יְבֵמֶת
𐤉𐤁𐤌𐤕
Yᵉbêmeth
H2994 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A woman who is a brother's wife, specifically the widow of a deceased brother in the context of levirate marriage. The term is used to identify a woman eligible to participate in the practice of yibbum (levirate marriage), wherein a surviving brother has the obligation or right to marry his deceased brother's widow to continue the brother's lineage. Depending on context, can refer simply to a sister-in-law, but in Biblical usage, it especially highlights the levirate relationship.
Semantic Range
brother's widow (eligible for levirate marriage), sister-in-law; woman subject to levirate law
Root / Etymology
From the root יבם (y-b-m), which primarily relates to the practice of levirate marriage (yibbum). The root conveys the meaning of performing the duty of a brother-in-law, i.e., marrying a brother’s widow to raise up offspring in the deceased brother’s name. יְבֵמֶת is the feminine participle form, denoting the woman in this familial-legal position.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, יְבֵמֶת appears especially in legal texts concerning the levirate duty (Deuteronomy 25:5–10). The term indicates more than just a 'sister-in-law': it denotes a woman upon whom a particular obligation (yibbum or chalitzah, the refusal of levirate marriage) could rest. The status of יְבֵמֶת is closely tied to social and familial continuity practices central in Israelite society. In later periods, the word comes to mean generally 'sister-in-law' in post-biblical literature, but its original scope is legally precise. While some English translations use 'sister-in-law,' this often loses the specific legal and familial role in the Israelite context. Not to be confused with other terms for in-laws such as חֹתֵן (father-in-law) or כַּלָּה (daughter-in-law).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine participle of יָבַם; a sister-in-law; brother's wife, sister in law.
Bantu Hebrew
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יבם (y-b-m) — to perform levirate marriage, to act as brother-in-law
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2994-02 |
יְבִמְתּ֑/וֹ | yevimeto | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his brother's wife | his levirate-widow | 3 |
H2994-01 |
יְבִמְתֵּ֔/ךְ | yevimetekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
your sister-in-law | your brother's widow | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2994-02 |
Deuteronomy 25:7 | יְבִמְתּ֑/וֹ | yevimeto | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his brother's wife | his levirate-widow |
H2994-02 |
Deuteronomy 25:7 | יְבִמְתּ֨/וֹ | yevimeto-2 | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his brother's wife | his levirate-widow |
H2994-02 |
Deuteronomy 25:9 | יְבִמְתּ֣/וֹ | yevimeto | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his brother's wife | his levirate-widow |
H2994-01 |
Ruth 1:15 | יְבִמְתֵּ֔/ךְ | yevimetekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
your sister-in-law | your brother's widow |
H2994-01 |
Ruth 1:15 | יְבִמְתֵּֽ/ךְ | yevimetekhe-2 | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
your sister-in-law | your brother's widow |