Open Bible Data Home  About  News  OET Key  Downloads

OET OET-RV OET-LV GHT ULT UST BSB MSB BLB AICNT OEB WEBBE WMBB NET LSV FBV TCNT T4T LEB BBE Moff JPS Wymth ASV DRA YLT Drby RV SLT Wbstr KJB-1769 KJB-1611 Bshps Gnva Cvdl TNT Wycl SR-GNT UHB BrLXX BrTr Related Parallel Simple Interlinear Topics Reference Dictionary Search

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XY Z

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Intro ← Index → ©

WIDOW

A woman whose husband has died. In the Scriptures, widows are often listed with the fatherless and orphans (Dt 14:29; 16:11; 24:19-20; 26:12; Ps 94:6). Laws were passed to make special provision for this group and to protect them against the unscrupulous. The primary law had to do with levirate marriage—i.e., the closest kin would marry the widow (if she was without a son) to continue the family line (see discussion under Marriage).

Show passage in OET: DEU 14:29

OET-RV DEU 14:29

29 for the Levites (because they didn’t get land), and for any foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. They can come and get what they need so that your god Yahweh can bless you in everything that you do.

OET-LV DEU 14:29

29 And_ the_Lēviyyiy _he_will_come if/because there_belongs_not to_him/it a_portion and_an_inheritance with_you and_the_sojourner and_the_fatherless_one and_the_widow who are_in_gates_of_your and_they_will_eat and_they_will_be_satisfied so_that he_may_bless_you YHWH god_of_your in_all the_work_of your_hand_of_your which you_will_do.
Show passage in OET: DEU 16:11

OET-RV DEU 16:11

11 You should celebrate in Yahweh’s presence, along with your children and your servants, and any Levites living in your town, and the foreigners, orphans, and widows living among you. Take your offerings to the place that your god Yahweh will choose to attach his name to.

OET-LV DEU 16:11

11 And_you_will_rejoice to_(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH god_of_your you and_son_of_your and_daughter_of_your and_your_male_of_servant and_your_female_of_servant and_the_Lēviyyiy who is_in_gates_of_your and_the_sojourner and_the_fatherless_one and_the_widow who are_in_midst_of_your in_place where YHWH god_of_your he_will_choose to_cause_to_dwell his/its_name there.
Show passage in OET: DEU 24:19–20

OET-RV DEU 24:19

19 When you harvest your crops, if you forget a tied bundle in your field, don’t go back to get it—it’ll be for a resident foreigner or an orphan or widow to pick up, so that your god Yahweh can bless everything that you do.

OET-RV DEU 24:20

20 When you beat your olive tree to make the fruit fall, don’t go back over it to pick the ones still on the tree. Those will be for the foreigner, or the orphan or widow.

OET-LV DEU 24:19

19 If/because you_will_harvest harvest_of_your in_field_of_your and_you_will_forget a_sheaf in_the_field not you_will_return to_fetch_it to_sojourner to_one and_to_widow it_will_belong so_that he_may_bless_you YHWH god_of_your in_all_of the_work_of your_two’s_hands_of_your.

OET-LV DEU 24:20

20 If/because you_will_beat tree_of_your_olive not you_will_go_over_the_branches behind_you to_sojourner to_one and_to_widow it_will_belong.
Show passage in OET: DEU 26:12

OET-RV DEU 26:12

12 Every third year, take a tenth of your harvest to the Levites, the foreigners, and the orphans and widows in your town for them to eat and be content.

OET-LV DEU 26:12

12 If/because you_will_finish to_tithe DOM all_of the_tithe_of your_produce_of_your in_year (the)_third the_year_of the_tithe and_you(ms)_will_give to_Lēviyyiy to_sojourner to_one and_to_widow and_they_will_eat in_gates_of_your and_they_will_be_satisfied.
Show passage in OET: PSA 94:6

OET-RV PSA 94:6

6 They kill widows and strangers,
 ⇔ ≈ and they murder the fatherless.

OET-LV PSA 94:6

6 The_widow and_the_sojourner they_kill and_fatherless_ones they_murder.

Jump to OET DEU 14:29 section.

Jump to OET DEU 16:11 section.

Jump to OET DEU 24:19–20 section.

Jump to OET DEU 26:12 section.

Jump to OET PSA 94:6 section.

The plight of the widow was recognized in the number of laws designed for her protection and even survival. God was her legal protector (Ps 68:5) and saw that she was provided with the essentials of food and clothing (Dt 10:18). Those who denied her justice were cursed by God (27:19). At harvesttime the widow might glean the grain in the fields, as well as some grapes and olives (Dt 24:19; Ru 2:2, 7, 15-19 OET RUT 2:2 · OET RUT 2:7 · OET RUT 2:15–19), and she was also eligible for some assistance from the third-year tithe. Nevertheless, the poverty of widows and the cruel treatment extended to them was so widespread that frequent reference is made to it (Jb 24:21; Ps 94:6; Is 1:23; Mal 3:5). A special law provided that the widow’s garment could not be used as security for a loan (Dt 24:17).

