Deuteronomy 25:7

But if he will not take his brother's wife, who by law belongeth to him, the woman shall go to the gate of the city, and call upon the ancients, and say: My husband's brother refuseth to raise up his brother's name in Israel: and will not take me to wife.

Douay-Rheims 1899

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

6And the first son he shall have of her he shall call by his name, that his name be not abolished out of Israel.

8And they shall cause him to be sent for forthwith, and shall ask him. If he answer: I will not take her to wife:

Read all of Deuteronomy 25

Cross References

Ruth 4:2And Booz taking ten men of the ancients of the city, said to them: Sit ye down here.

Ruth 4:11Then all the people that were in the gate, and the ancients answered: We are witnesses: The Lord make this woman who cometh into thy house, like Rachel, and Lia, who built up the house of Israel: that she may be an example of virtue in Ephrata, and may have a famous name in Bethlehem:

Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 25:6-13

Marriage of a Brother's Wife. ( b. c. 1451.) 5 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 wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her. 6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel. 7 And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Deuteronomy 25:7