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Deuteronomy 25:5

Marriage

3 He may receive no more than forty lashes, lest your brother be beaten any more than that and be degraded in your sight.

4 Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.

When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without 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 for her.

6 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.

7 But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.”

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This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without 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 for her.
KJV
If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her.
WEB
If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead shall not be married outside to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her, and take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her.
ASV
If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no son, the wife of the dead shall not be married without unto a stranger: her husband`s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of a husband`s brother unto her.
DARBY
If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no son, the wife of the dead shall not marry a stranger abroad: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him as wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her.
BLB
If brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son to him, the widow of the dead man shall not be outside to a sojourner. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her, and take her as his wife, and perform the duty of her husband's brother.
ÅB
Når brødre bor sammen, og en av dem dør og ikke har noen sønn, så skal den avdødes hustru ikke ekte en fremmed mann utenfor slekten; hennes manns bror skal gå inn til henne og ta henne til hustru og slik ekte henne i sin brors sted.
OTB
Hvis brødre bor sammen og en av dem dør uten en sønn, må enken ikke gifte seg utenfor familien. Hennes avdøde manns bror skal gifte seg med henne og utføre svogers plikt overfor henne.
B1930
Når brødre bor sammen, og en av dem dør og ikke har nogen sønn, så skal den avdødes hustru ikke ekte en fremmed mann utenfor ætten; hennes manns bror skal gå inn til henne og ta henne til hustru og således ekte henne i sin brors sted.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Luke 20:28

    “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.

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  • Matthew 22:24

    “Teacher,” they said, “Moses declared that if a man dies without having children, his brother is to marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.

    Read in context

  • Mark 12:19

    “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 38:8–9

    Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and raise up offspring for your brother.”

    Read in context

  • Ruth 1:12–13

    Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons,

    Read in context

  • Ruth 3:9

    “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.”

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  • Ruth 4:5

    Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi and also from Ruth the Moabitess, you must also acquire the widow of the deceased in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”

    Read in context