Show passage in OET: PSA 68:5

OET-RV PSA 68:5

5 A father of the fatherless,
 ⇔ ≈ a protector of the widows,
 ⇔ is God in the sin-free place where he lives.

OET-LV PSA 68:6

6  Is_a_father_of fatherless_ones and_a_judge_of widows god in_the_dwelling_place_of his_holiness_of_his.
Show passage in OET: DEU 10:18

OET-RV DEU 10:18

18 He delivers fair judgements for the fatherless and for widows, and shows love towards foreigners—giving them food and clothing,

OET-LV DEU 10:18

18 He_is_bringing_about judgement_of a_fatherless_one and_a_widow and_he_is_loving a_sojourner to_give to_him/it food and_clothing.
Show passage in OET: DEU 27:19

OET-RV DEU 27:19

19 ‘Anyone who perverts justice for a foreigner or orphan or widow will be cursed.’
 ¶ Then the people must reply, ‘Let it be so.’

OET-LV DEU 27:19

19 one_who_turns_aside the_justice_of a_sojourner a_fatherless_one and_a_widow is_cursed and_ all_of the_people _saying(ms) amen.
Show passage in OET: DEU 24:19

OET-RV DEU 24:19

19 When you harvest your crops, if you forget a tied bundle in your field, don’t go back to get it—it’ll be for a resident foreigner or an orphan or widow to pick up, so that your god Yahweh can bless everything that you do.

OET-LV DEU 24:19

19 If/because you_will_harvest harvest_of_your in_field_of_your and_you_will_forget a_sheaf in_the_field not you_will_return to_fetch_it to_sojourner to_one and_to_widow it_will_belong so_that he_may_bless_you YHWH god_of_your in_all_of the_work_of your_two’s_hands_of_your.
Show passage in OET: RUT 2:2; RUT 2:7; RUT 2:15–19

OET-RV RUT 2:2

2 Ruth the Moavit said to No’omi, “Allow me to go to the countryside and pick up any heads of grain that the harvesters drop. I’ll follow any harvester who seems kind.”
 ¶ “Go ahead, my daughter,” No’omi replied.

OET-RV RUT 2:7

7 She asked me for permission to follow the harvesters and pick up any heads of grain that drop, and she’s been doing it since early morning until just recently she’s taking a break now in the shelter.

OET-RV RUT 2:15

15 Then she went back to picking up heads and Boaz ordered his men, “Let her gather grain even among the bundles and don’t shame her.

OET-RV RUT 2:16

16 Even pull some stalks out from the bundles and drop them for her to pick up, and don’t tell her off.”

OET-RV RUT 2:17

17 So Ruth picked up grain in the countryside until evening and when she beat the heads and collected the grains, she had a large basket of barley.

OET-RV RUT 2:18

18 So she picked up the basket and headed back into town and showed her mother-in-law how much she had collected. Ruth also gave No’omi (Naomi) the roasted grain left-over from her lunch.

OET-RV RUT 2:19

19 “Where did you pick up grain today and where did you work?” asked No’omi. “May the man who took notice of you be blessed.”
 ¶ So she told her mother-in-law where she had worked, “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz.”

OET-LV RUT 2:2

2 And_ Rūt the_Mōʼāⱱite_woman _she/it_said to Noˊₒmī let_me_go please the_field so_that_I_may_glean among_grain behind the_one_whom I_will_find favour in_eyes_of_his and_she/it_said to/for_her/it go my_daughter_of_my.

OET-LV RUT 2:7

7 And_she/it_said let_me_glean please and_I_will_gather among_sheaves behind the_harvesters and_she_came and_she_has_stayed from_then this_morning and_unto now this sitting_her the_house little.

OET-LV RUT 2:15

15 And_she/it_arose to_glean and_ Boˊaz _he/it_commanded DOM servants_of_his to_say also between the_sheaves she_will_glean and_not you(pl)_must_humiliate_her.

OET-LV RUT 2:16

16 And_also indeed_(pull_out) you(pl)_will_pull_out to/for_her/it some_of the_bundles_grain and_you(pl)_will_leave_them and_she_will_glean and_not you(pl)_must_rebuke (in)_her.

OET-LV RUT 2:17

17 And_she_gleaned in_the_field until the_evening and_she_beat_out DOM that_which she_had_gleaned and_he/it_was about_an_ʼēyfāh barley(s).

OET-LV RUT 2:18

18 And_she_lifted_it_up and_she_went the_city and_ mother-in-law_of_her _she/it_saw DOM that_which she_had_gleaned and_she/it_produced and_she_gave to/for_her/it DOM that_which she_had_left_over from_abundance_of_her.

OET-LV RUT 2:19

19 And_she/it_said to/for_her/it mother-in-law_of_her where did_you_glean the_day and_where did_you_work may_he_be the_one_of_who_paid_regard_to_you blessed and_she_told to_mother-in-law_of_her DOM whom she_had_worked with_him/it and_she/it_said the_name_of the_man whom I_worked with_him/it the_day is_Boˊaz.
Show passage in OET: JOB 24:21

OET-RV JOB 24:21

21 He devours the barren woman who’s never had a child.
 ⇔ He doesn’t do anything good to the widow.

OET-LV JOB 24:21

21 He_is_feeding_on a_barren_woman who_not she_gives_birth and_a_widow not he_does_good_to.
Show passage in OET: ISA 1:23

OET-RV ISA 1:23

23 Your leaders are rebels and companions of thieves.
 ⇔ Everyone loves bribes and kick-backs.
 ⇔ They don’t defend the fatherless,
 ⇔ and don’t even think about standing up for the widow.

