biblical Context

The concept of "first" in biblical contexts is conveyed through several Hebrew and Greek terms, carrying nuances of order, priority, origin, and dedication. The most common Hebrew term is רִאשׁוֹן (rî'šôn), which appears in various forms such as רִאשֹׁנָה (rî'šōnāh) [3, 4, 5] and רִאשׁוֹן (rî'šôn) [6, 10]. This term can denote "first" in time, order, or importance [12].

One significant application of "first" is seen in the concept of the "firstborn." In ancient Israelite society, the firstborn son held special privileges, including a double portion of the inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17) [1]. The destruction of the firstborn in Egypt was the tenth and final plague inflicted upon the Egyptians (Exodus 11:1-8; 12:29-30) [1]. God claimed the firstborn males of both humans and animals, requiring their consecration to Him (Exodus 13:2) [13, 14]. This dedication commemorated the sparing of Israel's firstborn during the Exodus (Exodus 13:15) [8]. The firstborn of clean animals were offered in sacrifice, while those of unclean animals or humans were to be redeemed (Numbers 18:15-18) [8]. Some interpretations suggest that the term "firstborn" in the context of the Egyptian plague might not always refer strictly to the literal firstborn, but could encompass a broader sense of a prominent or significant individual in a household, leading to the idea that "there was not a house where there was not one dead" (Exodus 12:30) [23]. The "church of the first-born" is understood to signify the church of the redeemed [1].

Another crucial concept is "firstfruits." This refers to the initial produce of the harvest, which was to be offered to God as an act of allegiance and acknowledgment of His provision [2, 7]. The law mandated several offerings of firstfruits:

The term רִאשׁוֹן (rî'šôn) can also denote priority or precedence. In Isaiah 41:4, God declares, "I am the first, and with the last I am He," emphasizing His eternal nature [12]. Abraham Ibn Ezra interprets "the first" in Isaiah 41:27 as relative, meaning "the first after another first," rather than an absolute first, which he reserves for God [16]. The Babylonian Talmud notes that "first" (רִאשׁוֹן) can refer to a preceding event or day, such as the fourteenth day of the month being called "first" because it precedes the festival [17]. It can also refer to the first in a sequence of events, such as the first to fall before a yavam for levirate marriage [20].

In the New Testament, the Greek word for "first" (πρῶτος, prōtos) also carries similar meanings of order, rank, or importance. For example, Hebrews 9:1 states, "The first therefore also indeed had ordinances of service, and the sanctuary, a worldly one," referring to the first covenant [9]. Jesus teaches, "But many that are first, shall be last, and the last shall be first" (Matthew 19:30) [15]. John Gill interprets this as a warning to those who are prominent in this world, like the rich young ruler, that they may be last in the kingdom of heaven, while those who are humble and "last" in worldly terms, like the apostles, will be "first" in the kingdom [22].

The apostle Paul also uses "first" in a nuanced way. In 1 Timothy 1:16, he states, "that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering." John Gill clarifies that "first" here is not an adverb of time, implying Paul was the first convert, but rather emphasizes that Christ demonstrated His longsuffering in Paul, a chief sinner, as a prime example [18]. John Chrysostom, commenting on Paul's statement about the Jew being "first" (Romans 1:16), explains that this "first" is an honor in order of time only, not implying greater grace or righteousness [19].

The concept of "first" thus encompasses a range of meanings from chronological order and initial offerings to theological priority and exemplary status, reflecting its multifaceted significance in biblical thought.

