In the biblical context, the term "father-in-law" refers to the father of one's spouse. The role and interactions of fathers-in-law are depicted in various narratives throughout the Scriptures, providing insight into family dynamics, cultural practices, and the importance of familial relationships in ancient times.

Jethro, Moses' Father-in-law

One of the most notable fathers-in-law in the Bible is Jethro, also known as Reuel, the priest of Midian and father of Zipporah, Moses' wife. Jethro's relationship with Moses is highlighted in the Book of Exodus. After Moses fled Egypt, he found refuge in Midian, where he married Zipporah, Jethro's daughter (Exodus 2:21). Jethro later visited Moses in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt, bringing Moses' wife and sons to him. During this visit, Jethro observed Moses' leadership and offered wise counsel on delegating responsibilities to avoid burnout, advising him to appoint capable men to serve as judges for the people (Exodus 18:17-23).

Laban, Jacob's Father-in-law

Another significant father-in-law figure is Laban, the father of Leah and Rachel, who became Jacob's wives. Jacob's relationship with Laban is complex and marked by both familial bonds and tension. Jacob worked for Laban for fourteen years to marry his daughters, first Leah and then Rachel, due to Laban's deception (Genesis 29:25-28). The narrative illustrates the intricate family dynamics and the challenges Jacob faced while living with his father-in-law, including issues of labor, wages, and the eventual separation when Jacob returned to Canaan (Genesis 31:1-55).

Caleb, Othniel's Father-in-law

Caleb, a prominent figure from the tribe of Judah, is another example of a father-in-law in the Bible. He promised his daughter Achsah in marriage to whoever captured the city of Kiriath-sepher. Othniel, Caleb's nephew, successfully conquered the city and married Achsah, thus becoming Caleb's son-in-law (Judges 1:12-13). This account highlights the practice of offering marriage as a reward for valor and the importance of family alliances in Israelite society.

Cultural and Theological Significance

The role of the father-in-law in biblical times often extended beyond familial ties to include mentorship, guidance, and the establishment of alliances. Fathers-in-law could influence family decisions and play a crucial role in the spiritual and social development of their sons-in-law. The interactions between fathers-in-law and sons-in-law in the Bible reflect broader themes of covenant, loyalty, and the transmission of faith and values across generations.

In the New Testament, while the term "father-in-law" is not explicitly mentioned, the concept of extended family relationships continues to be significant. The teachings of Jesus and the apostles emphasize the importance of family unity, love, and respect, which would naturally extend to in-laws as part of the broader family structure.

Overall, the biblical portrayal of fathers-in-law provides valuable lessons on family relationships, the importance of wise counsel, and the integration of faith into family life.(n.) The father of one's husband or wife; -- correlative to son-in-law and daughter-in-law.FATHER-IN-LAW

fa'-ther-in-lo.

See RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY.

3995. pentheros -- a father-in-law
... a father-in-law. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: pentheros Phonetic
Spelling: (pen-ther-os') Short Definition: a father-in-law Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3995.htm - 6k2246. Chobab -- father-in-law of Moses
... 2245, 2246. Chobab. 2247 . father-in-law of Moses. Transliteration: Chobab
Phonetic Spelling: (kho-bawb') Short Definition: Hobab. ...
/hebrew/2246.htm - 6k

7467. Reuel -- "friend of God," Moses' father-in-law, also an ...
... 7466b, 7467. Reuel. 7468 . "friend of God," Moses' father-in-law, also
an Edomite, a Gadite, and a Benjamite. Transliteration: Reuel ...
/hebrew/7467.htm - 6k

3503. Yithro -- Moses' father-in-law
... 3502, 3503. Yithro. 3504 . Moses' father-in-law. Transliteration: Yithro
Phonetic Spelling: (yith-ro') Short Definition: Jethro. ...
/hebrew/3503.htm - 6k

3837a. Laban -- father-in-law of Jacob
... 3837, 3837a. Laban. 3837b . father-in-law of Jacob. Transliteration: Laban
Short Definition: Laban. Word Origin from laben Definition ...
/hebrew/3837a.htm - 5k

6317. Putiel -- Eleazar's father-in-law
... 6316, 6317. Putiel. 6318 . Eleazar's father-in-law. Transliteration: Putiel
Phonetic Spelling: (poo-tee-ale') Short Definition: Putiel. ...
/hebrew/6317.htm - 6k

8526. Talmay -- "plowman," a father-in-law of David, also a ...
... Talmay. 8527 . "plowman," a father-in-law of David, also a descendant of Anak.
Transliteration: Talmay Phonetic Spelling: (tal-mah'-ee) Short Definition: Talmai ...
/hebrew/8526.htm - 6k

8445. Tovqhath -- father-in-law of Huldah
... 8444, 8445. Tovqhath. 8446 . father-in-law of Huldah. Transliteration: Tovqhath
Phonetic Spelling: (to-kah'-ath) Short Definition: Tokhath. ...
/hebrew/8445.htm - 6k

1691a. Diblayim -- the father-in-law of Hosea
... 1691, 1691a. Diblayim. 1691b . the father-in-law of Hosea. Transliteration:
Diblayim Short Definition: Diblaim. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/1691a.htm - 5k