OET-LV ISA 1:23

23 Leaders_of_your are_rebels and_companions_of thieves of_it_of_all is_loving a_bribe and_it_is_pursuing rewards the_fatherless not they_vindicate and_the_lawsuit_of a_widow not it_comes to_them.
Show passage in OET: MAL 3:5

OET-RV MAL 3:5

5 This is what Commander-in-chief Yahweh says, “At that time, I’ll come to you all to judge you. I’ll quickly testify against all those who practice sorcery, against adulterers, against those who lie in court, against those who don’t pay their workers fairly, against those who mistreat widows and orphans, against those who don’t treat the foreigners among you decently, and against those who refuse to honour me.

OET-LV MAL 3:5

5 And_I_will_draw_near to_you(pl) for_judgement and_I_will_be a_witness who_hastens on_sorcerers and_on_adulterers and_on_who]_swear_an_oath to_falsehood and_on_those_who_defraud_of (of)_the_hire_of a_hired_labourer a_widow and_a_fatherless_one and_those_who_thrust_aside_of (of)_a_sojourner and_not they_fear_me YHWH soldiers/messengers he_says.
Show passage in OET: DEU 24:17

OET-RV DEU 24:17

17 Don’t pervert justice if it involves foreigners or orphans, and don’t take a widow’s cloak as security for a loan.

OET-LV DEU 24:17

17 Not you_will_turn_aside the_justice_of a_sojourner a_fatherless_one and_not you_will_take_as_pledge the_garment_of a_widow.

Jump to OET PSA 68:5 section.

Jump to OET DEU 10:18 section.

Jump to OET DEU 27:19 section.

Jump to OET DEU 24:19 section.

Jump to OET RUT 2:2 section. · OET RUT 2:7 section. · OET RUT 2:15–19 section.

Jump to OET JOB 24:21 section.

Jump to OET ISA 1:23 section.

Jump to OET MAL 3:5 section.

Jump to OET DEU 24:17 section.

In the early Christian church there was a recognized group of widows eligible to receive charity. They were generally those over 60 years of age who had been faithful to their husband, were in poverty, had no relatives to support them, and had lived blameless lives filled with Christian good works (1 Tm 5:9-16).

Show passage in OET: TI1 5:9–16

OET-RV TI1 5:9

9 The assembly should enrol a widow if she’s at least sixty years old and was the wife of a single husband.

OET-RV TI1 5:10

10 She should be known for her good undertakings, for example if she raised children, if she was hospitable to strangers, if she washed the feet of believers, if she helped those who were oppressed, and if she always tried to do what was right.

OET-RV TI1 5:11

11 But don’t enrol younger widows because their emotional needs might drive them to want to marry again rather than to serve the messiah

OET-RV TI1 5:12

12 and we don’t want them to be judged because they couldn’t fulfil their faith commitment.

OET-RV TI1 5:13

13 Plus they often follow others in idly going around houses, and not just being idle but also gossipping and meddling and chatting about things they shouldn’t.

OET-RV TI1 5:14

14 That’s why I prefer younger women to be getting married and having children, to keep house, and to avoid all situations where others could accuse them.

OET-RV TI1 5:15

15 In fact, some have already turned away to follow Satan.

OET-RV TI1 5:16

16 If any believing woman has widowed relatives, they should continue to help them and not burden the assembly, so then the assembly can assist the really needy widows.

OET-LV TI1 5:9

9 ˓Let˒_ a_widow _be_being_enrolled having_become not lessor than sixty years, the_wife of_one husband,

OET-LV TI1 5:10

10 being_attested in good works:
if she_raised_children, if she_lodged_strangers, if she_washed the_feet of_holy ones, if she_assisted being_oppressed ones, if she_followed_after to_every work good.

OET-LV TI1 5:11

11 But be_refusing younger widows, because/for whenever they_may_become_sensual against_the chosen_one/messiah, they_are_willing to_be_marrying,

OET-LV TI1 5:12

12 having judgement because they_rejecting their first faith.

OET-LV TI1 5:13

13 But also together they_are_learning to_be idle, going_around the houses, and not only idle, but also gossips and meddling, speaking the things not fitting.

OET-LV TI1 5:14

14 Therefore I_am_wishing the_younger women to_be_marrying, to_be_bearing_children, to_be_keeping_house, not_one opportunity to_be_giving of_insult to_the one opposing for_reason_of.

OET-LV TI1 5:15

15 For/Because already some were_turned_away after the Satan/(Sāţān).

OET-LV TI1 5:16

16 If any believing woman is_having widows, he _let_be_assisting to_them, and not let_be_being_weighed_down the assembly, in_order_that it_may_assist to_the really widows.

Jump to OET TI1 5:9–16 section.

See also Family Life and Relations; Marriage.