Yâbam — H2992

Definition

verb

to marry a (deceased) brother's widow

1. (Piel) to perform levirate marriage, perform the duty of a brother-in-law
1. the duty due to a brother who died childless - to marry his widow and have a son for his name

Usually translated as

perform the duty of a husband's brother, marry

Origin

a primitive root of doubtful meaning; used only as a denominative from H2993

• Derived from Yâbâm (H2993)

Greek equivalents

• adelphós (G80)
• epigambreúō (G1918)
• synoikéō (G4924)

Occurrences

Yâbam occurs 3 times in the King James.

Distribution of the word across the Bible: Genesis (1), Deuteronomy (2)

• Genesis 38:8 — And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry (וְיַבֵּ֣ם) her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
• Deuteronomy 25:5 — If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother (וְיִבְּמָֽהּ) unto her.
• Deuteronomy 25:7 — And if the man like not to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband’s brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother (יַבְּמִֽי).