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: First-born — 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 [211]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 f”
  2. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Firstfruits — + The law ordered in general that the first of all ripe fruits and of liquors, or, as it is twice expressed, the first of first-fruits, should be offered in God's house. (Exodus 22:29; 23:19; 34:27) It was an act of allegiance to God as the giver of all. No exact quantity was commanded, but it was left to the spiritual and moral sense of each individual. + On the morrow after the passover sabbath, i.e. on the 16th of Nisan, a sheaf of new corn was to be brought to the priest and waved before the altar, in acknowledgment of the gift of fruitfulness. (Levi”
  3. STEPBible TAHOT “Jos.21.10#12=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): רִיאשֹׁנָֽה\׃ [ri.sho.Nah] "first"”
  4. STEPBible TAHOT “Ezr.9.2#17=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): רִאשׁוֹנָֽה\׃\ \ס [ri.sho.Nah] "first"”
  5. STEPBible TAHOT “1Ki.18.25#10=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): רִאשֹׁנָ֔ה [ri.sho.Nah] "first"”
  6. STEPBible TAHOT “2Sa.19.20(19.21)#10=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): רִאשׁוֹן֙ [ri.shOn] "first"”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: First-fruits — The first-fruits of the ground were offered unto God just as the first-born of man and animals. The law required, (1.) That on the morrow after the Passover Sabbath a sheaf of new corn should be waved by the priest before the altar (Lev. 23:5, 6, 10, 12; 2:12). (2.) That at the feast of Pentecost two loaves of leavened bread, made from the new flour, were to be waved in like manner (Lev. 23:15, 17; Num. 28:26). (3.) The feast of Tabernacles was an acknowledgement that the fruits of the harvest were from the Lord (Ex. 23:16; 34:22). (4.) Every individua”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: First Born, The — Of man and beast dedicated to God -- Ex 13:2,12; 22:29. Dedicated to commemorate the sparing of the first born of Israel -- Ex 13:15; Nu 3:13; 8:17. Of clean beasts Not to labour. -- De 15:19. Not shorn. -- De 15:19. Not taken from the dam for seven days. -- Ex 22:30; Le 22:27. Offered in sacrifice. -- Nu 18:17. Could not be a free-will offering. -- Le 27:26. Antiquity of offering. -- Ge 4:4. Flesh of, the priest's portion. -- Nu 18:18. Of clean beasts To be redeemed. -- Nu 18:15. Law of redemption for. -- Nu 18:16. Of the ass to be redeemed with la”
  9. Hebrews “Hebrews 9:1 (Darby) — The first therefore also indeed had ordinances of service, and the sanctuary, a worldly one.”
  10. STEPBible TAHOT “2Sa.19.43(19.44)#21=L — Hebrew tagged text (TAHOT): רִאשׁ֛וֹן [ri.Shon] "first"”
  11. Ezekiel “The first of all the first fruits of every thing, and every offering of everything, of all your offerings, shall be for the priest: you shall also give to the priests the first of your dough, to cause a blessing to rest on your house. -- Ezekiel 44:30”
  12. Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H7223] rishon (part 2/3) — in time, ר הָ ׳הַמַּכָּה 1Sam 14:14 the first slaughter (preliminary to General carnage); ר דְּבָרִי ׳וְלֹאהָֿיָה 2 Samuel 19:44 was not my word first? ׳ר in apposition with person subject 2Sam 19:21 I am come as first, compare perhaps Isa 41:27 (insert אָמַרְתִּי Ges De < read הִגַּדְתִּים for הִנָּם הִנֵּה CheHpt Kit Di), and ר ׳הָ Jer 50:17 (opposed to הָאַחֲרוֺן), Isa 43:27; ׳ר absolute, first of mankind Job 15:17; absolute of ׳י, I (an the) first Isa 41:4 (+אַחֲדֹנִים אֶתֿ), + אַחְרוֺן 44:6; 48:12; absolute of time, מֵרִאשׁוֺן Jer 17:12 from the beginning; e”
  13. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: First-born, Sanctification of the — A peculiar sanctity was attached to the first-born both of man and of cattle. God claimed that the first-born males of man and of animals should be consecrated to him, the one as a priest (Ex. 19:22, 24), representing the family to which he belonged, and the other to be offered up in sacrifice (Gen. 4:4).”
  14. Exodus “Exodus 13:2 (Geneva1599) — Sanctifie vnto me all the first borne: that is, euery one that first openeth the wombe among the children of Israel, as well of man as of beast: for it is mine.”
  15. Matthew “Matthew 19:30 (Geneva1599) — But many that are first, shalbe last, and the last shalbe first.”
  16. Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Isaiah 41:27: The first. The first relatively; 35 The first in an absolute sense, can only be applied to God; I. E. therefore explains the word ראשון here by ראשון אחר ראשון lit. the first after another first, that is, the first relatively. it is the attribute to מבשר one that bringeth good tidings, which is to be supplied.”
