Bible Dictionaries
Daughter-in-Law

Holman Bible Dictionary

The wife of one's son. Famous daughters-in-law include Sarah, daughter-in-law of Terah (Genesis 11:31 ); Tamar, daughter-in-law of Judah (Genesis 38:11 ,Genesis 38:11,38:16; 1 Chronicles 2:4 ); and Ruth, daughter-in-law of Naomi (Ruth 2:20 ,Ruth 2:20,2:22; Ruth 4:15 ). Daughters-in-law might be addressed simply as daughter (Ruth 2:2 ,Ruth 2:2,2:8 ,Ruth 2:8,2:22 ). Marriage made them an integral member of the family. Ruth was hailed as more to Naomi than seven sons (Ruth 4:15 ). The breakdown of the relationship between mother-in-laws and daughters-in-law illustrated the collapse of moral society (Micah 7:6 ). In the New Testament, differing responses to the gospel created the same breakdown of relationship (Matthew 10:35; Luke 12:53 ). Jewish law prohibited incest between a man and his daughter-in-law (Leviticus 18:15 ). This crime was punishable by death (Leviticus 20:12 ). In Ezekiel 22:11 this crime illustrates the moral decline of the nation. See Family .