diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/templates.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/templates.js
index 9697a9fec8..5522105283 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/templates.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/templates.js
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ run_test('admin_default_streams_list', () => {
         html += render('admin_default_streams_list', args);
     });
     html += "</table>";
-    var span = $(html).find(".default_stream_name:first");
+    var span = $(html).find(".default_stream_name").first();
     assert.equal(span.text(), "devel");
 
     // When the logged in user is not admin
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ run_test('admin_default_streams_list', () => {
         html += render('admin_default_streams_list', args);
     });
     html += "</table>";
-    span = $(html).find(".default_stream_name:first");
+    span = $(html).find(".default_stream_name").first();
     assert.equal(span.text(), "devel");
 });
 
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ run_test('admin_invites_list', () => {
     assert($(buttons[3]).hasClass("resend"));
     assert.equal($(buttons[3]).attr("data-invite-id"), 1);
 
-    var span = $(html).find(".email:first");
+    var span = $(html).find(".email").first();
     assert.equal(span.text(), "alice@zulip.com");
 });
 
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ run_test('admin_user_group_list', () => {
     html += render('admin_user_group_list', args);
     html += '</div>';
 
-    var group_id = $(html).find('.user-group:first').prop('id');
+    var group_id = $(html).find('.user-group').first().prop('id');
     var group_pills_id = $(html).find('.user-group:first .pill-container').attr('data-group-pills');
     var group_name_display = $(html).find('.user-group:first .name').text().trim().replace(/\s+/g, ' ');
     var group_description = $(html).find('.user-group:first .description').text().trim().replace(/\s+/g, ' ');
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ run_test('alert_word_settings_item', () => {
     html += render('alert_word_settings_item', args);
     html += "</ul>";
 
-    var li = $(html).find("li.alert-word-item:first");
+    var li = $(html).find("li.alert-word-item").first();
     var value = li.find('.value');
     var button = li.find('button');
     assert.equal(li.attr('data-word'), 'lunch');
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ run_test('bot_owner_select', () => {
         ],
     };
     var html = render('bot_owner_select', args);
-    var option = $(html).find("option:last");
+    var option = $(html).find("option").last();
     assert.equal(option.val(), "hamlet@zulip.com");
     assert.equal(option.text(), "Hamlet");
 });
@@ -517,12 +517,12 @@ run_test('compose_invite_users', () => {
         can_subscribe_other_users: true,
     };
     var html = render('compose-invite-users', args);
-    var button = $(html).find("button:first");
+    var button = $(html).find("button").first();
     assert.equal(button.text(), "translated: Subscribe");
 
     args.can_subscribe_other_users = false;
     html = render('compose-invite-users', args);
-    button = $(html).find("button:first");
+    button = $(html).find("button").first();
     assert.equal(button.length, 0);
 });
 
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ run_test('compose_all_everyone', () => {
         name: 'all',
     };
     var html = render('compose_all_everyone', args);
-    var button = $(html).find("button:first");
+    var button = $(html).find("button").first();
     assert.equal(button.text(), "translated: Yes, send");
     var error_msg = $(html).find('span.compose-all-everyone-msg').text().trim();
     assert.equal(error_msg, "translated: Are you sure you want to mention all 101 people in this stream?");
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ run_test('compose_announce', () => {
         count: '101',
     };
     var html = render('compose_announce', args);
-    var button = $(html).find("button:first");
+    var button = $(html).find("button").first();
     assert.equal(button.text(), "translated: Yes, send");
     var error_msg = $(html).find('span.compose-announce-msg').text().trim();
     assert.equal(error_msg, "translated:         This stream is reserved for announcements.\n        \n        Are you sure you want to message all 101 people in this stream?");
@@ -551,10 +551,10 @@ run_test('compose_announce', () => {
 
 run_test('compose_not_subscribed', () => {
     var html = render('compose_not_subscribed', {should_display_sub_button: true});
-    var button = $(html).find("button:first");
+    var button = $(html).find("button").first();
     assert.equal(button.text(), "translated: Subscribe");
     html = render('compose_not_subscribed', {should_display_sub_button: false});
-    button = $(html).find("button:first");
+    button = $(html).find("button").first();
     assert.equal(button.length, 0);
 });
 
