The term levirate comes from the Latin word levir, meaning “husband’s brother.” In essence, levirate marriage is the practice in which the brother of a deceased man marries the widow to raise offspring in the deceased brother’s name. The primary goals of levirate marriage were to preserve the family lineage, maintain property inheritance within the family, and ensure the widow’s provision and social security.
This practice is outlined explicitly in Deuteronomy 25:5-10, which states:
“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. 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” (Deuteronomy 25:5-6).
The tradition emphasized preserving the deceased brother’s name and inheritance. If the living brother refused to perform this duty, the widow was to publicly challenge him, which brought shame and dishonor on the unwilling brother (Deuteronomy 25:7-10).
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The Origins and Purpose of Levirate Marriage
Levirate marriage was not unique to Israel but was practiced in various ancient Near Eastern cultures, including among the Hittites and Assyrians. However, in Israel, the practice took on special significance due to God’s covenant relationship with His people and the importance of maintaining tribal and familial inheritance.
God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob included land and descendants (Genesis 12:1-3; 17:8). In Israelite society, maintaining family lineage ensured the continuation of these covenant promises. Additionally, the law of levirate marriage provided for the widow, protecting her from poverty and societal marginalization.
The levirate custom reflects God’s concern for family integrity and societal justice, demonstrating His provision for those who would otherwise be vulnerable.
Biblical Examples
The Bible provides several examples and allusions to levirate marriage, each offering unique insights into its practice and its significance:
1. Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38:6-26)
One of the earliest and most notable examples of levirate marriage appears in the story of Judah and Tamar. Judah’s son Er married Tamar but died without producing an heir. Judah then instructed his second son, Onan, to fulfill the levirate obligation:
“Then Judah said to Onan, ‘Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother’” (Genesis 38:8).
Onan, however, refused to complete the duty, spilling his seed to prevent Tamar from conceiving. Onan’s refusal displeased the Lord, and he was struck dead (Genesis 38:9-10). Judah, fearing for his last son, Shelah, withheld him from Tamar. Tamar, recognizing her right to bear an heir for Judah’s family, disguised herself as a prostitute and conceived twins by Judah.
Though unconventional, this story highlights the importance of preserving a family’s lineage and Judah’s eventual recognition of Tamar’s righteousness:
“She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah” (Genesis 38:26).
2. The Book of Ruth
The story of Ruth offers another example closely tied to levirate principles, though with a broader application of the kinsman-redeemer role. After Ruth’s husband (Mahlon) dies, Naomi, her mother-in-law, laments their vulnerability. Boaz, a near relative, steps in to redeem Ruth and marry her, ensuring that Naomi’s family line and inheritance are preserved.
Boaz declares:
“I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown” (Ruth 4:10).
While Boaz was not strictly obligated to act under Deuteronomy 25, his actions reflect the spirit of levirate marriage: protecting widows, preserving lineage, and fulfilling familial duty.
3. The Sadducees’ Hypothetical Question to Jesus (Matthew 22:23-33)
The levirate principle is alluded to in the New Testament when the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, questioned Jesus. They presented a hypothetical scenario involving seven brothers who sequentially married the same woman after each one died childless, as per the levirate custom:
“Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?” (Matthew 22:28).
Their question aimed to challenge Jesus’ teaching on the resurrection. Jesus’ response redirected the conversation to the nature of life in the resurrection:
“At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:30).
Here, Jesus affirmed the validity of the resurrection while showing that earthly customs, including levirate marriage, are not applicable in eternity.
When Did Levirate Marriage Fade Out?
The practice of levirate marriage gradually diminished in Jewish culture following the Babylonian exile (6th century BC). By the time of the New Testament, it was likely a rare practice, surviving in cultural memory but not widely observed.
Several factors contributed to its decline:
- Changing Social Structures: As Jewish society evolved, inheritance laws and family dynamics shifted, reducing the need for levirate marriage.
- Rabbinic Interpretation: Later Jewish traditions, such as the Talmud, offered alternative interpretations and legal complexities surrounding levirate obligations.
- Roman Influence: Under Roman rule, customs of family inheritance and marriage were reshaped by external cultural influences.
Today, levirate marriage is not practiced in mainstream Judaism. However, it still exists in some isolated communities, particularly among groups adhering to ancient traditions.
Why Do Other Cultures Avoid Levirate Marriage?
While levirate marriage was practiced in some ancient cultures, it was avoided or abandoned in many others for several reasons:
- Cultural Taboos: In many societies, marrying a deceased brother’s wife is considered incestuous or morally inappropriate, even if not biologically so.
- Economic Independence: In cultures where women could inherit property or remarry freely, the need for levirate marriage diminished.
- Religious Beliefs: Many religious traditions view marriage as a sacred, monogamous union that ends at death. Marrying a brother’s widow could conflict with these beliefs.
Why Do Christians View Levirate Marriage as No Longer Applicable?
From a Christian perspective, levirate marriage is generally viewed as inconsistent with New Testament teachings on marriage. While the Old Testament permitted and regulated the practice to address specific cultural and covenantal needs, the New Testament presents a higher standard for marriage:
- The Permanence of Marriage: In Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus reaffirms God’s original design for marriage as a lifelong, exclusive covenant between one man and one woman:“What God has joined together, let no one separate.”
- The Role of Redemption in Christ: The purpose of preserving lineage under the Mosaic Law has been fulfilled in Christ. Believers now find their inheritance and identity in Him, not in earthly family lines (Galatians 3:28-29).
- Marriage After Death: Romans 7:2 teaches that a marriage covenant ends at death:“By law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him.”
Because of these principles, Christians generally view the requirement for levirate marriage as outdated, belonging to a specific cultural and covenantal context that no longer applies under the New Covenant.
Is It Acceptable for a Christian Brother to Marry His Deceased Brother’s Wife?
While Christians do not practice levirate marriage as a religious obligation, the question of whether a man may marry his deceased brother’s wife is sometimes raised.
In most Christian traditions, such a marriage is not considered inherently immoral, provided it occurs after the first brother’s death and aligns with biblical principles of marriage. The key considerations are:
- Freedom to Remarry: Scripture allows widows and widowers to remarry, provided they marry a fellow believer (1 Corinthians 7:39).
- Cultural Norms: In many cultures, such marriages may be frowned upon or viewed as inappropriate. Christians are encouraged to consider cultural perceptions and avoid causing offense (1 Corinthians 8:9).
- Personal Convictions: Romans 14:5-6 reminds believers to act according to their conscience in matters not explicitly commanded or forbidden in Scripture.
Ultimately, the decision must be approached prayerfully, with a focus on honoring God and upholding the sanctity of marriage.
Conclusion
The levirate marriage tradition in Israelite history reflects God’s concern for family preservation, social justice, and covenant faithfulness. Instituted under Mosaic Law, it served as a means to protect widows, maintain family inheritance, and preserve the name of the deceased.
While the Bible provides several examples, such as Judah and Tamar and the Sadducees’ hypothetical question, the practice faded as societal and covenantal conditions changed. In the New Testament, the higher standard of marriage as a lifelong, exclusive covenant aligns with God’s original design and supersedes the need for levirate marriage.
Christians today do not practice levirate marriage because its purpose has been fulfilled in Christ, who provides a greater inheritance for all believers. Yet, the principles of faithfulness, provision, and care for the vulnerable remain central to Christian life. The story of levirate marriage ultimately points us to God’s redemptive plan, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the true Redeemer of His people.
Ruth 4:14
“The women said to Naomi: ‘Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!’”
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New International Version (NIV)
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