Dictionary Article

One who inherits something or who is entitled to a future inheritance; the one who receives the property of a deceased person, particularly on the basis of law and usually by means of a will. In both the OT and NT, the Hebrew and the Greek words encompass these ideas.

In Genesis 15, after God had reiterated his special promise to Abraham, Abraham wondered how the fulfillment of the promise might occur. At the time, only his steward, Eliezer of Damascus, was “the son of his house,” that is, the one of his large household who would inherit. There was no natural-born son of Abraham within the family (see Gn 15:3-4). Without a son in patriarchal times, a man’s chief steward could be his heir as a substitute. Later, after the birth of Ishmael (Abraham’s son by Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant) and of Isaac (his son by Sarah, his wife), trouble erupted between the women, and Sarah demanded that Abraham send Hagar and her son away, because Sarah did not want Ishmael to be an heir with her own son, Isaac (Gn 21:10).

Show passage in OET: GEN 15:3–4

OET-RV GEN 15:3

3 Then he continued, “Yes, you haven’t given me a child so wow, my heir is a slave from my household!”

OET-RV GEN 15:4

4 Then listen, Yahweh’s word came to Avram saying, “That man won’t be your heir, but on the contrary, it’ll be your biological son.”

OET-LV GEN 15:3

3 And_ ʼAⱱrām _he/it _said HERE to_me not you _have _given offspring and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE the _son _of my _household _of_my is_inheriting DOM_me.

OET-LV GEN 15:4

4 And_BEHOLD/LO/SEE the _message _of YHWH to_him/it to_say not he_will _inherit _you this_one if/because (if) one_who he _will _come _out from_your(pl)_inward _of_parts he he_will _inherit _you.

Show passage in OET: GEN 21:10

OET-RV GEN 21:10

10 so Sarah said to Avraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, because that slave woman’s son won’t be inheriting anything along with my son Yitshak.”

OET-LV GEN 21:10

10 And_she/it _said to_ʼAⱱrāhām drive _out the _slave_woman (the)_this and_DOM son _of_her if/because not the _son _of the _slave _woman (the)_this he _will _inherit with son _of_my with Yiʦḩāq.

Jump to OET GEN 15:3–4 section.

Jump to OET GEN 21:10 section.

A wise woman, at Joab’s instigation, told David a story about herself and her two sons. She said that one son killed the other, and that her family now wanted to kill the remaining son for the murder. If this happened, she claimed, the heir of her deceased husband would be destroyed and the family would be left with no inheritance (2 Sm 14:7).

Show passage in OET: SA2 14:7

OET-RV SA2 14:7

7 Now listen, the entire clan has turned against your female servant and demanded, ‘Give us the one who killed his brother, and we’ll kill him in exchange for the life of the brother that he killed. Also, it would mean that this evil thing couldn’t be passed on.’ But that would leave me with no descendants to continue my husband’s name.”

OET-LV SA2 14:7

7 And_BEHOLD/LO/SEE all _of the_clan it _has _risen _up on maidservant _of_your and_they _said deliver _up DOM the_one _who_struck _down _of his/its_brother so_that_we _may _put _him _to _death for_the _life _of his/its_brother whom he _killed and_so _that _we _may _destroy also DOM the_heir and_they _will _extinguish DOM coal _of_my which it _is _left to_not to _establish for_husband _of_my a _name and_a _remnant on the _surface _of the_soil.

Jump to OET SA2 14:7 section.

Another biblical illustration of this normal use of the word “heir” is seen in a parable told by Jesus. The workers in the vineyard, who saw the son of their master coming, said among themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance” (Mt 21:33-43, rsv; cf. Mk 12:7; Lk 20:14).

Show passage in OET: MAT 21:33–43

OET-RV MAT 21:33

33 “Listen to another parable: A landowner planted a vineyard and fenced it, and he carved a wine-pressing pit into it and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to tenant farmers and moved away.