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ run_test('draft_table_body', () => {
 
 run_test('email_address_hint', () => {
     var html = render('email_address_hint');
-    var li = $(html).find("li:first");
+    var li = $(html).find("li").first();
     assert.equal(li.text(), 'translated: The email will be forwarded to this stream');
 });
 
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ run_test('group_pms', () => {
     };
     var html = render('group_pms', args);
 
-    var a = $(html).find("a:first");
+    var a = $(html).find("a").first();
     assert.equal(a.text(), 'Alice and Bob');
 });
 
@@ -820,7 +820,7 @@ run_test('invite_subscription', () => {
     };
     var html = render('invite_subscription', args);
 
-    var input = $(html).find("label:first");
+    var input = $(html).find("label").first();
     assert.equal(input.text().trim(), "devel");
 });
 
@@ -840,7 +840,7 @@ run_test('single_message', () => {
     var html = render('single_message', message);
     html = '<div class="message_table focused_table" id="zfilt">' + html + '</div>';
 
-    var first_message = $(html).find("div.messagebox:first");
+    var first_message = $(html).find("div.messagebox").first();
 
     var first_message_text = first_message.find(".message_content").text().trim();
     assert.equal(first_message_text, "This is message one.");
@@ -1023,7 +1023,7 @@ run_test('new_stream_users', () => {
 
     var html = render('new_stream_users', args);
 
-    var label = $(html).find("label:first");
+    var label = $(html).find("label").first();
     assert.equal(label.text().trim(), 'King Lear (lear@zulip.com)');
 });
 
@@ -1041,7 +1041,7 @@ run_test('non_editable_user_group', () => {
     html += render('non_editable_user_group', args);
     html += '</div>';
 
-    var group_id = $(html).find('.user-group:first').prop('id');
+    var group_id = $(html).find('.user-group').first().prop('id');
     var group_pills_id = $(html).find('.user-group:first .pill-container').attr('data-group-pills');
     var group_name_display = $(html).find('.user-group:first .name').text().trim().replace(/\s+/g, ' ');
     var group_description = $(html).find('.user-group:first .description').text().trim().replace(/\s+/g, ' ');
@@ -1214,7 +1214,7 @@ run_test('stream_sidebar_actions', () => {
 
     var html = render('stream_sidebar_actions', args);
 
-    var li = $(html).find("li:first");
+    var li = $(html).find("li").first();
     assert.equal(li.text().trim(), 'translated: Stream settings');
 });
 
@@ -1266,7 +1266,7 @@ run_test('subscription_settings', () => {
     var div = $(html).find(".subscription-type");
     assert(div.text().indexOf('private stream') > 0);
 
-    var anchor = $(html).find(".change-stream-privacy:first");
+    var anchor = $(html).find(".change-stream-privacy").first();
     assert.equal(anchor.text(), "[translated: Change]");
 });
 
@@ -1329,7 +1329,7 @@ run_test('subscriptions', () => {
     html += render('subscriptions', args);
     html += '</div>';
 
-    var span = $(html).find(".stream-name:first");
+    var span = $(html).find(".stream-name").first();
     assert.equal(span.text(), 'devel');
 });
 
@@ -1354,14 +1354,14 @@ run_test('tab_bar', () => {
 
     var html = render('tab_bar', args);
 
-    var a = $(html).find("li:first");
+    var a = $(html).find("li").first();
     assert.equal(a.text().trim(), 'Home');
 });
 
 run_test('topic_edit_form', () => {
     var html = render('topic_edit_form');
 
