Topical Bible: Brother's

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

BROTHER'S WIFE

(yebhemeth = "a sister-in-law," "brother's wife" (Deuteronomy 25:7, 9); 'ishshah = "a woman," "wife"; `esheth 'ach = "brother's wife" (Genesis 38:8, 9 Leviticus 18:16; Leviticus 20:21); he gune tou adelphou = "the brother's wife" (Mark 6:18)): A brother's wife occupies a unique position in Hebrew custom and law, by virtue of the institution of the Levirate. The widow had no hereditary rights in her husband's property, but was considered a part of the estate, and the surviving brother of the deceased was considered the natural heir. The right to inherit the widow soon became a duty to marry her if the deceased had left no sons, and in case there was no brother-in-law, the duty of marriage devolved on the father-in-law or the agnate who inherited, whoever this might be. The first son of the Levirate marriage was regarded as the son of the deceased. This institution is found chiefly among people who hold to ancestral worship (Indians, Persians, Afghans, etc.), from which circumstances Benzinger (New Sch-Herz, IV, 276) derives the explanation of this institution in Israel. The Levirate marriage undoubtedly existed as a custom before the Israelite settlement in Canaan, but after this received special significance because of the succession to the property of the first son of the marriage, since he was reckoned to the deceased, inherited from his putative, not from his real father, thus preventing the disintegration of property and its acquirement by strangers, at the same time perpetuating the family to which it belonged. While the law limited the matrimonial duty to the brother and permitted him to decline to marry the widow, such a course was attended by public disgrace (Deuteronomy 25:5). By the law of Numbers 27:8, daughters were given the right to inherit, in order that the family estate might be preserved, and the Levirate became limited to cases where the deceased had left no children at all.

Frank E. Hirsch

WIFE, BROTHER'S

See MARRIAGE; RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY.

Greek

1918. epigambreuo -- to marry
... marry. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epigambreuo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ee-gam-bryoo'-o) Short Definition: I marry a deceased brother's wife Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1918.htm - 6k

80. adelphos -- a brother
... a brother. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: adelphos Phonetic Spelling:
(ad-el-fos') Short Definition: a brother Definition: a brother, member ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/80.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

2994. yebemeth -- sister-in-law
... Word Origin from the same as yabam Definition sister-in-law NASB Word Usage brother's
wife (2), sister-in-law (2), wife (1). brother's wife, sister in law. ...
/hebrew/2994.htm - 6k

251. ach -- a brother
... 250, 251. ach. 252 . a brother. Transliteration: ach Phonetic Spelling:
(awkh) Short Definition: brother. Word Origin from an unused ...
/hebrew/251.htm - 6k

2992. yabam -- to perform the duty of a husband's brother
... 2991, 2992. yabam. 2993 . to perform the duty of a husband's brother.
Transliteration: yabam Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-bam') Short Definition: brother. ...
/hebrew/2992.htm - 6k

Library

Am I My Brother's Keeper?
... LXX AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER? Genesis iv.9. ... He refused to be responsible for his
brother's life, but he certainly was responsible for his brother's death. ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/lxx am i my brothers.htm

Of those who Only Increase their Own or their Brother's Grievances ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XV. Of those who only increase
their own or their brother's grievances by hiding them. ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xv of those who.htm

Constantius, Being Afraid of his Brother's Threats, Recalls ...
... Book II. Chapter XXIII."Constantius, being Afraid of his Brother's Threats,
recalls Athanasius by Letter, and sends him to Alexandria. ...
/.../chapter xxiii constantius being afraid of.htm

A Question Whether Anything that is Really Useful Should be ...
... Chapter IV. A question whether anything that is really useful should be
performed even against a brother's wish. Germanus: What then? ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter iv a question whether.htm

Of the Subjection of the Devils, which they Show to their Own ...
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XVI. Of the subjection of the devils,
which they show to their own princes, as seen in a brother's victim. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xvi of the subjection.htm

Whether Before the Public Denunciation Witnesses Ought to be ...
... For secret sins ought not to be made known to others, because by so doing "a man
would betray his brother's sins instead of correcting them," as Augustine says ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether before the public denunciation.htm

Three Condensed Parables
... I to XII THREE CONDENSED PARABLES. 'And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy
brother's eye, but perceiveth not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/three condensed parables.htm

Whether it is Fitting to Distinguish Six Kinds of Sin against the ...
... despair, presumption, impenitence, obstinacy, resisting the known truth, envy of
our brother's spiritual good, which are assigned by the Master (Sent. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is fitting to.htm

How it is That, if Our Brother Has any Grudge against Us, the ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XVI. How it is that, if our brother has
any grudge against us, the gifts of our prayers are rejected by the Lord. ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xvi how it is.htm

1 John v. 16
... "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask,
and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/neander/the first epistle of john/1 john v 16.htm

Thesaurus

Brother's (46 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia BROTHER'S WIFE. (yebhemeth = "a
sister-in-law," "brother's wife" (Deuteronomy 25:7, 9); 'ishshah ...
/b/brother's.htm - 23k

Nasbas
... It occurs only in Tobit 11:18, "And Achiacharus, and Nasbas his brother's
son," came to Tobit's wedding. Opinions are divided as ...
/n/nasbas.htm - 7k

Log (12 Occurrences)
... Log (12 Occurrences). Matthew 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's
eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? (See NAS RSV). ...
/l/log.htm - 11k

Mote (6 Occurrences)
... Mote (6 Occurrences). Matthew 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy
brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ...
/m/mote.htm - 9k

Plank (5 Occurrences)
... Plank (5 Occurrences). Matthew 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's
eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? (See NIV). ...
/p/plank.htm - 9k

