Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: . Hermans Note; This can accurately be interpreted the first son born or created.; Genesis 48:17-20 17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. 19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. 20 Note And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.;Hermans Note;This one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head: As the two sons of Joseph stood before Israel, the older (Manasseh) was before Israel's right hand and the younge Ephraim) was before Israel's left hand. Joseph positioned them intentionally so the older could receive the right hand blessing accordingto custom. Yet Isaac deliberately crossed his hands and put his right hand on Ephraim's head and his left hand on Manasseh's head.;" ---------------------------------------- Jeremiah 31:9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. . Hermans Note; Ephraim was not the firstborn but God chose him to take the position of firstborn. This is described here. For I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn. This shows how the idea of firstborn in the Bible is often a position of pre-eminence or the one to receive the inheritance, not necessarily meaning first out of the womb. David had the position of firstborn, even though he was the youngest son (1 Samuel 16:11 and Psalm 89:27). Jesus has the pre-eminent position of firstborn (Colossians 1:15), though this does not mean Jesus was literally the first born creature of God, because Jesus was not created;" Record 4 ;Scripture;1 Samuel16:11To 11And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.;Hermans Note;Here we see that David was the youngest son of Jesse.; ----------------------------------- Psalms 89:20-27. 20  I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: 21  With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. 22  The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23  And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. 24  But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. 25  I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. 26  He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. 27  Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.; . Hermans Note; David had the position of firstborn, even though he was the youngest son. This shows how the idea of firstborn in the Bible is often a position of pre-eminence, not necessarily meaning first out of the womb. Some say that this is a declaration of Jesus as the firstborn. True there is a parallelism of David and Jesus in this chapter. For we can derive from verse 19 through 20 that the Lord anointed David with the holy oil as a type of Christ. Nevertheless, the verse is literally talking about David as it mentions him by name. The text continues to use pronouns like his, him right through verse 27 where God states I will makehim my firstborn. Afterwhich, he continues with keeping my covenent with him, his seed and his children. These are obvious indicators that God is still literally talking about David.;" -------------------------------- Colossians1:15-18 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. NIV He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.; . Hermans Note; Jesus has the pre-eminent position of firstborn, though this does not mean Jesus was literally the first born creature of God, because Jesus was not created. Furthermore, the NIV does not say of creation. Thus, implying that Jesus was a member of the class of created things. It says over creation. This interpertation is justified because in the word for word translation of the phrase firstborn of all creation, there is no translation for the word of. Thus, making it somewhat subjective. In addition the Strongs Concordance says that firstborn means preeminence. The text also says (verse 17) that the purpose of him being declared firstborn is so that he would have the preeminence.;" ---------------------------------------- Romans8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.; . Hermans Note; Here again we see that the position of firstborn is assigned after birth. Thus, firstborn is a position of preeminent assigned at or after birth.; ------------------------------------- Hebrews12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, ;; . Hermans Note; Of the saints in heaven, probably those formerly highly distinguished on earth by the favor and love of God, such as patriarchs, prophets, apostles. Nevertheless, these are men assigned preiminent positions after their death, which has nothing to do with when they were born or created.;