Ruth 4:9-12

9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to ¹Chilion and to Mahlon.

10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, ²to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day. ”

11 Then all the people who were ³at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, ⁴who together ⁵built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in ⁶Ephrathah and ⁷be renowned in Bethlehem,

12 and may your house be like the house of Perez, ⁸whom Tamar bore to Judah, because ⁹of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman. ”

Ruth 4:9-12 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

• 1. 4:9 ch. 1:2, 4, 5
• 2. 4:10 ver. 5
• 3. 4:11 See ver. 1
• 4. 4:11 See Gen. 29:31–30:24; 35:16-18
• 5. 4:11 Deut. 25:9
• 6. 4:11 Gen. 35:16, 19
• 7. 4:11 ver. 14
• 8. 4:12 Gen. 38:29; 1 Chr. 2:4; Matt. 1:3
• 9. 4:12 1 Sam. 2:20