יָבַם
to marry a (deceased) brother's widow
Definition
The Hebrew verb יָבַם (yâbam) specifically refers to the practice of levirate marriage, where a man marries his deceased brother's widow to produce an heir for the deceased. This duty is most clearly outlined in Deuteronomy 25:5-10, which mandates that the brother-in-law (the 'yavam') must marry the widow if the brothers lived together and the deceased had no son. The purpose is to 'raise up a name' for the dead brother, ensuring his lineage and inheritance continue. The story of Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38:8 provides an early, narrative example of this custom, where Judah instructs his son Onan to perform this duty for his deceased brother Er.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used exclusively in legal and narrative contexts concerning the levirate marriage law. It appears three times in the Old Testament: in the legal prescription of Deuteronomy 25:5 and 25:7, and in the foundational narrative of Genesis 38:8. In Deuteronomy, the usage is prescriptive, detailing the obligation. In Genesis, it is part of a command within the story, showing the practice in action before the Mosaic law was formally codified.
Etymology
The verb יָבַם (yâbam) is considered a primitive root of uncertain original meaning. It is used only as a denominative verb derived from the related noun יָבָם (yābām, H2993), meaning 'a husband's brother' or specifically 'a brother-in-law subject to the levirate duty.' The verb's meaning is thus entirely bound to this specific familial and legal institution.
Semantic Range
This word is central to understanding the biblical concepts of family legacy, covenant continuity, and social justice for widows. The levirate law protected a widow's place within the family and ensured the preservation of a deceased man's name and inheritance within Israel, which was crucial for tribal allotments and the Messianic lineage (as seen in the genealogy of Perez in Genesis 38 and later in Ruth 4). It highlights God's concern for provision and justice within the covenant community.
Levirate marriage was a well-established custom in the ancient Near East, designed to address issues of inheritance, family stability, and care for widows. It differed from modern understandings of marriage, being a legal and familial duty rather than a romantic union. The refusal to perform this duty, as described in Deuteronomy 25:7-10, brought public shame and was seen as a failure to uphold a crucial family and community obligation.
לָקַח (lāqaḥ, H3947) — A general verb meaning 'to take' or 'to marry,' but without the specific legal obligation of levirate duty inherent in יָבַם.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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