יָבַם (ya.vam)
ya.vam
be brother-in-law
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The verb yavam describes the specific duty of levirate marriage, where a man marries his deceased brother’s widow if she has no children. Derived from the word for "brother," it literally means to act as a brother-in-law by fulfilling this familial obligation. This practice appears in only three verses, primarily within Genesis and Deuteronomy, marking it as a distinct legal provision rather than a common social custom.
In its sole occurrences, such as when Onan refuses this duty in Genesis 38:8 or when the law is codified in Deuteronomy 25:5, yavam focuses on preserving the dead brother’s lineage and name. The act ensures that an heir inherits the family property, protecting the widow from destitution and keeping the deceased’s memory alive within the community.
Translators typically render this term as "perform levirate marriage" or "marry according to the levirate law." Because the English language lacks a direct equivalent for this ancient Near Eastern institution, the phrase must be used to convey the full legal and social weight of the Hebrew verb. The word itself carries no emotional connotation but denotes a binding responsibility to the family line.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew verb yavam describes a specific family obligation known as levirate marriage. In ancient Israel, if a man died without children, his brother was expected to marry the widow. This act preserved the deceased brother’s name and ensured the family line continued. It was not merely about romance but about duty, protection, and keeping memory alive within the community.
For believers today, this word highlights God’s concern for the vulnerable and the importance of family loyalty. While we do not practice levirate marriage now, the principle remains: we are called to care for those who have lost their way or support. It reminds us that our actions can preserve dignity and hope for others in difficult seasons.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to act as a husband's brother for/ me1×
- and/ he will act as a husband's brother for/ her1×
- and/ act as a husband's brother for1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יַבְּמִֽ/י\׃1×
- וְ/יַבֵּ֣ם1×
- וְ/יִבְּמָֽ/הּ\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 38:8
Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”
This verse shows the duty being commanded of Onan, highlighting the seriousness of refusing to raise up offspring for a deceased brother.
-
Deuteronomy 25:5
If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead shall not be married outside to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her, and take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her.
Here the law is formally established, specifying that the husband’s brother must take the widow as his wife to perform this duty.
-
Deuteronomy 25:7
If the man doesn’t want to take his brother’s wife, then his brother’s wife shall go up to the gate to the elders, and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to raise up to his brother a name in Israel. He will not perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.”
This occurrence describes the public shame faced by a brother who refuses the duty, showing how seriously the community viewed this obligation.