Deuteronomy 25:8

Verse

Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak with him. If he persists and says, “I do not want to marry her,”

American Standard Version (1901)

Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand, and say, I like not to take her;

Then the responsible men of the town will send for the man, and have talk with him: and if he still says, I will not take her;

Douay-Rheims 1899

And they shall cause him to be sent for forthwith, and shall ask him. If he answer: I will not take her to wife:

Free Bible Version

The town elders are to summon him and talk with him. If he continues to refuse and says, “I don't want to marry her,”

Geneva Bible 1599

Then the Elders of his citie shall call him, and commune with him: if he stand and say, I wil not take her,

King James (Authorized) Version

Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her;

One Unity Resource Bible

Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak to him: and if he stands and says, “I don’t want to take her;”

Translation for Translators

Then the elders must summon that man and talk to him. If he still refuses to marry that widow,

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then the elders of his city must call him and speak to him. But suppose that he insists and says, 'I do not wish to take her.'

Noah Webster Bible

Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak to him: and if he shall stand to it , and say, I like not to take her,

World English Bible

Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak to him. If he stands and says, “I don’t want to take her,”

Young's Literal Translation

and the elders of his city have called for him, and spoken unto him, and he hath stood and said, I have no desire to take her;

Context

Widowhood and Marriage

⁷But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.”⁸Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak with him. If he persists and says, “I do not want to marry her,”⁹his 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.”

Summary

This verse addresses the ancient practice of levirate marriage, where a man was expected to marry his brother's widow if the brother died childless. The purpose of this custom was to ensure the continuation of the deceased brother's family line and inheritance. If the man refused to fulfill this duty, the widow had the right to publicly shame him by removing his sandal and spitting in his face, symbolizing disgrace and dishonor. This law emphasized the importance of family, inheritance, and fulfilling one's responsibilities within the community.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Then the elders of his city shall call him,.... Require him to come, before them, and declare his resolution, and the reasons for it; recite this law to him, and explain the nature of it, and exhort him to comply with it, or show reason why he does not, at least to have his final resolution upon it: and speak unto him; talk with him upon this subject, and give him their best advice; and what that was Maimonides (o) more particularly informs us; if it is good and advisable to marry, they advise him to marry; but if it is better advice to pluck off the shoe, they give it; as when she is young and he is old, or she is old and he young, they advise him to allow the shoe to be plucked off: and if he stand to it: and say, I like not to take her; if, after all the conversation, debate, and counsel between them, he is resolute, and abides by his first determination, that he will not marry her, then the following method was to be taken. (o) Yebum Vechalitzab, c. 4. sect. 1.