Deuteronomy 25:1-7

1 When people have a dispute, they are to take it to court and the judges will decide the case, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty.

2 If the guilty person deserves to be beaten, the judge shall make them lie down and have them flogged in his presence with the number of lashes the crime deserves,

3 but the judge must not impose more than forty lashes. If the guilty party is flogged more than that, your fellow Israelite will be degraded in your eyes.

4 Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.

5 If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her.

6 The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.

7 However, if a man does not want to marry his brother’s wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to carry on his brother’s name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me.”

Deuteronomy 25:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 25

Several laws are contained in this chapter, as concerning beating such whose crimes required it, De 25:1-3; of not muzzling the ox in treading out the corn, De 25:4; of marrying a deceased brother's wife, when there was no issue, and of the disgrace of such that refused it, De 25:5-10; of the punishment of an immodest woman, De 25:11,12; and against bad weights and measures, De 25:13-16; and for the utter destruction of Amalek, De 25:17-19.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 21:6
• 2. Deuteronomy 17:8-13; Deuteronomy 19:17; Acts 23:3
• 3. 1 Kings 8:32
• 4. S Exodus 23:7; Deuteronomy 1:16-17
• 5. Proverbs 10:13; Proverbs 19:29; Luke 12:47-48
• 6. Matthew 27:26; John 19:1; 2 Corinthians 11:24
• 7. Jeremiah 20:2; Job 18:3
• 8. S Numbers 22:29; Proverbs 12:10; 1 Corinthians 9:9*; 1 Timothy 5:18*
• 9. Ruth 4:10,13; Matthew 22:24; Mark 12:19; Luke 20:28
• 10. Genesis 38:9; Ruth 4:5,10
• 11. Ruth 1:15
• 12. S Genesis 23:10
• 13. Ru 4:1-2,5-6