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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Deuteronomy 25:5

DEUTERONOMY—NOTE ON Deuteronomy 25:5 Her husband’s brother shall... take her as his wife. This was called “levirate marriage” (from the Latin word levir, meaning “brother-in-law”). It was to protect the widow and provide descendants for the deceased man. It was a case where polygamy was allowed (the brother-in-law may already be married). See also Genesis 38:8; Ruth 4:1.

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See also Deuteronomy 25:5 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    The law of levirate marriage. The law on this subject is not unique to the Jews, but is found (see Genesis 38:8) in all essential respects the same among various Oriental nations, ancient and modern....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    21. VARIOUS LAWS AND RESPONSIBILITIES CHAPTER 25 _ 1. Corporal punishment (Deuteronomy 25:1)_ 2. Thou shalt not muzzle the ox (Deuteronomy 25:4) 3. The brother-in-law's marriage (Deu

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    DEUTERONOMY 25:1. Another of Dt.'s humanitarian laws. Punishment by the bastinado among the ancient Hebrews and Egyptians was common (see Wilkinson- Birch, _Ancient Egyptians_, i. pp. 305, 308). The p...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    IF BRETHREN, &C. Compare Genesis 38:8; Ruth 4:5, &c. Matthew 22:24.Mark 12:19;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Of Levirate Marriage If, of brothers dwelling together, one die childless, his widow shall not marry beyond the family, her husband's brother shall marry her, and their firstborn be the dead man's he...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _brethren_ of the same mother. In the Sg. passages, as we have seen, _brother_is fellow-Israelite. _dwell together_ On the same estate (cp. Genesis 13:6; Genesis 36:7); this limitation is striking. _...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _VER._ 5-10. _IF BRETHREN DWELL TOGETHER,_ &C.— The great end of this law was, to preserve inheritances in the families to which they belonged: and the meaning plainly is, that, if a brother died with...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    (18) THE FAMILY NAME: LEVIRATE MARRIAGE (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) 5 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...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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 WI...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    25:5 brother (c-27) Or 'next kinsman.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ORDINANCES REGARDING THE INFLICTION OF STRIPES, THE BAISING OF SEED TO A BROTHER, MODESTY, AND FAIR DEALING 3. _And_ NOT EXCEED] In order to keep within the limit it was usual to inflict thirty-nine s...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    DEUTERONOMY: GOD’S LAW OF LOVE LOVE AND OBEY THE *LORD YOUR GOD DEUTERONOMY _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 25 V1 ‘Perhaps two men have an argument and they go to court. The judges declare that one man i...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    Deuteronomy 25:5. LEVIRATE MARRIAGES. (5) IF BRETHREN DWELL TOGETHER. — This law is made the subject of a whole treatise in the Talmud, called _Yebâmôth._ The object of the law was held to be attained...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    כִּֽי ־יֵשְׁב֨וּ אַחִ֜ים יַחְדָּ֗ו וּ מֵ֨ת אַ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    LAWS OF PURITY (CHASTITY AND MARRIAGE) IN dealing with the ten commandments it has been already shown that, though these great statements of religious and moral truth were to some extent inadequate as...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This chapter is a continuation of the two previous ones in giving varied instructions. Punishments were to be righteously administered and were never to be excessive. It is interesting to notice what...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    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 (d) husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Together, as the sons of Juda did: (Genesis xxxviii. 8,) though custom (Calmet) and analogy extend this to other brothers, at least to those who live in the promised land, and have the inheritance in...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I venture to think that this precept had in it somewhat more, than merely what is contained in the obvious letter of it. If it be remembered, that the promise of the woman's seed, bruising the serpent...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    It is clear that a new division of the statutes and judgments of this book begins with the later verses just read from Deuteronomy 16:1-22. What belonged to the religious life of Israel was closed wit...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    5._If brethren dwell together, and one of them die_. This law has some similarity with that which permits a betrothed person to return to the wife, whom he has not yet taken; since the object of both...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 22, 23, 24, AND 25. Chapter 22 appears to contain ordinances to guard the people from want of benevolence and mercy, and of that which would offend the sensib...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    IF BRETHREN DWELL TOGETHER,.... Not only in the same country, province, town, or city, but in the same house; such who had been from their youth brought up together in their father's house, and now on...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 wif...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _If brethren dwell together_ In the same town, or, at least, country. For if the next brother had removed his habitation into remote parts, or were carried thither into captivity, then the wife of the...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Stripes must not exceed fortie. 4 The Oxe is not to be musled. 5 Of raising seed vnto a brother. 11 Of the immodest woman. 13 Of vniust weights. 17 The memorie of Amalek is to be blotted out....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE LEVIRATE MARRIAGE...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    If brethren dwell together, upon the same paternal inheritance, AND ONE OF THEM DIE AND HAVE NO CHILD, no one to perpetuate his family, and thus to keep his property in the possession of the family, T...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    JUSTICE TEMPERED WITH MERCY (vs.1-3) In the law courts the judges must mete out proper justice, yet not to exceed the limits of justice. If one was guilty of serious crime, it was right to have him b...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    HUSBANDS BROTHER: Or, next kinseman...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    5-12 The custom here regulated seems to have been in the Jewish law in order to keep inheritances distinct; now it is unlawful....

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    BRETHREN; strictly so called, as is evident from DEUTERONOMY 25:7 GENESIS 38:8 RUTH 1:13 MATTHEW 22:24,25. Dwell together; either,...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    The portion of our book on which we now enter, though not calling for elaborate exposition, yet teaches us two very important practical lessons In the first place, many of the institutions and ordinan...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Deuteronomy 25:5 brothers H251 dwell H3427 (H8799) together H3162 one H259 dies H4191 (H8804) son H1121 widow...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    REGULATIONS CONCERNING FAIR TREATMENT TO ANOTHER PARTY (DEUTERONOMY 25:4). The principle in these regulations is that of fair and just treatment towards other parties. The ox who treads out the grain...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Divers regulations. CHARACTERS: God, Moses. CONCLUSION: Justice and equity will bring down upon us the blessing of God. Those who do unrighteously are an abomination to the Lord and misera...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Deuteronomy 25:5. _If brethren dwell together._ Not in the same house, but near each other on the ancient lot of land which the family possessed; for Moses often speaks as though the people were alrea...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.—CORPORAL PUNISHMENT. _Controv._, dispute arising from inflicted injury. Justify pronounce just, Exodus 23:7; Proverbs 17:15. DEUTERONOMY 25:2. LIE DOWN. “Precisely the same as the Egyp...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION LAWS RELATING TO CORPORAL PUNISHMENT, LEVIRATE MARRIAGES, AND WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. DEUTERONOMY 25:1 The first and second verses should be read as one se

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now in Chapter twenty-five, he continues these interesting kinds of regulations. If two men have a controversy between themselves, then they come to the judges; and let the judges justify the righteou...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Genesis 38:8; Genesis 38:9; Luke 20:28; Mark 12:19; Matthew 22:24;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Together — In the same town, or at least country. For if the next brother had removed his habitation into remote parts, on were carried thither into captivity, then the wife of the dead had her libert...

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