The big picture
Deuteronomy 25 opens in verse 1 with “If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 10 with “And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.”, and closes in verse 19 with “Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies…” Repeated or prominent terms include brother, wife, brother’s, husband’s, LORD. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Deuteronomy · King James Version · 19Deuteronomy 25:1-7
1–7: If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that…
Deuteronomy 25:1–7 opens with “If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge…” and reaches “And if the man like not to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Deuteronomy 25 develops its own movement around brother, wife, brother’s, husband’s, LORD, with particular weight carried by brother, husband’s, wife.
Context that brings the passage to life
“If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes…” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Deuteronomy 25:1-7
King James Version1If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.
2And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.
3Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.
4Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.
5If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her.
6And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.
7And if the man like not to take his brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband’s brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband’s brother.
Deuteronomy 25:8-14
8–14: The elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he…
Deuteronomy 25:8–14 opens with “Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say…” and reaches “Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Deuteronomy 25 develops its own movement around brother, wife, brother’s, husband’s, LORD, with particular weight carried by hand, house, brother’s.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Deuteronomy 25:8-14
King James Version8Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her;
9Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house.
10And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.
11When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets:
12Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her.
13Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.
14Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small.
Deuteronomy 25:15-19
15–19: Thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure…
Deuteronomy 25:15–19 opens with “But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that…” and reaches “Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Deuteronomy 25 develops its own movement around brother, wife, brother’s, husband’s, LORD, with particular weight carried by LORD, Amalek, giveth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
“For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Deuteronomy 25:15-19
King James Version15But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
16For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
17Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;
18How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.
19Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Deuteronomy 25:1 begins with “If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the…”
Where the chapter turns
Deuteronomy 25:9 forms a natural hinge: “Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and…”
The final note
Deuteronomy 25:19 leaves the reader with “Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words brother, wife, brother’s, husband’s, LORD, name help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What fulfills the earlier promise concerning Ishmael?
The named twelve princes and the account of his descendants.
What family pattern increases the twins' conflict?
Isaac favors Esau and Rebekah favors Jacob.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.