Deuteronomy 25:7

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.”

Majority Standard Bible

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

6The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

8Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak with him. If he persists and says, “I do not want to marry her,”

Read all of Deuteronomy 25

Cross References

Ruth 4:2Then Boaz took ten of the elders of the city and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.

Ruth 4:11“We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous 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