Why Is Ruth's Son Obed so Important?

Most Christians are familiar with the endearing story of Ruth, the Moabite woman who chose to forsake her own people and care for her Mother-In-Law, Naomi. After the death of Naomi’s husband and sons, Ruth’s sacrifice of love led to the birth of her son Obed. And through Obed’s line, an even greater love would one day be revealed.

Who Was Obed in the Bible?

Obed was born after a peculiar set of circumstances led to the unlikely union between his parents. The story, which is told in the book of Ruth, begins during a time of famine. A couple from Bethlehem decides to leave their home and travel to Moab, in hopes of finding greater resources to feed themselves and their two sons.

The Bible doesn’t say whether Naomi, her husband Elimelech, and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion, find relief from the famine in Moab, but shortly after they move there Elimelech dies, leaving Naomi and her sons alone in a foreign land.

After 10 years of living in Moab, Naomi’s sons also die. As their Moabite wives, Ruth and Orpah, grieve the loss of their husbands, Naomi also mourns the fact that their family line has died with her sons.

Distraught, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem, and Ruth insists on going with her. Naomi tries to dissuade Ruth from accompanying her. She knows that her Israelite community back home might not receive a foreigner well—especially a Moabitess. She encourages the girl to stay in her own homeland with her own people.

But Ruth’s heartfelt love for her mother-in-law is revealed in her response to Naomi’s arguments, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me” (Ruth 1:16,17).

After the long, arduous journey back to Bethlehem, Naomi is welcomed home with open arms. Although Ruth is considered a foreigner, the townspeople come to respect her loving care for Naomi and brand her a “woman of noble character” (Ruth 3:11).

The two women struggle to make a living on their own. Because a nearby farmer is related to Naomi’s dead husband, he allows Ruth to gather leftover grain from his field. In fact, Boaz—the farmer, is so impressed with Ruth’s faithfulness to her mother-in-law that he drops extra grain for the two women and instructs his field workers to leave Ruth alone while she gathers it.

As an interesting side note, another reason for Boaz’s unusual show of compassion to Ruth may be because Boaz’s mother, Rahab, was also considered a foreigner among the Jewish people. “Rahab the prostitute was granted faith in the Lord and was spared in the destruction of Jericho. With her family, she came in among the people of Israel and ended up marrying Salmon, with whom she had Boaz,” explains Barry York, in The Hidden Reason Boaz Was Compassionate to Ruth.

When Naomi sees that Boaz is treating Ruth with such favor, she hatches a plan that will cause Boaz to take further notice of her lovely daughter-in-law. Tapping into an ancient Jewish tradition, Naomi instructs Ruth to sneak into Boaz’s sleeping quarters after dark and lay at his feet. When Boaz awakes, he’s shaken to find the young woman on the threshing floor with him. But remembering the tradition, he quickly acknowledges that he is willing to be Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer and agrees to marry her if Naomi’s relative, who is first in line for the honor, forfeits his rights.

After Boaz settles the legal issues, he takes Ruth for his wife. They soon have a son and name him Obed. The women of the town rejoice over the baby for Naomi’s sake and proclaim, “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 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” (Ruth 4:14-15).

Obed is raised by Naomi and Ruth and eventually becomes the grandfather of David.

What Role Does Obed Play in Jesus' Family Tree?

“At first glance, the book of Ruth may appear to be nothing more than a quaint romance. When we dig a bit deeper, however, we find an exciting story of God working for the salvation of his people. In creative and exciting ways, God brings about God’s purposes through unlikely circumstances and people,” says Rev. Kyle Norman in 7 Things to Know about Ruth and Boaz.

Through Obed’s son Jesse, God brings a shepherd boy named David into the world. God transforms little David into a man after His own heart and makes him King of Israel. And through this king, God eventually ushers in the King of the world—Jesus Christ—who is our ultimate kinsman-redeemer (Matthew 1:1-16).

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole. He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit” (Galatians 3:13,14).

4 Interesting Facts Surrounding the Birth of Obed

The Bible doesn’t have much to say about Obed after his birth, other than listing his name in several important Messianic genealogies. However, the events that lead to Obed’s existence are a significant part of biblical history. Here are some interesting facts that help us understand this redemptive story from the inside out.

Obed’s mother left her own identity behind—When she agreed to follow Naomi to Bethlehem, Ruth knew that she would be entering a community hostile toward her people. The Moabite clan had originated from Lot’s incestuous encounter with his daughters. They were known for their worship of false gods, and the Moabite women were known for their seductive tendencies. But instead of remaining in the safety and familiarity of her own clan, Ruth vowed to make Naomi’s God and people her own (Ruth 1:16). She left everything and everyone she knew behind to seek a better life with the mother-in-law she loved—and the God who silently drew her heart to the truth.

Obed’s grandmother didn’t allow bitterness to keep her in bondage—The death of Naomi’s husband and sons had so embittered the woman, that when she entered Bethlehem, she said, “‘Don’t call me Naomi … Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me’” (Ruth 1:20).

But in 3 Encouraging Truths from Naomi's Life in the Bible, Hope Bolinger points out that Naomi’s internal battle with resentment did not overcome her sweet spirit when all was said and done. “Throughout the narrative, we actually see Naomi looking out for Ruth, even while in the midst of paralyzing grief.”

Obed’s father was thought to be twice his mother’s age—Based on ancient Jewish writings, some religious scholars believe that Boaz was around 80 years old, and Ruth around 40, when the marriage proposal took place. Though not unusual during those times, this age difference would have spoken further to Ruth’s wise character, and it makes sense in light of the comment Boaz made to Ruth at the threshing floor, when he praised her for not running after “younger men” (Ruth 3:10).

A sandal was involved in bringing Obed’s mom and dad together— According to the law of that day (Leviticus 25: 25), we learn that when an Israelite fell on hard times and had to sell their land, the responsibility to buy (redeem) that land would fall on the landowner’s next of kin. Because Boaz was not Naomi’s closest relative, he had to jump through some legal hoops to make sure that the rightful kinsman-redeemer would be willing to forfeit his rights.

After Boaz accomplished that task, he announced to the elders and townspeople, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon.  I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!” (Ruth 4:10).

To seal the deal the man who had forfeited his role as kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal (Ruth 4:8). The removal of the sandal was a symbol that the legal transaction was final. Afterward, Boaz, being the next closest relative, was free to marry Ruth and redeem her husband’s property.

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Vasyl Dolmatov

Annette Marie Griffin is an award-winning author and speaker who has managed and directed children’s and youth programs for more than 20 years. Her debut children’s book, What Is A Family? released through Familius Publishing in 2020. Annette has also written curriculum for character growth and development of elementary-age children and has developed parent training seminars to benefit the community. Her passion is to help wanderers find home. She and her husband have five children—three who have already flown the coop and two adopted teens still roosting at home—plus two adorable grands who add immeasurable joy and laughter to the whole flock.

This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul.

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