OET-RV MAT 21:34

34 At harvest time, he sent some of his slaves to the tenant farmers to bring back his share of the harvest.

OET-RV MAT 21:35

35 However, the tenants grabbed his slaves and beat them. They killed some and threw rocks at others.

OET-RV MAT 21:36

36 So the owner sent a larger group of slaves, but the tenants did the same things to them.

OET-RV MAT 21:37

37 “Next, he sent his son, because he thought his son would have influence over them.

OET-RV MAT 21:38

38 But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they thought, ‘Hey, this is the heir of the estate. If we kill him, then the inheritance will be ours.’

OET-RV MAT 21:39

39 So they grabbed the son, dragged him out of the vineyard, and killed him there outside.

OET-RV MAT 21:40

40 “Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what do you think he’ll do to those tenant farmers?”

OET-RV MAT 21:41

41 “He’ll brutally destroy those wicked tenants,” they answered, “then he’ll rent the vineyard out to other tenant farmers, who’ll give him his share of the harvest.”

OET-RV MAT 21:42

42 Then Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) said to them, “Haven’t you ever read this in the scriptures? It says:
⇔ ‘The stone which the builders rejected,
⇔ this would become the cornerstone.
⇔ This one came from Yahweh,
⇔ and it was amazing to see.’

OET-RV MAT 21:43

43 “Because of that, I’m telling you that God’s kingdom will be taken away from you people, and be given to a people group who’ll produce a harvest.

OET-LV MAT 21:33

33 Hear another parable:
a_man was a_home _owner, who planted a_vineyard, and put_ a_fence _around to _it:
and dug a_wine-press in it, and built a_tower, and rented_ it _out to _tenant _farmers, and travelled.

OET-LV MAT 21:34

34 And when the season of _the fruits neared, he _sent _out the slaves of _him to the tenant _farmers, to _receive the fruits of _him.

OET-LV MAT 21:35

35 And the tenant _farmers having _taken the slaves of _him, on _one _hand that they _beat, on _the _other _hand that they _killed _off, on _the _other _hand that they _threw _stones.

OET-LV MAT 21:36

36 Again he _sent _out other slaves, more than _the first, and they _did likewise to _them.

OET-LV MAT 21:37

37 But later he _sent _out the son of _him to them saying:
They _will _be _being _swayed by _the son of _me.

OET-LV MAT 21:38

38 But the tenant _farmers having _seen the son, said among themselves:
This is the heir, come, we _may _kill_ him _off and we _may _have the inheritance of _him.

OET-LV MAT 21:39

39 And having _taken him, they _throw _out him out the vineyard and they _killed_ him _off.

OET-LV MAT 21:40

40 Therefore whenever the master of _the vineyard may _come, what he _will _be _doing to_ the those _tenant _farmers?

OET-LV MAT 21:41

41 They _are _saying to _him:
He _will _be _destroying them evil ones miserably, and will _be _renting _out the vineyard to _other tenant _farmers, who will _be _giving _back to _him the fruits in the seasons of _them.

OET-LV MAT 21:42

42 The Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) is _saying to _them:
You _all_ never _read in the scriptures:
The_stone which the ones building rejected, this was _become for the_head of_the_corner, this became from the_master, and it _is marvellous in the_eyes of _us?

OET-LV MAT 21:43

43 Because _of this I _am _saying to _you _all, that the kingdom of_ the _god will _be _being _taken _away from you _all and it _will _be _being _given to_a_people producing the fruits of _it.

Show passage in OET: MRK 12:7

OET-RV MRK 12:7

7 However, those tenant farmers said to each other, ‘Ah ha. This is the one who will inherit this land. If we kill him, we’ll be the ones to control the estate.’

OET-LV MRK 12:7

7 But those the tenant _farmers said to themselves, that This is the heir, come, we _may _kill_ him _off, and the inheritance will _be of _us.

