Encyclopedia of The Bible – Daughter-in-Law
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Daughter-in-Law

DAUGHTER-IN-LAW (Heb. כַּלָּה, H3987, “bride,” before marriage, “reserved one,” after marriage, “newly married woman”). The same prohibitions against incest stipulated in the Levitical code for daughters are applied to daughters-in-law (Lev 18:15; 20:12). The daughter-in-law, unlike the concubine, was removed from her father’s house as soon as the bride-price, the payment to reimburse the father-in-law for her economic services was paid (Gen 29:21-30). The NT term Gr. νύμφη, G3811, means primarily “bride” (Rev 21:9, et al.) and secondarily, “daughter-in-law” (Matt 10:35).