-    var button = $(html).find("button:first");
+    var button = $(html).find("button").first();
     assert.equal(button.find("i").attr("class"), 'fa fa-check');
 });
 
@@ -1443,7 +1443,7 @@ run_test('typing_notifications', () => {
     html += render('typing_notifications', args);
     html += '</ul>';
 
-    var li = $(html).find('li:first');
+    var li = $(html).find('li').first();
     assert.equal(li.text(), 'Hamlet is typing...');
 
 });
@@ -1588,7 +1588,7 @@ run_test('user_presence_rows', () => {
     html += render('user_presence_rows', args);
     html += '</ul>';
 
-    var a = $(html).find("a:first");
+    var a = $(html).find("a").first();
     assert.equal(a.text().trim(), 'King Lear');
 });
 
diff --git a/static/js/archive.js b/static/js/archive.js
index 67502e4a31..83378e27e8 100644
--- a/static/js/archive.js
+++ b/static/js/archive.js
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ var rows = {
         return $(message_row).parent('.recipient_row');
     },
     first_message_in_group: function (message_group) {
-        return $('div.message_row:first', message_group);
+        return $('div.message_row', message_group).first();
     },
     id: function (message_row) {
         return parseFloat(message_row.attr('zid'));
diff --git a/static/js/copy_and_paste.js b/static/js/copy_and_paste.js
index f586ef48a3..e3adfb1ea5 100644
--- a/static/js/copy_and_paste.js
+++ b/static/js/copy_and_paste.js
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ exports.analyze_selection = function (selection) {
         // the compose_close button when you go off the end of the
         // last message
         if (endc.attr('id') === "bottom_whitespace" || endc.attr('id') === "compose_close") {
-            initial_end_tr = $(".message_row:last");
+            initial_end_tr = $(".message_row").last();
             // The selection goes off the end of the message feed, so
             // this is a multi-message selection.
             skip_same_td_check = true;
diff --git a/static/js/drafts.js b/static/js/drafts.js
index 45be444fad..65155ac054 100644
--- a/static/js/drafts.js
+++ b/static/js/drafts.js
@@ -393,12 +393,12 @@ function drafts_scroll(next_focus_draft_row) {
     activate_element(next_focus_draft_row[0].children[0]);
 
     // If focused draft is first draft, scroll to the top.
-    if ($(".draft-info-box:first")[0].parentElement === next_focus_draft_row[0]) {
+    if ($(".draft-info-box").first()[0].parentElement === next_focus_draft_row[0]) {
         $(".drafts-list")[0].scrollTop = 0;
     }
 
     // If focused draft is the last draft, scroll to the bottom.
-    if ($(".draft-info-box:last")[0].parentElement === next_focus_draft_row[0]) {
+    if ($(".draft-info-box").last()[0].parentElement === next_focus_draft_row[0]) {
         $(".drafts-list")[0].scrollTop = $('.drafts-list')[0].scrollHeight - $('.drafts-list').height();
     }
 
diff --git a/static/js/message_list_view.js b/static/js/message_list_view.js
index 95aca8b6ae..0bfa7c8ed3 100644
--- a/static/js/message_list_view.js
+++ b/static/js/message_list_view.js
@@ -753,7 +753,7 @@ MessageListView.prototype = {
 