Show passage in OET: LUK 20:14

OET-RV LUK 20:14

14 But when the tenants saw the son, they reasoned among themselves, ‘This is the heir. If we kill him, then his inheritance will become ours.’

OET-LV LUK 20:14

14 But having _seen him, the tenant _farmers were _reasoning to one _another saying:
This is the heir, we _may _kill_ him _off, in _order _that the inheritance may _become of _us.

Jump to OET MAT 21:33–43 section.

Jump to OET MRK 12:7 section.

Jump to OET LUK 20:14 section.

In a number of references in the NT, the word “heir” is used to refer to the believer in Christ, who has an inheritance coming because of being a child of God the Father and consequently a joint heir with Christ (Rom 8:16-17). The inheritance of salvation is variously referred to in different sections of the NT. In Hebrews 6:17, Christians are called “heirs of the promise.” This promise occurred when God said to Abraham, “I will certainly bless you richly, and I will multiply your descendants into countless millions” (Heb 6:14, NLT). In Hebrews 11:7, Noah is described as “an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith” (rsv). In James 2:5, the poor in the world who are rich in faith are said to be “heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him” (rsv). Paul writes that those who are justified by God’s grace are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Ti 3:7).

Show passage in OET: ROM 8:16–17

OET-RV ROM 8:16

16 God’s spirit himself agrees together with our spirit that we are God’s children,

OET-RV ROM 8:17

17 and if we’re his children, then we’re also heirs, so we’ll receive an inheritance from God. That makes us fellow-heirs along with Messiah—if we’re suffering with him then we’ll also be honoured along with him.

OET-LV ROM 8:16

16 Himself the spirit is _bearing _witness _with with _the spirit of _us that we _are children of_god.

OET-LV ROM 8:17

17 And if children, also heirs, heirs on _one _hand of_god, on _the _other _hand fellow-heirs of_chosen _one /messiah, if _indeed we _are _suffering _with him, that also we _may _be _glorified _with him.

Show passage in OET: HEB 6:17

OET-RV HEB 6:17

17 In order for God to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he guaranteed it with an oath

OET-LV HEB 6:17

17 In which more _abundantly wishing the god to _show to _the heirs of _the promise, the unchangeable of _the counsel of _him, guaranteed it by_an_oath,

Show passage in OET: HEB 6:14

OET-RV HEB 6:14

14 saying: ‘I will certainly bless you and will cause you to have many descendants.’

OET-LV HEB 6:14

14 saying:
If surely blessing, I _will _be _blessing you, and multiplying, I _will _be _multiplying you.

Show passage in OET: HEB 11:7

OET-RV HEB 11:7

7 By faith godly Noah built a box to save his family after he was warned about things that had never been seen before, thus condemning the world and becoming an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

OET-LV HEB 11:7

7 By _faith having _been _warned, Nōe/(Noaḩ), concerning the things not _yet being _seen, having _been _devout, prepared a_box for the_salvation of _the household of _him, by which he _condemned the world, and of _the according _to faith righteousness, became heir.

Show passage in OET: JAM 2:5

OET-RV JAM 2:5

5 Listen my dear brothers and sisters, didn’t God chose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and participants in the kingdom which he promises to those who love him?

OET-LV JAM 2:5

5 Hear, brothers of _me beloved:
not the god chose the poor in _the world, rich in faith to _be, and heirs of _the kingdom which he _promised to _the ones loving him?

Show passage in OET: TIT 3:7

OET-RV TIT 3:7

7 ⇔so that we might become heirs with the expectation of living forever, having been declared that we have no outstanding legal charges thanks to his grace.

OET-LV TIT 3:7

7 in _order _that having _been _justified by _the grace of _that one, we _may _be _become heirs, according _to the_hope of_ eternal _life.

Jump to OET ROM 8:16–17 section.

Jump to OET HEB 6:17 section.

Jump to OET HEB 6:14 section.

Jump to OET HEB 11:7 section.

Jump to OET JAM 2:5 section.

