Deuteronomy 25:8
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.”
Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak with him. If he persists and says, “I do not want to marry her,”
9 his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal, spit in his face, and declare, “This is what is done to the man who will not maintain his brother’s line.”
10 And his family name in Israel will be called “The House of the Unsandaled.”
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
- Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak with him. If he persists and says, “I do not want to marry her,”
- KJV
- Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her;
- WEB
- Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak to him. If he stands and says, “I don’t want to take her,”
- ASV
- Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand, and say, I like not to take her;
- DARBY
- Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak unto him; and if he stand to it and say, I like not to take her;
- BLB
- And the elders of his city shall call him and speak to him. And [if] he stands firm and says, “I do not want to take her,”
- ÅB
- Og de eldste i hans by skal kalle ham for seg og tale til ham; holder han da fast ved sitt og sier: Jeg har ikke lyst til å gifte meg med henne,
- OTB
- Da skal de eldste i hans by kalle ham og tale til ham. Hvis han fortsetter å si: "Jeg ønsker ikke å gifte meg med henne,"
- B1930
- Og de eldste i hans by skal kalle ham for sig og tale til ham; holder han da fast ved sitt og sier: Jeg har ikke lyst til å gifte mig med henne,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ruth 4:6
The kinsman-redeemer replied, “I cannot redeem it myself, or I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption, because I cannot redeem it.”
Read in context