Translations
Modern
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.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
But if the man does not want to take his brother’s widow, let his brother’s widow go up to the gate to the elders and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to raise up for his brother a name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of my brother-in-law.”
Latin
Sin autem noluerit accipere uxorem fratris sui, quæ ei lege debetur, perget mulier ad portam civitatis, et interpellabit majores natu, dicetque: Non vult frater viri mei suscitare nomen fratris sui in Israël, nec me in conjugem sumere.
Original
Hebrew
English
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.”
Notes
Theme notes and profiles
People
Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes
Glossary
Archaeology and the Bible Biblical Concept of Law Covenant Deuteronomy, Book of Elder Incest Levirate Marriage Levirate Marriage Maccabean Period Marriage, Marriage Customs Ruth, Book of Zerubbabel
Topics
Brother: Brother's Widow--Law Concerning--Levirate Marriage of Court: Civil: The Gates of Cities Courts of Justice: Judges of Called Elders Government: Municipal: Devolving Upon a Local Senate and Executive officers Inheritance: Provisions for Inheritance Under Levirate Marriages Marriage: Levirate (The Brother Required to Marry a Brother's Widow) Widow: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To