feminine participle of יָבַם; a sister-in-law; brother's wife, sister in law.
Transliteration:Yᵉbêmeth
Pronunciation:yeb-ay'-meth
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H2994}}` (Yᵉbêmeth) is a feminine noun derived from the verbal root `{{H2992}}` (yabam), which signifies the act of performing a brother-in-law's duty, specifically in the context of levirate marriage. As a feminine participle, `{{H2994}}` literally means "she who is subject to the `{{H2993}}` (yabam)," or "she who is to be married by the brother-in-law." Its core meaning is therefore "sister-in-law," but not in a generic sense. Rather, it specifically denotes the widow of a deceased brother who is childless, and who, by ancient Israelite custom and law, is to be married by her late husband's brother to raise up an heir for the deceased. The semantic range is thus tightly bound to the institution of levirate marriage (yibbum), focusing on the specific legal and familial status of the childless widow.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H2994}}` appears in two primary biblical contexts, both illuminating its specific legal and social implications:
* **Deuteronomy 25:7-9**: This passage provides the foundational legal framework for levirate marriage. Here, `{{H2994}}` clearly identifies the childless widow whose brother-in-law (`{{H2993}}`) is obligated to marry her. The text outlines the procedure if the brother-in-law refuses this duty, including the public shaming ritual of removing his sandal and spitting in his face. The use of `{{H2994}}` in this context underscores the woman's unique legal position and the societal expectation placed upon the surviving brother.
* **Ruth 1:15**: In this poignant scene, Naomi urges her Moabite daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to return to their own people. Naomi explicitly tells Orpah, "See, your sister-in-law [[Ruth 1:15]] has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." While the narrative of Ruth ultimately unfolds as a kinsman-redeemer (`{{H1350}}`) story rather than a strict levirate marriage, the use of `{{H2994}}` here highlights the familial tie and the implicit expectation for a widow to seek remarriage within her extended family or community for security and continuation of lineage. It also subtly sets the stage for the later discussion of Boaz's role as a kinsman.
These occurrences demonstrate that `{{H2994}}` is not merely a descriptive term for a familial relation but carries significant legal, social, and even theological weight concerning inheritance, lineage, and the welfare of widows in ancient Israel.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of `{{H2994}}` is incomplete without considering its lexical and conceptual kin:
* **`{{H2992}}` (yabam):** The verbal root, meaning "to act as a brother-in-law" or "to perform the duty of a brother-in-law." This verb encapsulates the action required of the surviving brother.
* **`{{H2993}}` (yabam):** The masculine noun, referring to the "brother-in-law" who is obligated to fulfill the levirate duty. This word identifies the agent of the action.
* **Levirate Marriage (Yibbum):** This is the core institution to which `{{H2994}}` refers. The purpose of yibbum was multifaceted: to perpetuate the name and lineage of the deceased brother, to ensure the inheritance remained within the family, and crucially, to provide social and economic security for the childless widow, who would otherwise be vulnerable.
* **`{{H1350}}` (ga'al - to redeem):** While distinct from levirate marriage, the concept of the kinsman-redeemer, exemplified by Boaz in the book of Ruth, shares a similar underlying concern for the preservation of family property and lineage, as well as the welfare of the vulnerable. Boaz's actions, though not strictly a `{{H2993}}` marrying a `{{H2994}}`, fulfill the spirit of the law in a broader sense.
* **`{{H2233}}` (zera' - seed/offspring):** The concept of "seed" or "offspring" is fundamental to the levirate law, as its primary goal is to "raise up a name for his brother" [[Deuteronomy 25:7]], ensuring the continuation of the family line.
### Theological Significance
The institution signified by `{{H2994}}` reveals several profound theological insights within the Israelite covenant:
* **God's Concern for Lineage and Covenant Promises:** The emphasis on perpetuating the deceased's name and line underscores God's deep concern for the continuity of families, which were the bedrock of the covenant community. This reflects the broader biblical narrative where covenant promises are often tied to descendants and the preservation of a chosen lineage (e.g., Abrahamic covenant).
* **Divine Provision and Social Justice:** The levirate law serves as a powerful testament to God's care for the vulnerable, particularly widows. In a society where women's status and security were often tied to their husbands and sons, a childless widow faced destitution. The law provided a divinely ordained mechanism for her protection and integration, reflecting God's heart for social justice and the welfare of the marginalized within His people.
* **Obedience and Communal Responsibility:** The fulfillment of the levirate duty was an act of obedience to God's law and a demonstration of communal responsibility. The severity of the shaming ritual for refusal in Deuteronomy 25 highlights the importance placed on this duty within the covenant community, emphasizing that individual actions had broader implications for the family and the collective.
* **Prefiguring Redemption:** While not directly messianic, the spirit of the levirate law, particularly as seen in the book of Ruth, prefigures the broader concept of divine redemption. Just as the kinsman-redeemer steps in to preserve a family line and provide for the needy, so too does God act as the ultimate Redeemer for His people, securing their future and providing for their needs. The lineage of David, and ultimately Christ, is preserved through acts of faithfulness that echo the principles embedded in the levirate system.
### Summary
`{{H2994}}` (Yᵉbêmeth) is a precise Hebrew term for a "sister-in-law," specifically the childless widow of a deceased brother, who is subject to the levirate marriage law. Its primary biblical occurrences in [[Deuteronomy 25:7-9]] establish its legal context, while its use in [[Ruth 1:15]] highlights its broader familial and social implications for widows. The word is intrinsically linked to the concepts of `{{H2992}}` (yabam - to act as a brother-in-law) and `{{H2993}}` (yabam - the brother-in-law himself), forming the lexical core of the levirate institution (yibbum). Theologically, `{{H2994}}` points to God's profound concern for the preservation of lineage, the welfare of the vulnerable, and the importance of covenantal obedience and communal responsibility within Israel. It serves as a testament to God's providential care and His design for order and justice within His people, ultimately contributing to the grand narrative of redemption.
TRV