Ruth 4:12-22

12 Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”

Naomi Gains a Son

13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!
15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him.
17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

The Genealogy of David

18 This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,
19 Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab,
20 Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,[a]
21 Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed,
22 Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.

Ruth 4:12-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO RUTH 4

This chapter relates how an offer was made to the nearest kinsman of Ruth to redeem her, and the field her husband left, which he refused to do, Ru 4:1-8, upon which Boaz redeemed both, and married Ruth before the elders of the city as witnesses, and who congratulated him and her on that occasion, Ru 4:9-12, to whom a son was born, called Obed by the neighbours, Ru 4:13-17 and the chapter is concluded with the genealogy of David, who sprung from him, Ru 4:18-22.

Cross References 16

  • 1. ver 18; S Genesis 38:29
  • 2. Genesis 38:6,24
  • 3. S Genesis 8:1; S Genesis 29:31; Ge Genesis 29:31; Genesis 33:5; Ruth 3:11
  • 4. S Genesis 29:32; S Genesis 30:6; Luke 1:57
  • 5. Luke 1:58
  • 6. S Genesis 24:27
  • 7. S Ruth 2:20
  • 8. S Genesis 11:31
  • 9. Ruth 1:16-17; Ruth 2:11-12; 1 Samuel 1:8; 1 Samuel 2:5; Job 1:2
  • 10. ver 22; 1 Samuel 16:1,18; 1 Samuel 17:12,17,58; 1 Chronicles 2:12,13; Psalms 72:20
  • 11. 1 Samuel 16:13; 1 Chronicles 2:15
  • 12. S Genesis 38:29; Matthew 1:3-6
  • 13. Numbers 26:21
  • 14. S Exodus 6:23
  • 15. S Numbers 7:12
  • 16. S Ruth 2:1

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. A few Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate (see also verse 21 and Septuagint of 1 Chron. 2:11); most Hebrew manuscripts "Salma"
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.