  17. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Pesachim 5a.6: The school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: We found that the fourteenth day is called: First, as it is stated: “On harishon , on the fourteenth day of the month” (Exodus 12:18). Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: It is evident from the verse itself that it is referring to the removal of leaven on the fourteenth, as rishon means previous. In this context, first means the day that precedes the others, i.e., the day before the Festival begins, as the verse stated: “Are you first [ rishon ] man born? Or were you brought forth before the hills?” (Job 15:7). Based on the parall”
  18. 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 1:16: Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy,.... Though so great a sinner, and even the chief of sinners: that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering; not that the apostle was the first that was converted upon Christ's coming to save sinners; for there were many converted before him, and very great sinners too, and he speaks of himself as one born out of due time; unless it can be thought that he was the first of the persecutors of the church, upon the death of Stephen, that was converted: but the word "first" is not an "adverb" of time, but a "”
  19. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: meaneth this difference? and yet he has often said, “Neither circumcision is anything, nor uncircumcision” ( 1 Cor. vii. 19 . See Gal. v. 6 and vi. 15 ); how then doth he here discriminate, setting the Jew before the Greek? Now why is this? seeing that by being first he does not therefore receive any more of the grace (for the same gift is bestowed both on this person and that,) but the “first” is an honor in order of time only. For he has no such advantage as that of receiving greater righteousness, but is only honored in respect of his receiving it”
  20. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Yevamot 17b.1: The first, is not mistaken, as what is the meaning of first? It means the first to fall before her yavam for levirate marriage. And he who taught referring to her as the second is not mistaken either, as what is the meaning of second? It means the second to enter marriage. Since the second deceased brother was already married to one woman, this yevama whom he took in levirate marriage was his second wife. The Gemara wonders: Is this the necessary order of events? Are we not also dealing with a scenario in which the second brother took the wife of the first bro”
  21. Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Deuteronomy 26:2: THEN THOU SHALT TAKE OF THE FIRST OF ALL THE FRUIT OF THE GROUND, WHICH THOU SHALT BRING IN FROM THY LAND. [The meaning thereof is] that you shall take of the first of all the fruit which you will bring into the house from your Land, which the Eternal your G-d gives you. He commands that one should set aside that fruit in the field and designate it as first-fruit and then bring it into his house and put it in a vessel fit to be taken to the Sanctuary [in Jerusalem]. 1 Literally: “the Chosen House.” See Vol. IV, p. 178, Note 120. — “Fit to be taken to t”
  22. Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 19:30: But many that are first shall be last,.... This may refer unto, or be occasioned by, either the young ruler; signifying that he, and others like him, who were superior in riches and honour, were first in this world, of the first rank and figure, should be the last in the world to come: and the last shall be first; the apostles, who were last in this world, being poor, mean, and abject, should be the first in the other: or to the Scribes and Pharisees, who were in the chief place, and highest esteem, in the Jewish church, and yet least in the kingdom of heaven; whe”
  23. Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 12:29: Smote all the first born - If we take the term first-born in its literal sense only, we shall be led to conclude that in a vast number of the houses of the Egyptians there could have been no death, as it is not at all likely that every first-born child of every Egyptian family was still alive, and that all the first-born of their cattle still remained. And yet it is said, Exo 12:30, that there was not a house where there was not one dead. The word therefore must not be taken in its literal sense only. From its use in a great variety of places in the Scriptures it i”
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