יָבָם (ya.vam)
ya.vam
brother-in-law
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun yabham specifically denotes a husband’s brother. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both instances found within Deuteronomy (25:5 and 25:7). In these passages, it identifies the male relative responsible for carrying out the duty of levirate marriage, ensuring that a deceased man’s name and lineage are preserved through his sibling.
This term is distinct from the general word for brother (ach), as it specifies the particular kinship tie created by marriage rather than blood. The scarcity of its usage highlights how specialized this legal concept was within Israelite society. Translators typically render it as "brother-in-law" or simply "brother," depending on whether the context requires clarifying the marital connection for modern readers.
The word carries significant weight in understanding ancient family structures and inheritance laws. By limiting its occurrence to these specific legal instructions, the text emphasizes that this role was a formal obligation tied to property and legacy, rather than a general social courtesy. The precise terminology underscores the seriousness with which biblical law treated the continuity of 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 word yabham refers specifically to a husband's brother, appearing only twice in the Old Testament within Deuteronomy 25. This term highlights a unique legal responsibility in ancient Israel: preserving the name and lineage of a deceased family member through levirate marriage. It is distinct from the general word for brother (ach), marking a specific duty tied to inheritance and legacy rather than just blood relation.
For your faith, this specialized term reminds us that God cares deeply about continuity, justice, and the protection of vulnerable family members. In Deuteronomy 25:5-7, the yabham is called to act as a guardian of his brother's memory, ensuring no name fades from Israel. This shows that our relationships carry weighty responsibilities toward one another.
While we do not practice levirate marriage today, the principle remains: God values those who step up to protect and preserve what is precious to Him. Whether in family, church, or community, we are invited to be faithful stewards of each other's lives, honoring our connections with integrity and love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- husband's brother/ my1×
- husband's brother/ her1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְבָמָ/הּ֙1×
- יְבָמִ֜/י1×
Key Verses
-
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.
This verse defines the role of the yabham as the one who must take his deceased brother's wife to preserve the family line.
-
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.”
Here, the refusal of the yabham is publicly recorded at the gate, showing the seriousness of failing this duty.