         // Insert new messages in to the last message group
         if (message_actions.append_messages.length > 0) {
-            last_message_row = table.find('.message_row:last').expectOne();
+            last_message_row = table.find('.message_row').last().expectOne();
             last_group_row = rows.get_message_recipient_row(last_message_row);
             dom_messages = $(_.map(message_actions.append_messages, function (message_container) {
                 return self._get_message_template(message_container);
diff --git a/static/js/message_viewport.js b/static/js/message_viewport.js
index e1b28365eb..9543954d0a 100644
--- a/static/js/message_viewport.js
+++ b/static/js/message_viewport.js
@@ -177,8 +177,8 @@ function _visible_divs(selected_row, row_min_height, row_to_output, div_class,
     // We do this explicitly without merges and without recalculating
     // the feed bounds to keep this computation as cheap as possible.
     var visible = [];
-    var above_pointer = selected_row.prevAll("div." + div_class + ":lt(" + num_neighbors + ")");
-    var below_pointer = selected_row.nextAll("div." + div_class + ":lt(" + num_neighbors + ")");
+    var above_pointer = selected_row.prevAll("div." + div_class).slice(0, num_neighbors);
+    var below_pointer = selected_row.nextAll("div." + div_class).slice(0, num_neighbors);
     add_to_visible(selected_row, visible, top_of_feed.get(), bottom_of_feed.get(),
                    require_fully_visible, row_to_output);
     add_to_visible(above_pointer, visible, top_of_feed.get(), bottom_of_feed.get(),
diff --git a/static/js/portico/signup.js b/static/js/portico/signup.js
index 42ba83b395..dd66f9122f 100644
--- a/static/js/portico/signup.js
+++ b/static/js/portico/signup.js
@@ -54,12 +54,12 @@ $(function () {
         if ($('.help-inline:not(:empty)').length === 0) {
             // Find the first input field present in the form that is
             // not hidden and disabled and store it in a variable.
-            var firstInputElement = $("input:not(:hidden, :disabled):first");
+            var firstInputElement = $("input:not(:hidden, :disabled)").first();
             // Focus on the first input field in the form.
             common.autofocus(firstInputElement);
         } else { // If input field with errors is present.
             // Find the input field having errors and stores it in a variable.
-            var inputElementWithError = $('.help-inline:not(:empty):first').parent().find('input');
+            var inputElementWithError = $('.help-inline:not(:empty)').first().parent().find('input');
             // Focus on the input field having errors.
             common.autofocus(inputElementWithError);
         }
diff --git a/static/js/rows.js b/static/js/rows.js
index 35bce15a39..6374620bf2 100644
--- a/static/js/rows.js
+++ b/static/js/rows.js
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ exports.next_visible = function (message_row) {
     if (next_recipient_rows.length === 0) {
         return $();
     }
-    return $('.selectable_row:first', next_recipient_rows[0]);
+    return $('.selectable_row', next_recipient_rows[0]).first();
 };
 
 exports.prev_visible = function (message_row) {
@@ -34,15 +34,15 @@ exports.prev_visible = function (message_row) {
     if (prev_recipient_rows.length === 0) {
         return $();
     }
-    return $('.selectable_row:last', prev_recipient_rows[0]);
+    return $('.selectable_row', prev_recipient_rows[0]).last();
 };
 
 exports.first_visible = function () {
-    return $('.focused_table .selectable_row:first');
+    return $('.focused_table .selectable_row').first();
 };
 
 exports.last_visible = function () {
-    return $('.focused_table .selectable_row:last');
+    return $('.focused_table .selectable_row').last();
 };
 
 exports.id = function (message_row) {
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ exports.get_closest_group = function (element) {
 };
 
 exports.first_message_in_group = function (message_group) {
-    return $('div.message_row:first', message_group);
+    return $('div.message_row', message_group).first();
 };
 
 exports.get_message_recipient_row = function (message_row) {
diff --git a/static/js/subs.js b/static/js/subs.js
index c9baf74435..e8c0a34c16 100644
--- a/static/js/subs.js
+++ b/static/js/subs.js
@@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ exports.switch_rows = function (event) {
         // Prevent switching stream rows when creating a new stream
         return false;
     } else if (!active_data.id || active_data.row.hasClass('notdisplayed')) {
-        switch_row = $('div.stream-row:not(.notdisplayed):first');
+        switch_row = $('div.stream-row:not(.notdisplayed)').first();
         if ($('#search_stream_name').is(":focus")) {
             $('#search_stream_name').blur();
         }