Deuteronomy 25:10

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 25:10 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.
Deuteronomy 25:10 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 25

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
10And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And his name shall be called in Israel, etc.] Not his particular and personal name, but his family; for it seems that not only a mark of infamy was set upon him for refusing to marry his brother’s widow, but upon his family also; the house of him that hath his shoe loosed; which, as Leo of Modena says f460 , was repeated by her three times; and at every time the people with a loud voice answer and call him, one that had his shoe loosed; and then the Rabbin tells the man that he is at liberty now to marry whom he pleases; and if he desires a certificate from them of this setting free his kinswoman, they presently give him one; and she also had a writing given to her by the judges, certifying…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The law of levirate marriage. The law on this subject is not unique to the Jews, but is found (see Genesis 38:8) in all essential respects the same among various Oriental nations, ancient and modern. The rules in these verses, like those upon divorce, do but incorporate existing immemorial usages, and introduce various wise and politic limitations and mitigations of them. The root of the obligation here imposed upon the brother of the deceased husband lies in the primitive idea of childlessness being a great calamity (compare Genesis 16:4; and note), and extinction of name and family one of the greatest that could happen (compare Deuteronomy 9:14; Psalms 109:12-15). To avert this the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“His name - That is, his person, and his posterity also. So it was a lasting blot. Deuteronomy 25:13”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“25:10 his family will be referred to: If a man refused to perpetuate his brother’s name, he would be spoken of in a derogatory way.”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification