Deuteronomy 25:1-7

1 "Suppose two Israelites go to court to settle a dispute, and one is declared innocent and the other guilty.

2 If the guilty one is sentenced to be beaten, the judge is to make him lie face downward and have him whipped. The number of lashes will depend on the crime he has committed.

3 He may be given as many as forty lashes, but no more; more than that would humiliate him publicly. ¹

4 "Do not muzzle an ox when you are using it to thresh grain. ²

5 "If two brothers live on the same property and one of them dies, leaving no son, then his widow is not to be married to someone outside the family; it is the duty of the dead man's brother to marry her. ³

6 The first son that they have will be considered the son of the dead man, so that his family line will continue in Israel.

7 But if the dead man's brother does not want to marry her, she is to go before the town leaders and say, "My husband's brother will not do his duty; he refuses to give his brother a descendant among the people of Israel.' ⁴

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. 25.32 Corinthians 11.24.
• 2. 25.41 Corinthians 9.9;1 Timothy 5.18.
• 3. 25.5, 6Matthew 22.24;Mark 12.19;Luke 20.28.
• 4. 25.7-10Ruth 4.7, 8.