Ruth 4

Boaz Marries Ruth

1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer^[a] he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.

2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.

3 Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek.

4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you^[b] will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.” “I will redeem it,” he said.

5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the^[c] dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”

6 At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”

7 (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)

8 So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.

9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon.

10 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!”

11 Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.

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,^[d]

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 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. S Genesis 18:1; S Genesis 23:10
• 2. S Ruth 2:20
• 3. Ruth 3:12
• 4. S Exodus 3:16; 1 Kings 21:8; Proverbs 31:23
• 5. S Deuteronomy 25:7
• 6. S Leviticus 25:25; S Ruth 1:2
• 7. S Leviticus 25:25; Jeremiah 32:7-8
• 8. S Ruth 1:22
• 9. S Genesis 38:8; Deuteronomy 25:5-6; S Ruth 3:13; Matthew 22:24
• 10. Leviticus 25:25; Ruth 3:13
• 11. S Deuteronomy 25:7
• 12. S Leviticus 25:24
• 13. ver 8
• 14. Isa 8:1-2,16,20
• 15. Deuteronomy 25:7-9
• 16. Deuteronomy 25:9
• 17. Isaiah 8:2; Jeremiah 32:10,44
• 18. S Ruth 1:22
• 19. S Deuteronomy 25:5
• 20. S Deuteronomy 25:6
• 21. S Joshua 24:22
• 22. S Genesis 23:10
• 23. S Deuteronomy 25:9
• 24. S Genesis 4:19; S Genesis 29:16; Psalms 127:3; Psalms 128:3
• 25. S Genesis 35:16
• 26. Ruth 1:19
• 27. ver 18; S Genesis 38:29
• 28. Genesis 38:6,24
• 29. S Genesis 8:1; S Genesis 29:31; Ge Genesis 29:31; Genesis 33:5; Ruth 3:11
• 30. S Genesis 29:32; S Genesis 30:6; Luke 1:57
• 31. Luke 1:58
• 32. S Genesis 24:27
• 33. S Ruth 2:20
• 34. S Genesis 11:31
• 35. Ruth 1:16-17; Ruth 2:11-12; 1 Samuel 1:8; 1 Samuel 2:5; Job 1:2
• 36. ver 22; 1 Samuel 16:1,18; 1 Samuel 17:12,17,58; 1 Chronicles 2:12,13; Psalms 72:20
• 37. 1 Samuel 16:13; 1 Chronicles 2:15
• 38. S Genesis 38:29; Matthew 1:3-6
• 39. Numbers 26:21
• 40. S Exodus 6:23
• 41. S Numbers 7:12
• 42. S Ruth 2:1

Footnotes

• [a]. The Hebrew word for "guardian-redeemer" is a legal term for one who has the obligation to redeem a relative in serious difficulty (see Lev. 25:25-55); also in verses 3, 6, 8 and 14.
• [b]. Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts "he"
• [c]. Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew (see also Septuagint) "Naomi and from Ruth the Moabite, you acquire the"
• [d]. A few Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate (see also verse 21 and Septuagint of 1 Chron. 2:11); most Hebrew manuscripts "Salma"

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.