Topical Encyclopedia In biblical terms, the concept of a "brother's wife" is closely associated with the practice of levirate marriage, a custom deeply rooted in the cultural and legal traditions of ancient Israel. This practice is primarily outlined in the Old Testament and serves as a means to preserve family lineage and inheritance rights.Levirate Marriage The term "levirate" is derived from the Latin word "levir," meaning "brother-in-law." The practice is explicitly commanded in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. According to the Mosaic Law, if a man died without having a son, his brother was obligated to marry the widow. The firstborn son from this union would carry on the deceased brother's name, ensuring the continuation of his family line and the retention of his property within the tribe. The Berean Standard Bible states: "If brothers dwell together and one of them dies without having a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel." (Deuteronomy 25:5-6) This law underscores the importance of family and tribal continuity in Israelite society. It also reflects the communal responsibility to care for widows, who were often vulnerable in ancient times. Ruth and Boaz A notable example of levirate marriage, though not a direct application of the law, is found in the Book of Ruth. After the death of her husband, Ruth, a Moabite widow, remains loyal to her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth's eventual marriage to Boaz, a relative of her deceased husband, illustrates the spirit of the levirate law. Boaz acts as a "kinsman-redeemer," preserving the family line and property. Ruth 4:10 records Boaz's declaration: "Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon's widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his hometown." New Testament Context In the New Testament, the concept of a brother's wife is addressed in a different context. The Sadducees, who denied the resurrection, posed a hypothetical question to Jesus about levirate marriage to challenge the idea of resurrection. They asked whose wife a woman would be in the resurrection if she had been married to seven brothers in succession. Jesus responded by emphasizing the transformative nature of the resurrection life, where earthly marital relationships do not apply (Matthew 22:23-30). Moral and Ethical Considerations The practice of levirate marriage, while culturally specific, highlights broader biblical themes of family loyalty, social responsibility, and care for the vulnerable. It reflects the high value placed on family and community in biblical ethics. The law also serves as a reminder of God's provision for the continuation of His people and the protection of those who might otherwise be marginalized. In summary, the role of a brother's wife in biblical tradition is intricately linked to the preservation of family and community, demonstrating the enduring principles of care, responsibility, and faithfulness that are central to the biblical narrative. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Brother's WifeBROTHER'S WIFE (yebhemeth = "a sister-in-law," "brother's wife" (Deuteronomy 25:7, 9); 'ishshah = "a woman," "wife"; `esheth 'ach = "brother's wife" (Genesis 38:8, 9 Leviticus 18:16; Leviticus 20:21); he gune tou adelphou = "the brother's wife" (Mark 6:18)): A brother's wife occupies a unique position in Hebrew custom and law, by virtue of the institution of the Levirate. The widow had no hereditary rights in her husband's property, but was considered a part of the estate, and the surviving brother of the deceased was considered the natural heir. The right to inherit the widow soon became a duty to marry her if the deceased had left no sons, and in case there was no brother-in-law, the duty of marriage devolved on the father-in-law or the agnate who inherited, whoever this might be. The first son of the Levirate marriage was regarded as the son of the deceased. This institution is found chiefly among people who hold to ancestral worship (Indians, Persians, Afghans, etc.), from which circumstances Benzinger (New Sch-Herz, IV, 276) derives the explanation of this institution in Israel. The Levirate marriage undoubtedly existed as a custom before the Israelite settlement in Canaan, but after this received special significance because of the succession to the property of the first son of the marriage, since he was reckoned to the deceased, inherited from his putative, not from his real father, thus preventing the disintegration of property and its acquirement by strangers, at the same time perpetuating the family to which it belonged. While the law limited the matrimonial duty to the brother and permitted him to decline to marry the widow, such a course was attended by public disgrace (Deuteronomy 25:5). By the law of Numbers 27:8, daughters were given the right to inherit, in order that the family estate might be preserved, and the Levirate became limited to cases where the deceased had left no children at all. Greek 1918. epigambreuo -- to marry ... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epigambreuo Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-gam- bryoo'-o) Short Definition: I marry a deceased brother's wife Definition: I ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1918.htm - 6k Strong's Hebrew 2994. yebemeth -- sister-in-law... Word Origin from the same as yabam Definition sister-in-law NASB Word Usage brother's wife (2), sister-in-law (2), wife (1). brother's wife, sister in law. ... /hebrew/2994.htm - 6k Library The Martyrdom of John Herod Herod and the Baptist. Whether the Degrees of Affinity Extend in the Same Way as the ... The King's Courts Thou Shalt not Covet Thy Neighbor's House. Thou Shalt not Covet ... From Patriarchal, Tertullian Comes to Legal, Precedents. Herod Antipas Supposes Jesus to be John. Moses, Allowing Divorce, and Christ Prohibiting It, Explained John ... How Archelaus Upon a Second Accusation, was Banished to vienna. Resources What are the most famous/important questions in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhy wasn't Cain's punishment death (Genesis 4:14)? | GotQuestions.org What is a levirate marriage? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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