In the biblical context, the term "mother-in-law" refers to the mother of one's spouse. The role and relationship of a mother-in-law are mentioned in various passages throughout the Bible, providing insight into family dynamics and social customs of ancient times.

Old Testament References

The concept of a mother-in-law is first introduced in the Book of Genesis. Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, becomes the mother-in-law of Esau's wives. Genesis 26:34-35 notes the tension in this relationship: "When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah."

One of the most notable mother-in-law figures in the Old Testament is Naomi, from the Book of Ruth. Naomi's relationship with her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, is a central theme. After the death of her sons, Naomi urges her daughters-in-law to return to their own families. Ruth, however, famously refuses, expressing her loyalty in Ruth 1:16 : "But Ruth replied: 'Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.'"

New Testament References

In the New Testament, Jesus acknowledges the potential for familial conflict involving mothers-in-law. In Matthew 10:35-36 , He 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 highlights the challenges that can arise within family relationships, including those with in-laws, when individuals choose to follow Christ.

The Apostle Peter's mother-in-law is also mentioned in the Gospels. In Matthew 8:14-15 , Jesus heals her: "When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, He saw Peter’s mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve them." This account demonstrates the compassion of Jesus and the immediate response of service from Peter's mother-in-law upon her healing.

Cultural and Theological Insights

In biblical times, the family unit was central to social and economic life. The role of a mother-in-law was significant, often involving the integration of new family members and the continuation of family traditions. The accounts of Naomi and Ruth, as well as Peter's mother-in-law, illustrate the potential for both conflict and deep loyalty within these relationships.

Theologically, the Bible presents the mother-in-law relationship as one that can reflect broader themes of loyalty, service, and the transformative power of faith. The narrative of Ruth and Naomi, in particular, is celebrated for its depiction of steadfast love and commitment, transcending cultural and familial boundaries.

Overall, the biblical portrayal of mothers-in-law encompasses a range of experiences, from conflict to profound loyalty, offering valuable lessons on family relationships and faithfulness.(n.) The mother of one's husband or wife.MOTHER-IN-LAW

See RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY.

3994. penthera -- a mother-in-law
... a mother-in-law. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: penthera Phonetic
Spelling: (pen-ther-ah') Short Definition: a mother-in-law Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3994.htm - 6k5281. Noomi -- mother-in-law of Ruth
... 5280, 5281. Noomi. 5282 . mother-in-law of Ruth. Transliteration: Noomi
Phonetic Spelling: (no-om-ee') Short Definition: Naomi. ...
/hebrew/5281.htm - 6k

2545. chamoth -- husband's mother
... chamoth. 2546 . husband's mother. Transliteration: chamoth Phonetic Spelling:
(kham-oth') Short Definition: mother-in-law. Word Origin fem. ... mother in law. ...
/hebrew/2545.htm - 6k

2859. chathan -- make oneself a daughter's husband
... join in affinity, father-in-law, make marriages, mother-in-law, son-in-law.
A primitive root; to give (a daughter) away in marriage ...
/hebrew/2859.htm - 6k

2860b. chothen -- wife's father or mother
... Word Origin from the same as chathan Definition wife's father or mother NASB Word
Usage father-in-law (21), mother-in-law (1). 2860a, 2860b. chothen. 2861 ...
/hebrew/2860b.htm - 5k

Letter iii. To Bassula, his Mother-In-Law.
... To Bassula, His Mother-In-Law. How St. ... [69] Of course, this is all jocular, and shows
the best relations as existing between Sulpitius and his mother-in-law. ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /letter iii to bassula his.htm

Healing Peter's Mother-In-Law and Many Others.
... Part Fourth. From the First to the Second Passover. (Time: One Year.) XXXII.
Healing Peter's Mother-in-Law and Many Others. (at Capernaum.) ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxii healing peters mother-in-law and.htm

Of the Order in which the Narrative Concerning Peter's Mother-In ...
... The Prologue. Chapter XXI."Of the Order in Which the Narrative Concerning
Peter's Mother-In-Law is Introduced. 51. Matthew proceeds ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxi of the order in.htm

Of Marriage Between Blood-Relations, in Regard to which the ...
... So too Eve his wife was both mother and mother-in-law to her children of both sexes;
while, had there been two women, one the mother, the other the mother-in ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 16 of marriage between blood-relations.htm

How under Eli's Government of the Israelites Booz Married Ruth ...
... 2. When Ruth was come with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem, Booz, who was near of
kin to Elimelech, entertained her; and when Naomi was so called by her fellow ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 how under elis.htm

Ruth and Naomi.
... After living there about ten years Naomi's sons died also, leaving Orpah
and Ruth widows, along with their widowed mother-in-law. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/ruth and naomi.htm

Naomi is an Instance of a Widow Receiving Back from Her Daughter ...
... to her who has well taught and well instructed her daughter-in-law a Ruth will never
be wanting who will prefer the widowed life of her mother-in-law to her ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vi naomi is an.htm

Ruth, the Gleaner
... farther. So the little party halted, and one of the young women, weeping
bitterly, kissed her mother-in-law and turned to go back. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/steedman/the babe in the bulrushes/ruth the gleaner.htm

Boaz and Ruth.
... One day, Ruth obtained permission from her mother-in-law to go gleaning, and went
to glean in the field of a rich man named Boaz, who happened to be a kinsman ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/boaz and ruth.htm

The Devotion of Ruth
... I am sorry for you, for Jehovah has afflicted me." Then they again wept aloud, and
Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth stayed with her. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the devotion of ruth.htm

Motherinlaw
Motherinlaw. Mother-in, Motherinlaw. Mother-in-law . Int. ...MOTHER-IN-LAW. See
RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY. Mother-in, Motherinlaw. Mother-in-law . Reference Bible
/m/motherinlaw.htm - 6k

Mother-in-law (16 Occurrences)
Mother-in-law. Motherinlaw, Mother-in-law. Mother-of-pearl . Noah Webster's
Dictionary ... Motherinlaw, Mother-in-law. Mother-of-pearl . Reference Bible.
/m/mother-in-law.htm - 11k

Bo'az (24 Occurrences)
... Ruth 2:11 Boaz answered her, "It has fully been shown me, all that you have done
to your mother-in-law since the death of your husband; and how you have left ...
/b/bo'az.htm - 12k

Daughter-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. ...
/d/daughter-in-law.htm - 12k

Naomi (25 Occurrences)
... The lovable; my delight, the wife of Elimelech, and mother of Mahlon and Chilion,
and mother-in-law of Ruth (1:2, 20, 21; 2:1). Elimelech and his wife left the ...
/n/naomi.htm - 17k

Boaz (25 Occurrences)
... Ruth 2:11 Boaz answered her, "It has fully been shown me, all that you have done
to your mother-in-law since the death of your husband; and how you have left ...
/b/boaz.htm - 19k

Orpah (2 Occurrences)
... On the death of her husband she accompanied Naomi, her mother-in-law, part of the
way to Bethlehem, and then returned to Moab. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/o/orpah.htm - 7k

Glean (12 Occurrences)
... Ruth 2:19 Her mother-in-law said to her, "Where have you gleaned today?
Where have you worked? Blessed be he who noticed you." She ...
/g/glean.htm - 11k

Gleaned (6 Occurrences)
... Ruth 2:18 She took it up, and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what
she had gleaned: and she brought forth and gave to her that which she had left ...
/g/gleaned.htm - 8k

Declareth (71 Occurrences)
... Ruth 2:19 And her mother-in-law saith to her, 'Where hast thou gleaned
to-day? and where hast thou wrought? may he who is discerning ...
/d/declareth.htm - 27k

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