Many of us have the usual mother-in-law stories and many times create humor out of these stories. The word in the English language is clearly indicating a relationship by law. But in the Word of God the original Hebrew does not relate to the same thing. Ruth 2:19, And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” The word mother-in-law comes from the Hebrew word chômâh, which means to join ; a wall of protection: - wall, walled. Therefore, once you are married, you are joined and enjoy a wall of protection with the parents of your husband. This is not by the law of the land, but God's economy. Naomi was gracious in releasing her two daughters-in-law but Ruth chose to remain joined with her. In the Indian and Chinese culture ...