6319. Poti Phera -- Joseph's father-in-law
Poti Phera. 6318, 6319. Poti Phera. 6320 . Joseph's father-in-law. Transliteration:
Poti Phera Phonetic Spelling: (po-tee feh'-rah) Short Definition: Potiphera ...
/hebrew/6319.htm - 6k

3500. Yether -- Moses' father-in-law, also the name of several ...
... Yether. 3501 . Moses' father-in-law, also the name of several Israelites.
Transliteration: Yether Phonetic Spelling: (yeh'-ther) Short Definition: Jether. ...
/hebrew/3500.htm - 6k

That Moses Kindly Received-His Father-In-Law, Jethro, when He came ...
... CHAPTER 3. That Moses Kindly Received-His Father-In-Law, Jethro, When He
Came To Him To Mount Sinai. Now when Raguel, Moses's father ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 3 that moses kindly.htm

Within a Few Days Galerius C??sar Arrived, not to Congratulate his ...
... Chap. XVIII. Within a few days Galerius C??sar arrived, not to congratulate
his father-in-law on the re-establishment? Within ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xviii within a few.htm

Of Marriage Between Blood-Relations, in Regard to which the ...
... "Father" and "father-in-law" are the names of two relationships. When,
therefore, a man has one person for his father, another for ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 16 of marriage between blood-relations.htm

Maximian, Having Thus Forfeited the Respect Due to an Emperor and ...
... Chap. XXX. Maximian, having thus forfeited the respect due to an emperor
and a father-in-law? Maximian, having thus forfeited ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xxx maximian having thus.htm

Resolves to Go to College. Friends Oppose. Wife Decides It. Hard ...
... Preaches for His Home Church. Father-in-law Dies. "Frank, Be a True Man." House
Robbed. ... Impaired Health. Preaches for His Home Church. Father-in-law Dies. ...
/.../chapter viii resolves to go.htm

But the Other Maximian Galerius, Chosen by Diocletian for his Son ...
... to all that came near him. His father-in-law, too, dreaded him excessively.
The cause was this. Narseus, king of the Persians, emulating ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap ix but the other.htm

Then Maximian Returned into Gaul; and after Having Made Some Stay ...
... The young prince believed the advice to be judicious, because given by an aged and
experienced commander; and he followed it, because given by a father-in-law. ...
/.../chap xxix then maximian returned.htm

What Manner of Life and Death the Roman Kings Had.
... sword of the Greeks. Nay, the very Tarquin who had murdered, was allowed
to succeed his father-in-law. And this infamous parricide ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 15 what manner of life.htm

Of the Manner in Which the Persecutors Died
... Chap. XVIII. Within a few days Galerius C??sar arrived, not to congratulate
his father-in-law on the re-establishment? Chap. XIX. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/lactantius/of the manner in which the persecutors died/

The Crime Committed by the Inhabitants of Gibeah against the Wife ...
... Then her husband arose and went to the house of his father-in-law, to reconcile
himself with his wife, to win her back and take her home again. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xix the crime committed.htm

Fatherinlaw
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia FATHER-IN-LAW.
fa'-ther-in-lo. See RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY. ...
/f/fatherinlaw.htm - 6k

Father-in-law (25 Occurrences)
Father-in-law. Fatherinlaw, Father-in-law. Fatherless . Noah Webster's Dictionary ...
Fatherinlaw, Father-in-law. Fatherless . Reference Bible.
/f/father-in-law.htm - 15k

Moses's (15 Occurrences)
... Exodus 18:1 When Jethro the priest of Midian, Moses's father-in-law, heard of all
that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had ...
/m/moses's.htm - 11k

Jethro (10 Occurrences)
... yether, "Iether," the King James Version margin, the Revised Version margin);
Septuagint always Iothor): The priest of Midian and father-in-law (chothen) of ...
/j/jethro.htm - 17k

Raguel (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Friend of God, (Numbers 10:29)=Reuel (qv), Exodus 2:18,
the father-in-law of Moses, and probably identical with Jethro (qv). Int. ...
/r/raguel.htm - 9k

Hobab (3 Occurrences)
... Numbers 10:29, 30. In Judges 4:11, the word rendered "father-in-law" means
properly any male relative by marriage (Comp. Genesis ...
/h/hobab.htm - 10k

Reuel (14 Occurrences)
... (1.) A son of Esau and Bashemath (Genesis 36:4, 10; 1 Chronicles 1:35). (2.) "The
priest of Midian," Moses' father-in-law (Exodus 2:18)=Raguel (Numbers 10:29). ...
/r/reuel.htm - 12k

Ken'ite (5 Occurrences)
... Judges 1:16 And the descendants of the Ken'ite, Moses' father-in-law, went up with
the people of Judah from the city of palms into the wilderness of Judah ...
/k/ken'ite.htm - 7k

Lady's (8 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Judges 19:4 His father-in-law, the young lady's father, retained him; and
he abode with him three days: so they ate and drink, and lodged there. (WEB). ...
/l/lady's.htm - 9k

Girl's (12 Occurrences)
... (DBY NAS RSV). Judges 19:4 And his father-in-law, the girl's father, kept him there
for three days; and they had food and drink and took their rest there. ...
/g/girl's.htm - 10k

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about the concept of a common law marriage? | GotQuestions.org

Did Jesus mean that we should never refer to our earthly father as “father” (Matthew 23:9)? Is it wrong for Catholics to refer to their priests as “father”? | GotQuestions.org

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