(15) ―If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both
the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:
(16) Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the
son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:
(17) But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all
that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his‖. (Deut 21:15- 17 )
A Jewish man was not allowed to abandon a 'hated' wife's son's rights of inheritance. But more than this, the
Deuteronomy passage describes favouritism between two wives (not absolute love and hatred) for the man
bears children by both. Hence, different Bible versions struggle with the word "hated" and some adopt
"unloved" or "disliked" as softer expressions. However, the Hebrew word used in the second phrase is sane‘
(Strong‘s #8130) which in its more than 140 uses is always translated by 'hate' or by words indicating 'foe' or
'enemy'. Literal versions cannot soften the apparent invective: only an idiomatic understanding or paraphrase
can explain the metaphor.
The Hebrew sânê' is the opposite of love, which could mean 'non-election'. This contrast is the same in
Gen 29:31 between Leah ('hated' senû‘âh from sânê‘) and Rachel, who in the previous verse is described as
―loved more than Leah" a contrast of degree – not of absolute love and hate. Compare also the passages in
Deut 21:15-17 above; 1 Sam 1:5; Prov 30:23; 2 Sam 19:6; and even Exod 20:3 which speaks of preferring
others gods as equivalent to hating YHWH (Matt 6:24 on serving God and mammon, loving one and hating
the other).
The Jewish Midrash on Exodus describes YHWH as hating the angels, and not just the fallen ones. It does
not mean he dislikes Michael and Gabriel! It means that he chooses to give man the Torah, rather than the
angels:
"By three names is this mount known: The mountain of God, Mount Horeb and Mount Sinai... Why The
mountain of God? (Exodus 18:5). Because it was there that God manifested His Godhead. And Sinai?
Because [it was on that mount] that God showed that He hates the angels and loves mankind‖. (Exodus
Rabbah 51.8, Soncino edition)
There is actually a Hebrew wordplay here, for Sinai sounds like the Hebrew for hate, although it begins with
a different Hebrew letter and may mean 'thorny'. Similarly, Malachi speaks of YHWH's preference for Jacob
over Esau: "...yet I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau...‖ (Mal 1:2-3)
But Esau, like Ishmael instead of Isaac, was not hated absolutely – only "rejected" as the Aramaic Targum
(paraphrase) prefers to render it. In Aramaic, sanah can mean 'to hate' and 'to separate'; so the Gospels
could be saying separate yourselves from your parents if you want to follow me. This is a possible
interpretation, but still against Jewish and biblical culture which is very supportive of family. Apart from
Y‘shua‘s 'separating' and staying behind in the Temple when he was younger, he was a very dutiful son.
Matthew, in fact, gives the game away; and here a synopsis of the Gospels and a little Hebrew
understanding could have answered our question from the first, for he translates as "love less" rather than
"hate":
―He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more
than Me is not worthy of Me‖. (Mat 10:37)
While Y‘shua does predict division as a result of following him, he does not prescribe hatred; for elsewhere
he upholds the precept, "honour your father and your mother" (Matt 15:4-6, 19:17-19; Mark 7:10-13).
Y‘shua expressed degrees in his love. He chose twelve disciples, but three he spent time with especially;
and one of these, John, is called the one whom Y‘shua loved (John 13:23; 20:2; 21:7, 20). Y‘shua also had a
special place in his heart for Martha, Lazarus and family (John 11:5).
Even if one were to take this 'hating' verse literally, a semantic twist would have you back where you started.
Y‘shua tells us that our enemies will be the members of our own family; yet we are also taught, "Love your
enemies"! (Matt 5:44; Luke 6:27, 35)
10:38 And he that taketh not his cross―And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me‖.