Ki Seitzei 21:17 · unit 3

TT #53 · Parashas Ki Seitzei · First aliya · Passuk 21:17

The Complete Passuk

כִּי֩ אֶת־הַבְּכֹ֨ר בֶּן־הַשְּׂנוּאָ֜ה יַכִּ֗יר לָ֤תֶת לוֹ֙ פִּ֣י שְׁנַ֔יִם בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יִמָּצֵ֖א ל֑וֹ כִּי־הוּא֙ רֵאשִׁ֣ית אֹנ֔וֹ ל֖וֹ מִשְׁפַּ֥ט הַבְּכֹרָֽה׃

But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the hated, by giving him a double portion of all that is found with him; for he is the first of his strength, the right of the firstborn is his.

Chabad.org — 21:17

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Bava Basra context.

Sefaria — Bava Basra

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
יַכִּיר – זוֹ הַכָּרַת פָּנִים. וְאֵיזוֹ הִיא הַכָּרַת פָּנִים? פַּרְצוּף פָּנִים עַד הַחֹטֶם.

English: “He shall acknowledge” — this is recognition of the face. And what constitutes recognition of the face? The facial features up to the nose.

On the daf / in context: If the child’s forehead and features as far as the nose have already emerged while the father is still alive, that is sufficient “acknowledgment” for the child to receive the double portion even if the rest of the birth occurs after the father’s death.

Type of Learning

Derash defining the minimum physical recognition required.

What Is Learned

Emergence of the facial features up to the nose while the father is alive is enough to establish the child’s right to the double portion.