HEIR

Heir. Heir
Under the patriarchs the property of a father was divided among the sons of his legitimate wives (Gen. 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 Deut. 21:17; Num. 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” (Heb. 1:2; Col. 1:15). Believers are heirs of the “promise,” “of righteousness,” “of the kingdom,” “of the world,” “of God,” “joint heirs” with Christ (Gal 3:29; Heb. 6:17; 11:7; James 2:5; Rom. 4:13; 8:17).

---

HEIR. → General scriptures concerning Ga 4:1,2; Ge 15:3; 21:10; 25:5,6; Le 25:45,46; Nu 27:8-11; 36:1-8; De 21:15-17; Jos 17:3-6; Ru 4:1-12; Ec 2:18,19; Ga 4:30 → See INHERITANCE → See BIRTHRIGHT → See FIRSTBORN → See ORPHAN → See WILL → FIGURATIVE Ro 8:14-17; Ga 3:29; 4:6,7; Tit 3:7; Jas 2:5
* See ADOPTION

---

heir. Heir, [air] n. he who inherits by law

---

Heir (?), n. [[OE. heir, eir, hair, OF. heir, eir, F. hoir, L. heres; of uncertain origin. Cf. Hereditary, Heritage.]] 1. 1. One who inherits, or is entitled to succeed to the possession of, any property after the death of its owner; one on whom the law bestows the title or property of another at the death of the latter.
I am my father's heir and only son. Shak. 2. 2. One who receives any endowment from an ancestor or relation; as, the heir of one's reputation or virtues.
And I his heir in misery alone. Pope. Heir apparent. (Law.) See under Apparent. — Heir at law, one who, after his ancector's death, has a right to inherit all his intestate estate. Wharton (Law Dict.). — Heir presumptive, one who, if the ancestor should die immediately, would be his heir, but whose right to the inheritance may be defeated by the birth of a nearer relative, or by some other contingency.