Bible Dictionary

Daughter-in-law

A woman in relation to the parents of her husband.

Quick Reference

Total Entries

516

Entry Position

119 of 516

Letter

D

Meaning

A woman in relation to the parents of her husband.

Key Scriptures

  • Genesis 11:31
  • Genesis 38:11
  • Leviticus 18:15
  • Ruth 1:4-17
  • Ruth 2:2-23
  • Ruth 4:13-17
  • 1 Samuel 4:19-22
  • 1 Samuel 28:24-25
  • 2 Kings 8:25-27
  • Proverbs 30:15-17
  • Matthew 10:35-36
  • Luke 12:53

Original Language

Hebrew

כַּלָּה

kallah

bride; daughter-in-law

Greek

νύμφη

nymphē

bride; daughter-in-law

Meaning

A daughter-in-law is a woman in relation to the parents of her husband.


Biblical Usage

The Bible uses daughter-in-law for a woman who has married a man’s son and is therefore connected by marriage to his family and household.

The relationship appears prominently in the stories of Ruth and Naomi and in other family narratives. The term is also used in laws concerning family relationships and in passages describing division within households.


Key References

  • Genesis 11:31
  • Genesis 38:11
  • Leviticus 18:15
  • Ruth 1:4-17
  • Ruth 4:13-17
  • 1 Samuel 4:19-22
  • 2 Kings 8:25-27
  • Matthew 10:35-36
  • Luke 12:53

  • Son
  • Wife
  • Mother-in-law
  • Family
  • Widow

Study More

Continue your Bible study by exploring related Scriptures, dictionary terms, and connected topics.

Scriptures

  • Genesis 11:31
  • Genesis 38:11
  • Leviticus 18:15
  • Ruth 1:4-17
  • Ruth 2:2-23
  • Ruth 4:13-17
  • 1 Samuel 4:19-22
  • 1 Samuel 28:24-25
  • 2 Kings 8:25-27
  • Proverbs 30:15-17
  • Matthew 10:35-36
  • Luke 12:53

Related Terms

Study Topics

family marriage household relationships