Deuteronomy 25:9

his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal, spit in his face, and declare, “This is what is done to the man who will not maintain his brother’s line.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The brother’s widow approaches the refusing man in the presence of the city elders immediately after he declares he will not marry her.

The words — וְ/חָלְצָ֤ה (ve./chal.Tzah) literally means she will draw off, and יְבִמְתּ֣/וֹ (ye.vim.T/o) identifies her specifically as the brother’s wife.

The thread — The text records this public ritual alongside the levirate command in Genesis 38:8, the legal custom in Ruth 4:7, and the symbolic weight of spitting in Numbers 12:14.

Why it lands — The passage states that refusal to uphold family obligation results in permanent public shame and the erasure of one’s family name in Israel.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְנִגְּשָׁ֨הve./ni.ge.Shahand/ she will draw near יְבִמְתּ֣וֹye.vim.T/obrother's wife/ his אֵלָיו֮'e.La/vto/ him לְעֵינֵ֣יle./'ei.Neito/ [the] eyes of הַזְּקֵנִים֒ha./ze.ke.Nimthe/ elders וְחָלְצָ֤הve./chal.Tzahand/ she will draw off נַעֲלוֹ֙na.'a.L/osandal/ his מֵעַ֣לme./'Alfrom/ on רַגְל֔וֹrag.L/ofoot/ his וְיָרְקָ֖הve./ya.re.Kahand/ she will spit בְּפָנָ֑יוbe./fa.Na/vin/ face/ his וְעָֽנְתָה֙ve./'a.ne.Tahand/ she will answer וְאָ֣מְרָ֔הve./'A.me.Rahand/ she will say כָּ֚כָהKa.khahthus יֵעָשֶׂ֣הye.'a.Sehlet it be done לָאִ֔ישׁla./'Ishto the/ man אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwho לֹא־lo'-not יִבְנֶ֖הyiv.Nehhe will build אֶת־'et-<obj.>בֵּ֥יתbeit[the] house of אָחִֽיו'a.Chi/vbrother/ his

King James Version

Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house.

Cross-references

Numbers 12:14 But the LORD answered Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.”
Ruth 4:7 Now in former times in Israel, concerning the redemption or exchange of property, to make any matter legally binding a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party, and this was a confirmation in Israel.
Genesis 38:8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife. Perform your duty as her brother-in-law and raise up offspring for your brother.”
Ruth 4:10 Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”
Job 30:10 They abhor me and keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.
Isaiah 20:2 the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.” And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot.
Isaiah 50:6 I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.
Matthew 26:67 Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him
Matthew 27:30 Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.
Mark 1:7 And he proclaimed: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.