KING JAMES BIBLE DICTIONARY

Under the patriarchs the property of a father was divided among the sons of his legitimate wives (Genesis 21:10; 24:36; 25:5), the eldest son getting a larger portion than the rest. The Mosaic law made specific regulations regarding the transmission of real property, which are given in detail in Deuteronomy 21:17; Numbers 27:8; 36:6; 27:9-11. Succession to property was a matter of right and not of favour. Christ is the "heir of all things" (Hebrews 1:2; Colossians 1:15). Believers are heirs of the "promise," "of righteousness," "of the kingdom," "of the world," "of God," "joint heirs" with Christ (Galatians 3:29; Hebrews 6:17; 11:7; James 2:5; Romans 4:13; 8:17).

General references
Galatians 4:1-2; Genesis 15:3; Genesis 21:10; Galatians 4:30; Genesis 25:5-6; Leviticus 25:45-46; Numbers 27:8-11; Numbers 36:1-8; Joshua 17:3-6; Deuteronomy 21:15-17; Ruth 4:1-12; Ecclesiastes 2:18-19
Inheritance; Birthright; Firstborn; Orphan; Will

Figurative

General references
Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 3:29; Galatians 4:6-7; Titus 3:7; James 2:5
Adoption

The Hebrew institutions relative to inheritance were of a very simple character. Under the patriarchal system the property was divided among the sons of the legitimate wives, (Genesis 21:10; 24:36; 25:5) a larger portion being assigned to one, generally the eldest, on whom devolved the duty of maintaining the females of the family. The sons of concubines were portioned off with presents. (Genesis 25:6) At a later period the exclusion of the sons of concubines was rigidly enforced. (Judges 11:1) ff. Daughters had no share in the patrimony, (Genesis 21:14) but received a marriage portion. The Mosaic law regulated the succession to real property thus: it has to be divided among the sons, the eldest receiving a double portion, (21:17) the others equal shares; if there were no sons, it went to the daughters, (Numbers 27:8) on the condition that they did not marry out of their own tribe, (Numbers 36:6) ff.; otherwise the patrimony was forfeited. If there were no daughters it went to the brother of the deceased; if no brother, to the paternal uncle; and, failing these to the next of kin. (Numbers 27:9-11)

HEIR, noun are. [Latin haeres, haeredis.]

1. The man who succeeds, or is to succeed another in the possession of lands, tenements and hereditaments, by descent; the man on whom the law casts an estate of inheritance by the death of the ancestor or former possessor; or the man in whom the title to an estate of inheritance is vested by the operation of law, on the death of a former owner.

We give the title to a person who is to inherit after the death of an ancestor, and during his life, as well as to the person who has actually come into possession. A man's children are his heirs. In most monarchies, the king's eldest son is heir to the throne; and a nobleman's eldest son is heir to his title.

Lo, one born in my house is my heir Genesis 15:3.

2. One who inherits, or takes from an ancestor. The son is often heir to the disease, or to the miseries of the father.

3. One who succeeds to the estate of a former possessor. Jeremiah 49:1. Micah 1:15.

4. One who is entitled to possess. In Scripture, saints are called heirs of the promise, heirs of righteousness, heirs of salvation, etc., by virtue of the death of Christ, or of God's gracious promises.

HEIR-presumptive, one who, if the ancestor should die immediately, would be heir but whose right of inheritance may be defeated by any contingency, as by the birth of a nearer relative.

HEIR, verb transitive are. To inherit; to take possession of an estate of inheritance, after the death of the ancestor.

HEIR-APPA'RENT, noun The man who, during the life of his ancestor, is entitled to succeed to his estate or crown.

HEIRDOM, noun aredom. Succession by inheritance.

HEIRESS, noun aress. A female heir; a female that inherits, or is entitled to inherit an estate; an inheritrix.

HEIRLESS, adjective areless. Destitute of an heir.

HEIR-LOOM, noun are-loom. Any furniture, movable, or personal chattel, which by law descends to the heir with the house or freehold; as tables, cupboards, bedsteads, etc.

HEIRSHIP, noun areship. The state, character or privileges of an heir; right of inheriting.

1. heirship movables, in Scotland, the best of certain kinds of movables which the heir is entitled to take, besides the heritable estate.