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 several passages throughout the Bible, providing insight into family dynamics and cultural norms of ancient times.

Old Testament References

One of the most notable mentions of a mother-in-law in the Old Testament is Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ruth. The Book of Ruth provides a profound narrative of loyalty and familial bonds. After the death of her husband and sons, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem from Moab. Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law, famously pledges her loyalty to 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). This relationship highlights the potential for deep bonds between a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law, transcending cultural and national boundaries.

Another reference is found in the account of Jacob and his wives, Leah and Rachel. Laban, their father, is Jacob's father-in-law, and his interactions with Jacob illustrate the complexities that can arise in in-law relationships, including issues of trust and deception (Genesis 29-31).

New Testament References

In the New Testament, Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law, who was suffering from a fever. The account is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In Matthew 8:14-15 , it states, "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 miracle not only demonstrates Jesus' compassion and power but also reflects the household structure where extended family members, such as a mother-in-law, lived together and contributed to the family unit.

Cultural and Theological Insights

In biblical times, the family was a central unit of society, and the role of a mother-in-law was significant. She often held a position of authority and influence within the family, especially in matters related to marriage and household management. The relationship between a mother-in-law and her children-in-law could vary greatly, from supportive and nurturing to challenging and contentious.

Theologically, the Bible emphasizes the importance of family relationships and the call to love and respect one another. The example of Ruth and Naomi serves as a model of loyalty and devotion, while the healing of Peter's mother-in-law by Jesus underscores the value of care and service within the family.

Overall, the biblical portrayal of mothers-in-law provides valuable lessons on the dynamics of family relationships, the potential for unity and support, and the importance of faithfulness and love within the family structure.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

"The Kind, Loving, Mother"
... Our Kind Mother, our Gracious Mother, [236] for that He would all wholly become
our Mother in all things, He took the Ground of His Works full low and full ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lx the kind loving.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

"All Our Life is in Three: Nature, Mercy, Grace. ' the High Might ...
... Our Substance is the higher part, which we have in our Father, God Almighty; and
the Second Person of the Trinity is our Mother in Nature, in making of our ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lviii all our life.htm

Whether the Blessed virgin Can be Called Christ's Mother in ...
... OF CHRIST'S NATIVITY (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the Blessed Virgin can be
called Christ's Mother in respect of His temporal nativity? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the blessed virgin can.htm

He Sets Out for Rome, his Mother in Vain Lamenting It.
... Book V. Chapter VIII."He Sets Out for Rome, His Mother in Vain Lamenting
It. 14. Thou dealedst with me, therefore, that I should ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter viii he sets out for.htm

Whether There are Two Filiations in Christ?
... Now, it is manifest that Christ was not born by one and the same nativity, of the
Father from eternity, and of His Mother in time: indeed, these two nativities ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there are two filiations.htm

"Jesus Christ that Doeth Good against Evil is Our Very Mother: we ...
... And thus is Jesus our Very Mother in Nature [by virtue] of our first making;
and He is our Very Mother in Grace, by taking our nature made. ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lix jesus christ that.htm

Who are Meant by Father and Mother in the Fifth Commandment?
... Question 124: Who are meant by father and mother in the fifth commandment?
Answer: By father and mother, in the fifth commandment ...
/.../anonymous/the westminster larger catechism/question 124 0 0 who are meant.htm

Mother-in (1 Occurrence)
Mother-in. Mother, Mother-in. Motherinlaw . Multi-Version Concordance
Mother-in (1 Occurrence). Matthew 8:14 After this ...
/m/mother-in.htm - 6k

Mother-in-law (16 Occurrences)
Mother-in-law. Motherinlaw, Mother-in-law. Mother-of-pearl . Noah Webster's
Dictionary ... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MOTHER-IN-LAW. See RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILY ...
/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

Is it biblical to refer to God as God the mother? | GotQuestions.org

Is the Catholic Church the mother church? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to be a godly mother? | GotQuestions.org

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