2994. yebemeth

Lexicon

yebemeth: Sister-in-law, specifically a brother's widow

Original Word: יְבֵמֶת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: Ybemeth
Pronunciation: yeh-beh-meth
Phonetic Spelling: (yeb-ay'-meth)
Definition: Sister-in-law, specifically a brother's widow
Meaning: a sister-in-law

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

brother's wife, sister in law

Feminine participle of yabam; a sister-in-law -- brother's wife, sister in law.

see HEBREW yabam

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as yabam
Definition
sister-in-law
NASB Translation
brother's wife (2), sister-in-law (2), wife (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[יְבֵ֫מֶת] noun feminine sister-in-law (Late Hebrew יְבָמָה, ᵑ7 יְבַמְתָּא, יְבִּימְתָּא; Syriac ) — only suffix יְבִמְתּו Deuteronomy 25:7 (twice in verse); Deuteronomy 25:9 his brother's wife (widow), (compare Genesis 38:8) in levirate law; יְבִמְתֵּךְ Ruth 1:15 (twice in verse) thy husband's brother's wife.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Feminine form of the Hebrew root יָבָם (yabam), which refers to a brother-in-law or the practice of levirate marriage.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G80 (ἀδελφός, adelphos): Brother, which can imply a brother-in-law in certain contexts.
- G1135 (γυνή, gynē): Woman or wife, which can refer to a sister-in-law when considering familial relationships.
- G1135 (γυνή, gynē): This entry is repeated, emphasizing the role of a woman in familial contexts, including that of a sister-in-law.

These Greek terms, while not direct translations of יְבֵמֶת, relate to the broader familial and marital relationships discussed in the New Testament, reflecting similar cultural values regarding family and marriage.

Usage: The term יְבֵמֶת is used in the context of levirate marriage, a practice in ancient Israel where a man was obligated to marry his deceased brother's widow if the brother died without leaving a male heir. This was to ensure the continuation of the brother's family line and inheritance.

Context: The term יְבֵמֶת (yebemet) appears in the context of levirate marriage, a custom detailed in the Hebrew Bible. This practice is primarily outlined in Deuteronomy 25:5-10, where the law stipulates that if a man dies without a son, his brother is to marry the widow. The firstborn son from this union would carry on the name of the deceased brother, ensuring the preservation of his lineage and property within the family. The role of the יְבֵמֶת is significant in maintaining family structure and inheritance rights in ancient Israelite society.

The concept of levirate marriage is also illustrated in the narrative of Ruth, where Boaz acts as a kinsman-redeemer for Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, although the term יְבֵמֶת is not explicitly used in this story. The practice underscores the importance of family loyalty and the continuation of one's lineage in the cultural and religious life of Israel.

Forms and Transliterations

יְבִמְתֵּ֔ךְ יְבִמְתֵּֽךְ׃ יְבִמְתּ֑וֹ יְבִמְתּ֣וֹ יְבִמְתּ֨וֹ יבמתו יבמתך יבמתך׃ yə·ḇim·têḵ yə·ḇim·tōw yəḇimtêḵ yəḇimtōw yevimTech yevimTo

Englishman's Concordance

Deuteronomy 25:7
HEB: לָקַ֖חַת אֶת־ יְבִמְתּ֑וֹ וְעָלְתָה֩ יְבִמְתּ֨וֹ
NAS: to take his brother's wife, then his brother's wife
KJV: not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife
INT: the man to take his brother's shall go wife

Deuteronomy 25:7
HEB: יְבִמְתּ֑וֹ וְעָלְתָה֩ יְבִמְתּ֨וֹ הַשַּׁ֜עְרָה אֶל־
NAS: his brother's wife, then his brother's wife shall go
KJV: his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up
INT: his brother's shall go wife to the gate to

Deuteronomy 25:9
HEB: וְנִגְּשָׁ֨ה יְבִמְתּ֣וֹ אֵלָיו֮ לְעֵינֵ֣י
NAS: then his brother's wife shall come
KJV: Then shall his brother's wife come
INT: shall come wife to him the sight

Ruth 1:15
HEB: הִנֵּה֙ שָׁ֣בָה יְבִמְתֵּ֔ךְ אֶל־ עַמָּ֖הּ
NAS: Behold, your sister-in-law has gone
KJV: And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back
INT: Behold has gone your sister-in-law to her people

Ruth 1:15
HEB: שׁ֖וּבִי אַחֲרֵ֥י יְבִמְתֵּֽךְ׃
NAS: return after your sister-in-law.
KJV: return thou after thy sister in law.
INT: back after your sister-in-law

5 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2994
5 Occurrences

yə·ḇim·têḵ — 2 Occ.
yə·ḇim·tōw — 3 Occ.