Splinter (5 Occurrences)
... Splinter (5 Occurrences). Matthew 7:3 And why do you look at the splinter in your
brother's eye, and not notice the beam which is in your own eye? (WEY). ...
/s/splinter.htm - 8k

Speck (6 Occurrences)
... Speck (6 Occurrences). Matthew 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's
eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? ...
/s/speck.htm - 9k

Wood (226 Occurrences)
... Matthew 7:3 And why do you take note of the grain of dust in your brother's eye,
but take no note of the bit of wood which is in your eye? (BBE). ...
/w/wood.htm - 42k

Wife (437 Occurrences)
... correlative of husband. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BROTHER'S WIFE.
(yebhemeth = "a sister-in-law," "brother's wife" (Deuteronomy 25 ...
/w/wife.htm - 42k

Beam (17 Occurrences)
... Beam (17 Occurrences). Matthew 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's
eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye? ...
/b/beam.htm - 17k

Resources

Am I my brother's keeper? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the relationship of Moses and Aaron? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Brother's (46 Occurrences)

Matthew 7:3
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye?
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 7:5
You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 6:18
For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 3:19
but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done,
(WEB WEY ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 6:41
Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye?
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 6:42
Or how can you tell your brother,'Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,' when you yourself don't see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother's eye.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 12:10
Be kind to one another with a brother's love, putting others before yourselves in honour;
(BBE)

Romans 14:10
But you, why do you make yourself your brother's judge? or again, why have you no respect for your brother? because we will all have to take our place before God as our judge.
(BBE)

Romans 14:13
Therefore let's not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother's way, or an occasion for falling.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS NAS NIV)

Romans 14:21
The right course is to forego eating meat or drinking wine or doing anything that tends to your brother's fall.
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 8:13
wherefore, if victuals cause my brother to stumble, I may eat no flesh -- to the age -- that my brother I may not cause to stumble.
(See RSV)

James 4:11
Do not say evil against one another, my brothers. He who says evil against his brother or makes himself his brother's judge, says evil against the law and is judging the law: and in judging the law you become, not a doer of the law but a judge.
(BBE)

1 John 3:12
unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 4:9
Yahweh said to Cain, "Where is Abel, your brother?" He said, "I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 4:10
Yahweh said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 4:11
Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 4:21
His brother's name was Jubal, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 10:25
To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother's name was Joktan.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 12:5
Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother's son, all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls whom they had gotten in Haran, and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan. Into the land of Canaan they came.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Genesis 14:12
They took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT)

Genesis 14:14
And Abram, hearing that his brother's son had been made a prisoner, took a band of his trained men, three hundred and eighteen of them, sons of his house, and went after them as far as Dan.
(BBE)

Genesis 14:16
And he got back all the goods, and Lot, his brother's son, with his goods and the women and the people.
(BBE)

Genesis 24:48
I bowed my head, and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter for his son.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Genesis 27:40
By your sword will you get your living and you will be your brother's servant; but when your power is increased his yoke will be broken from off your neck.
(BBE)

Genesis 27:44
Stay with him a few days, until your brother's fury turns away;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 27:45
until your brother's anger turn away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you from there. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 38:8
Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her, and raise up seed to your brother."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 38:9
Onan knew that the seed wouldn't be his; and it happened, when he went in to his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 18:16
"'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife: it is your brother's nakedness.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 20:21
"'If a man takes his brother's wife, it is an impurity: he has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 20:8
The officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say, "What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest his brother's heart melt as his heart."
(WEB)

Deuteronomy 22:1
You shall not see your brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide yourself from them: you shall surely bring them again to your brother.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 22:3
So you shall do with his donkey; and so you shall do with his garment; and so you shall do with every lost thing of your brother's, which he has lost, and you have found: you may not hide yourself.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 22:4
You shall not see your brother's donkey or his ox fallen down by the way, and hide yourself from them: you shall surely help him to lift them up again.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 25:7
If the man doesn't want to take his brother's wife, then his brother's wife shall go up to the gate to the elders, and say, "My husband's brother refuses to raise up to his brother a name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband's brother to me."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 25:9
then his brother's wife shall come to 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 to the man who does not build up his brother's house."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 13:20
And her brother Absalom said to her, Has your brother Amnon been with you? but now, let there be an end to your crying, my sister: he is your brother, do not take this thing to heart. So Tamar went on living uncomforted in her brother's house.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 14:7
And now all the family is turned against me, your servant, saying, Give up him who was the cause of his brother's death, so that we may put him to death in payment for the life of his brother, whose life he took; and we will put an end to the one who will get the heritage: so they will put out my last burning coal, and my husband will have no name or offspring on the face of the earth.
(BBE)

1 Kings 2:15
He said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign. However the kingdom is turned around, and has become my brother's; for it was his from Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 1:19
To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS)

Job 1:13
It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Job 1:18
While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Job 22:6
For you have taken your brother's goods when he was not in your debt, and have taken away the clothing of those who have need of it.
(BBE)

Proverbs 27:10
Don't forsake your friend and your father's friend. Don't go to your brother's house in the day of your disaster: better is a neighbor who is near than a distant brother.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 12:3
In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince with God,
(See NIV)

Obadiah 1:12
Do not see with pleasure your brother's evil day, the day of his fate, and do not be glad over the children of Judah on the day of their destruction, or make wide your mouth on the day of trouble.
(BBE NAS)

Subtopics

Related Terms

Plank (5 Occurrences)

Splinter (5 Occurrences)

Speck (6 Occurrences)

Wood (226 Occurrences)

Wife (437 Occurrences)