Jump to OET TIT 3:7 section.

In Hebrews 1:2, the word “heir” is used with a singular reference to God’s Son, who is said to have been appointed “heir of all things” by his Father. Here is an instance where someone has been designated to receive an inheritance but will actually enter into full possession of it much later.

Show passage in OET: HEB 1:2

OET-RV HEB 1:2

2 but in these last days he spoke to us through his son who he appointed to inherit everything. It was also through him that he made the different eras—

OET-LV HEB 1:2

2 in the_last the days these, spoke to _us by his_son, whom he _appointed heir of _all things, through whom also he _made the ages,

Jump to OET HEB 1:2 section.

In biblical times the right of primogeniture—that is, the right of the eldest son in the family to be the primary heir in the household—prevailed. In OT times, the firstborn son possessed the birthright, which included inheriting a double portion of his father’s possessions and headship of the family (Dt 21:15-17). The other sons shared the remainder equally. If there were no sons to inherit, the daughters became the heirs (Nm 27:8; 36:1-12), although there was a stipulation that the daughters could not marry outside their tribe. This was to preserve the tribal territory intact. If there were no daughters, then the dead man’s brothers inherited; if no brothers, then his uncles; and if no uncles, then the nearest relative (27:9-11). Because the matter of tribal possession was so important, it is easy to understand why there was such a concern for genealogical records among the Hebrew people.

Show passage in OET: DEU 21:15–17

OET-RV DEU 21:15

15 If a man has two wives and loves one more than the other, but they’ve both given birth to sons for him but the oldest son is from the wife he dislikes,

OET-RV DEU 21:16

16 then when he assigns his inheritance to his sons, he mustn’t favour the son of the favourite wife over that eldest son.

OET-RV DEU 21:17

17 Instead, he must acknowledge the son of the wife he dislikes, and given him double of everything, because that son is the beginning of his strength, and the largest share belongs to him.

OET-LV DEU 21:15

15 If/because they _will _belong to_a _man two _of wives the_one(f) is_loved and_the_one is_hated and_they _gave _birth to_him/it sons the _loved_wife and_the _hated_wife and_ the_son the_firstborn _it _was to_wife.

OET-LV DEU 21:16

16 And_it _was in/on_day he_causes _to _inherit DOM sons _of_his DOM that_which it _will _belong to_him/it not he _will _be _able to_treat _as _firstborn DOM the _son _of the _loved_wife on the _face _of the _son _of the _hated_wife the_firstborn.

OET-LV DEU 21:17

17 If/because DOM the_firstborn the _son _of the _hated_wife he _will _acknowledge by_giving to_him/it a _mouth _of two in_all that it _will _be _found to_him/it if/because he is_the _beginning _of his _generative _power _of_his to_him/it the _claim _of the _birthright.

Show passage in OET: NUM 27:8

OET-RV NUM 27:8

8 Also, tell the people that if a man dies without sons, then his inheritance should go to his daughter(s).

OET-LV NUM 27:8

8 And_near/to the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) you _will _speak to_say a _man if/because he _will _die and_a _son there_will _belong_not to_him/it and_you(pl)_will _make _pass _over DOM inheritance _of_his to_daughter _of_his.

Show passage in OET: NUM 36:1–12

OET-RV NUM 36:1

36 Now the leaders of the Gilead clans (Gilead was the son of Makir, son of Menasheh (Manasseh), one of Yosef’s (Joseph) sons) approached Mosheh (Moses) and the Israeli leaders

OET-RV NUM 36:2

2 and said, “Yahweh commanded my master to distribute the land by lot as an inheritance for the people, and my master was also commanded by Yahweh to give our brother Tselofehad’s inheritance to his daughters.

OET-RV NUM 36:3

3 However, if they ended up being married by men from other tribes, then their inheritance would pass from our tribe to their husbands’ tribes, so we’d end up with less land as our tribal inheritance.

OET-RV NUM 36:4