Deuteronomy 25:9
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.
8 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;
Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house.
10 And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.
11 When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets:
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
- 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.”
- KJV
- Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house.
- WEB
- then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, and loose his sandal from off his foot, and spit in his face. She shall answer and say, “So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.”
- ASV
- then shall his brother`s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face; and she shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto the man that doth not build up his brother`s house.
- DARBY
- then shall his brother's wife come near to him before the eyes of the elders, and draw his sandal from his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto the man that will not build up his brother's house.
- BLB
- his brother’s widow shall come to him before the eyes of the elders, and remove his sandal from his foot, and spit in his face, and answer and say, “So shall it be done to the man who will not build up the house of his brother.”
- ÅB
- da skal hans brors hustru trede fram til ham for de eldstes øyne og dra skoen av hans fot og spytte ham i ansiktet, og hun skal ta til orde og si: Slik skal det gjøres med den mann som ikke vil bygge opp igjen sin brors hus.
- OTB
- skal hans brors enke nærme seg ham i de eldstes nærvær, ta av hans sandal, spytte ham i ansiktet, og si: "Dette er hva som gjøres med mannen som ikke vil bygge opp sin brors slektslinje."
- B1930
- da skal hans brors hustru trede frem til ham for de eldstes øine og dra skoen av hans fot og spytte ham i ansiktet, og hun skal ta til orde og si: Således skal det gjøres med den mann som ikke vil bygge op igjen sin brors hus.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ruth 4:7–8
Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
Read in contextNumbers 12:14
And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
Read in contextIsaiah 20:2
At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
Read in contextIsaiah 50:6
I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Read in contextMark 10:34
And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
Read in contextGenesis 38:8–10
And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
Read in contextJohn 1:27
He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
Read in contextRuth 4:10–11
Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
Read in context