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Deuteronomy 25:5

Marriage

3 Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.

4 Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.

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.

6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.

7 And if the man like not to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband’s brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother.

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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

    Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 22:24

    Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

    Read in context

  • Mark 12:19

    Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 38:8–9

    And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

    Read in context

  • Ruth 1:12–13

    Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

    Read in context

  • Ruth 3:9

    And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.

    Read in context

  • Ruth 4:5

    Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

    Read in context