In biblical times, the role and relationship of a daughter-in-law were significant within the family structure. The term "daughter-in-law" refers to the wife of one's son. The Hebrew word for daughter-in-law is "kallah," and in Greek, it is "nyphē." The Bible provides various narratives and laws that highlight the interactions and responsibilities involving daughters-in-law.

Old Testament References

One of the earliest mentions of a daughter-in-law is found in the account of Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah. Tamar was married to Judah's son Er, and after his death, she was given to his brother Onan in a levirate marriage, a practice where a brother-in-law marries the widow to produce offspring for the deceased brother (Genesis 38:6-11). This account illustrates the cultural and familial expectations placed upon daughters-in-law in ancient Israel.

Ruth, another prominent daughter-in-law, is celebrated for her loyalty and devotion to her mother-in-law, Naomi. After the death of her husband, Ruth chose to stay with Naomi, saying, "Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God" (Ruth 1:16). Ruth's commitment exemplifies the ideal relationship between a daughter-in-law and her husband's family, highlighting themes of loyalty, faith, and integration into the family of faith.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, Jesus mentions daughters-in-law in the context of familial division that can arise due to faith. In Matthew 10:35-36, Jesus states, "For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household’" . This passage underscores the potential for conflict within family relationships when allegiance to Christ is prioritized.

Cultural and Theological Significance

The role of a daughter-in-law in biblical times was often defined by her relationship with her husband's family, particularly her mother-in-law. The biblical narratives reflect the complexities and challenges of these relationships, as well as the potential for deep bonds and mutual support. The account of Ruth and Naomi, in particular, has been interpreted as a model of faithfulness and love that transcends cultural and familial boundaries.

In the broader theological context, the relationship between a daughter-in-law and her husband's family can be seen as a reflection of the covenantal relationships that God establishes with His people. Just as Ruth embraced Naomi's people and God, believers are called to embrace the family of God and live in harmony with one another.

Conclusion

The biblical portrayal of daughters-in-law provides insight into the familial dynamics of ancient Israel and the early Christian community. Through accounts of loyalty, faith, and sometimes conflict, the Bible offers guidance on the values and virtues that should characterize these relationships.(n.) The wife of one's son.DAUGHTER-IN-LAW

See RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY.

3565. numphe -- a bride, a young woman
... a young woman. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: numphe Phonetic Spelling:
(noom-fay') Short Definition: a bride, daughter-in-law Definition: (a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3565.htm - 7k3618. kallah -- daughter-in-law, bride
... kallah. 3619 . daughter-in-law, bride. Transliteration: kallah Phonetic Spelling:
(kal-law') Short Definition: bride. ... bride, daughter-in-law, spouse. ...
/hebrew/3618.htm - 6k

8559. Tamar -- daughter-in-law of Judah, also two Israelite women ...
... 8558, 8559. Tamar. 8560 . daughter-in-law of Judah, also two Israelite
women, also a place South of the Dead Sea. Transliteration ...
/hebrew/8559.htm - 6k

Naomi is an Instance of a Widow Receiving Back from Her Daughter ...
... Concerning Widows. Chapter VI. Naomi is an instance of a widow receiving
back from her daughter-in-law the fruits of? Naomi is ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vi naomi is an.htm

The Right to Privacy
... "The new daughter-in-law[2] is coming! The new daughter-in-law is coming!". ...
"Wouldn't you like to come and see the new daughter-in-law?" he asks politely. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/williamson/have we no rights/chapter 5 the right to.htm

Brought up Thus Modestly and Soberly, and Made Subject Rather by ...
... and meekness, that she of her own accord discovered to her son the meddling tongues
whereby the domestic peace betwixt her and her daughter-in-law had been ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter ix brought up thus.htm

The Devotion of Ruth
... she told her mother-in-law where she had worked, and said, "The name of the man
with whom I worked to-day is Boaz." Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the devotion of ruth.htm

Why, in the Account of Terah's Emigration, on his Forsaking the ...
... For the narrative runs thus: "And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran,
his son's son, and Sarah his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife, and ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 13 why in the account.htm

We Will Pass on to Clear up Another of the Charges, if Only He ...
Life and Works of Rufinus with Jerome's Apology Against Rufinus. . ...
/.../we will pass on to.htm

He Describes the Praiseworthy Habits of his Mother; Her Kindness ...
... that she voluntarily disclosed to her son the tongues of the meddling servants,
whereby the domestic peace between herself and her daughter-in-law had been ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter ix he describes the praiseworthy.htm

Religious Zeal.
... We do not know her name. We only hear of her this once, but by the one little incident
recorded of her, we know what she was. "The daughter-in-law of Eli ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lxv religious zeal.htm

Ruth, the Gleaner
... should help her. He would begin by helping the sweet-faced daughter-in-
law who had chanced to come gleaning upon his land. So he ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/steedman/the babe in the bulrushes/ruth the gleaner.htm

I am Sending You as Lambs among Wolves: be Ye Now Wise as Serpents ...
... to his son, and the son to his father; and the mother to her daughter, and the daughter
to her mother; and the mother in law to her daughter in law, and the ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xiii i am sending.htm

Daughterinlaw
Daughterinlaw. Daughter, Daughterinlaw. Daughter-in-law . Int. ... See RELATIONSHIPS,
FAMILY. Daughter, Daughterinlaw. Daughter-in-law . Reference Bible.
/d/daughterinlaw.htm - 6k

Daughter-in-law (16 Occurrences)
Daughter-in-law. Daughterinlaw, Daughter-in-law. Daughters . Noah Webster's
Dictionary ... Daughterinlaw, Daughter-in-law. Daughters . Reference Bible.
/d/daughter-in-law.htm - 12k

Mother-in-law (16 Occurrences)
... Matthew 10:35 For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter
against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ...
/m/mother-in-law.htm - 11k

Na'omi (21 Occurrences)
... Ruth 1:22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her,
who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the ...
/n/na'omi.htm - 11k

Naomi (25 Occurrences)
... Ruth 1:22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her,
who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the ...
/n/naomi.htm - 17k

Tamar (28 Occurrences)
... (2.) The daughter-in-law of Judah, to whose eldest son, Er ... 1 Chronicles 2:4 Tamar
his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five. ...
/t/tamar.htm - 21k

Daughter (320 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A son's wife; a daughter-in-law. ... Leviticus 18:15 "'You shall not uncover
the nakedness of your daughter-in-law: she is your son's wife. ...
/d/daughter.htm - 43k

Divided (102 Occurrences)
... father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter
against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in...
/d/divided.htm - 37k

Attacking (73 Occurrences)
... Luke 12:53 father against son and son against father; mother attacking daughter
and daughter her mother, mother-in-law her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law...
/a/attacking.htm - 30k

Pregnant (33 Occurrences)
... Genesis 38:24 It happened about three months later, that it was told Judah, saying,
"Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute; and moreover ...
/p/pregnant.htm - 16k

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