Ruth 4

The Marriage of Ruth

1 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, ¹the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, "Turn aside, friend *, sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down.

2 He took ten men of the ²elders of the city and said, "Sit down here." So they sat down.

3 Then he said to the closest relative, "Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land ³which belonged to our brother Elimelech.

4 "So I thought to inform * you, saying, '⁴Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for ⁵there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.' " And he said, "I will redeem it."

5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order ⁶to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance."

6 ⁷The closest relative said, "I cannot * redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot * redeem it."

7 Now this was ⁸the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel.

8 So the closest relative said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself." And he removed his sandal.

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

10 "Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so ⁹that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today."

11 All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home ¹⁰like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous * in Bethlehem.

12 "Moreover, may your house be like the house of ¹¹Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman."

13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And ¹²the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

14 Then the ¹³women said to Naomi, "Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.

15 "May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you ¹⁴and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."

The Line of David Began Here

16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse.

17 The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi!" So they named * him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18 Now these are the generations of Perez: ¹⁵to Perez was born Hezron,

19 and to Hezron was born Ram, and to Ram, Amminadab,

20 and to Amminadab was born Nahshon, and to Nahshon, Salmon,

21 and to Salmon was born Boaz, and to Boaz, Obed,

22 and to Obed was born Jesse, and to Jesse, David.

Ruth 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

The kinsman refuses to redeem Ruth's inheritance. (1-8) Boaz marries Ruth. (9-12) Birth of Obed. (13-22)

Verses 1-8 This matter depended on the laws given by Moses about inheritances, and doubtless the whole was settled in the regular and legal manner. This kinsman, when he heard the conditions of the bargain, refused it. In like manner many are shy of the great redemption; they are not willing to espouse religion; they have heard well of it, and have nothing to say against it; they will give it their good word, but they are willing to part with it, and cannot be bound to it, for fear of marring their own inheritance in this world. The right was resigned to Boaz. Fair and open dealing in all matters of contract and trade, is what all must make conscience of, who would approve themselves true Israelites, without guile. Honesty will be found the best policy.

Verses 9-12 Men are ready to seize opportunities for increasing their estates, but few know the value of godliness. Such are the wise men of this world, whom the Lord charges with folly. They attend not to the concerns of their souls, but reject the salvation of Christ, for fear of marring their inheritance. But God did Boaz the honour to bring him into the line of the Messiah, while the kinsman, who was afraid of lessening himself, and marring his inheritance, has his name, family, and inheritance forgotten.

Verses 13-22 Ruth bore a son, through whom thousands and myriads were born to God; and in being the lineal ancestor of Christ, she was instrumental in the happiness of all that shall be saved by him; even of us Gentiles, as well as those of Jewish descent. She was a witness for God to the Gentile world, that he had not utterly forsaken them, but that in due time they should become one with his chosen people, and partake of his salvation. Prayer to God attended the marriage, and praise to him attended the birth of the child. What a pity it is that pious language should not be more used among Christians, or that it should be let fall into formality! Here is the descent of David from Ruth. And the period came when Bethlehem-Judah displayed greater wonders than those in the history of Ruth, when the outcast babe of another forlorn female of the same race appeared, controlling the counsels of the Roman master of the world, and drawing princes and wise men from the east, with treasures of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh to his feet. His name shall endure for ever, and all nations shall call Him blessed. In that Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.

Cross References

• 1. Ruth 3:12
• 2. 1 Kings 21:8; Proverbs 31:23
• 3. Leviticus 25:25
• 4. Jeremiah 32:7
• 5. Leviticus 25:25
• 6. Genesis 38:8; Deuteronomy 25:5; Matthew 22:24
• 7. Leviticus 25:25
• 8. Deuteronomy 25:8-10
• 9. Deuteronomy 25:6
• 10. Genesis 29:25-30
• 11. Genesis 38:29; Genesis 46:12; Ruth 4:18
• 12. Genesis 29:31; Genesis 33:5
• 13. Luke 1:58
• 14. Ruth 1:16, 17; Ruth 2:11, 12
• 15. Matthew 1:3-6

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "redeemer"
• [b]. Lit "a certain one"
• [c]. Lit "redeemer"
• [d]. Lit "uncover your ear"
• [e]. Lit "no one will redeem"
• [f]. Lit "redeemer"
• [g]. Lit "ruin"
• [h]. Lit "redeemer"
• [i]. Lit "gate"
• [j]. Lit "gate"
• [k]. Or "power"
• [l]. Lit "call the name in"
• [m]. Lit "seed"
• [n]. Lit "gave her conception"
• [o]. Or "closest relative"
• [p]. Lit "be called in"
• [q]. Lit "who"
• [r]. I.e. as her own
• [s]. Lit "begot," and so through v 22

Chapter Summary

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.