יָבָם
𐤉𐤁𐤌
yâbâm
H2993 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A man who is the brother of a deceased husband, specifically in the context of levirate marriage—i.e., the brother-in-law who holds the obligation or right to marry his deceased brother's widow to produce offspring on his brother's behalf. Used chiefly to describe this familial relationship within the ancient Israelite law of levirate marriage (yibbum).
Semantic Range
brother of a deceased husband tasked with levirate marriage, husband's brother in the context of yibbum; not a generic term for any brother-in-law
Root / Etymology
From the root י-ב-ם (יב״ם), whose primary meaning is associated with the act of undertaking the duty of levirate marriage. Some propose a connection to an ancient Semitic conception of family duty, but a precise root meaning outside this relationship is uncertain; the verb יָבַם means 'to perform the duty of a husband's brother.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, יָבָם occurs specifically in the context of the laws of levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). The term designates the husband's brother who is eligible or obligated to take the widow as a wife for the purposes of raising up offspring in the name of the deceased. The legal-social function draws a sharp distinction from other terms for 'brother' (אָח) or 'relative' (גּוֹאֵל for 'kinsman-redeemer'). This custom functioned to ensure lineage and inheritance continuity within the clan. The term is very technical and is not used generically for 'brother-in-law' outside this context. In later periods, rabbinic tradition retains the term yavam for this specific relationship. English translations sometimes render it as 'husband's brother' or 'brother-in-law,' but these do not fully capture the specific legal role implied in the biblical use.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from (the orig. of) יָבַם; a brotherin-law; husband's brother.
Bantu Hebrew
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יבם (y-b-m) — to fulfill levirate duty, to act as husband's brother
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2993-01 |
יְבָמָ/הּ֙ | yevamah | HNcmsc/Sp3fs |
her husband's brother | her levirate-brother | 1 |
H2993-02 |
יְבָמִ֜/י | yevami | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my husband's brother | my levirate-brother | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2993-01 |
Deuteronomy 25:5 | יְבָמָ/הּ֙ | yevamah | HNcmsc/Sp3fs |
her husband's brother | her levirate-brother |
H2993-02 |
Deuteronomy 25:7 | יְבָמִ֜/י | yevami | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my husband's brother | my levirate-brother |