A Study of Ruth 4:13-22

“So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and Yahweh enabled her to conceive, and she bore a son. And the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be Yahweh who today did not leave you without a redeemer! And may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be for you a restorer of life and a sustainer in your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is better for you than seven sons, has borne him.” And Naomi took the child and she put him on her bosom and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” And they called his name Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, and Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon, and Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed, and Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.”

Ruth 4:13–22 LEB

Observation/Summary (short explanation of what the passage says in your own words):

Boaz married Ruth, and Yahweh enabled them to have a son named Obed. After this the women of Bethlehem praised Yahweh as they also said to Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, that Yahweh had not left her without a redeemer, and prayed that this redeemer’s name would become famous in Israel. Then they declared he would be a restorer and sustainer of life for Naomi in her old age, because her daughter in law, Ruth who loved her, had given birth to a son and had shown herself to be better than seven sons.

Naomi then became a nurse for this child, and because he was born to fulfill the kinsman-redemption obligation of Boaz, he was also considered Naomi’s child who would carry on the name of Naomi’s deceased husband Elimelech. Therefore, the women who knew Naomi also gave him a name saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” This child had a son named Jesse, who was the father of King David, and the last verses of this last chapter of Ruth then provide the lineage of David.

Textual Analysis and Implication (what is being said and what does this mean?):

This passage is the end of the short and profound book of Ruth. At the beginning of this book, Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, took Naomi and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion from Bethlehem to Moab because there was a famine in Israel. While it is understandable that they moved to seek abundance elsewhere, this was a violation of Yahweh’s command for the people of Israel at this time to remain in the land He had brought them to. We who follow Yahweh today by faith in Jesus Christ (Jesus is Yahweh) have no such command, but Israelite followers of Yahweh at this time did. This command from Yahweh was given to help prevent them from abandoning believing loyalty in Him by assimilating into other cultures and worshipping their false gods. Whatever hardship followers of the one true God might face in this world, we who trust Him will have everlasting life, but to abandon believing loyalty in Him is to choose the path that leads to eternal destruction. Therefore, such commands from Yahweh to these people were for their eternal good.

Elimelech, when faced with the choice of obeying Yahweh, or seeking material comfort in a foreign land, compromised and took his family to neighboring Moab. While the famine was no doubt difficult to endure, we know it did not cause all the people to starve to death, because eventually Naomi returned to Bethlehem with Ruth, and the people who remained were still alive and they recognized Naomi.

In regard to the faith of Elimelech, this move does not mean he apostated, and we are not told he did, but he did make a spiritual compromise and this compromise led to another as his two sons also took foreign Moabite wives named Ruth and Orpah. Again, this is not a command for followers of Jesus today, but this was something that was also expressly forbidden by Yahweh for this people group at this time. People from foreign nations could adopt the worship of Yahweh as their God, and they could even assimilate into Israelite society, but the Israelites were commanded not to go to other nations or take foreign wives. This was for the purpose of preventing them from apostating or forsaking believing loyalty to Yahweh by worshipping other gods and adopting the horrific pagan, religious practices of the nations around them. Some of these practices involved child sacrifice and cult prostitution. These foreign gods and religions were not to be trifled with.

At some point, while living in Moab, Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion died, leaving Naomi, Ruth and Orpah as childless widows. Childless widows in this time and place were some of the most vulnerable people on the socio-economic ladder. As time passed, eventually Naomi heard the famine in Israel had ended, and she resolved to return to her people in Bethlehem. As she did so, she also urged Ruth and Orpah to return to their gods and their families in Moab where they would have the best chance of remarrying and having a good life.

As she urged them to go, at first Ruth and Orpah both refused to leave Naomi, but Naomi was understandably sorrowful and bitter about how her life had gone and after much back and forth she said, “Return, my daughters. Why do you still want to go with me? Are there sons in my womb that may be husbands for you? Turn back, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should think there is hope for me, even if I should have a husband this night, and even if I should bear sons, would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is far more bitter to me than to you. For the hand of Yahweh has gone out against me.”

At this point, Orpah returned to her family, but Ruth still adamantly refused. Even as Naomi urged her one last time to leave, Ruth declared, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you! For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. So may Yahweh do to me, and even more, unless death separates you and me!”. So, Naomi accepted that Ruth was resolved to go with her to Bethlehem, and they went to Bethlehem together.

When they returned, the people of Bethlehem remembered Naomi, and took note of the fact that Ruth had lovingly, and selflessly stayed with Naomi to care for her as she went to work gleaning in the fields during harvest time to scrounge together enough grain for them to eat. Boaz, the honorable, wealthy landowner in whose field Ruth gleaned, took note of her hard work and admirable character, and he saw to it that she was protected and provided with much grain. He also invited her to eat with him and  his workers, and Ruth came to learn of his admirable character as well. When Naomi learned it was Boaz whose field Ruth was working in, she informed Ruth that Boaz was a kinsman-redeemer for them, meaning he was a close relation of  Elimelech, and as such, if he was willing to he could marry Ruth, buy back Elimelech’s family land, produce an heir with Ruth to carry Elimelech’s family name, and care for both Ruth and Naomi.

So, after experiencing Boaz’s honorable character first hand, and learning of his potential kinsman-redeemer status, Ruth went to Boaz and asked him to be a redeemer to her and marry her. Boaz readily agreed. It seems he was all too happy to marry Ruth, but did not want to abuse his high ranking position by making such advances himself. For this reason, when Ruth expressed her desire to marry him, he gladly agreed. But he also informed Ruth there was one man closer in relation to Elimelech than him, and because Boaz was a man of integrity, he told her he must offer this man first right of refusal to act as redeemer in buying back Naomi’s land and marrying Ruth. In saying this though, he assured Ruth he would see to the matter the very next day, and Naomi, when she learned of this, also assured Ruth Boaz would not delay in seeing to this matter.

Being true to his word, Boaz went to the city gate the next day, and discussed the matter with the man in the presence of the city elders and other witnesses, and the man decided to pass on his right of redemption to Boaz. Boaz then agreed to be a redeemer to Ruth and Naomi by marrying Ruth and buying back Elimelech’s land, and the matter was resolved. Now, in the closing verses of the last chapter of the book of Ruth, we will see the results of this and read of the response of the people to the conclusion of this romantic tale.

In verse 13 we read that after marrying, Yahweh blessed Boaz and Ruth with a son. This son was the grandfather of King David, the second king of Israel, and from this royal lineage, centuries later, Jesus Christ our Redeemer, Yahweh incarnate, would be born as both fully God and fully human. It is fitting that Ruth, a Gentile (non-Jewish person), would be a part of this lineage. Jesus came to earth, born as a Hebrew, Jewish man, to save not only the Jewish people who believe in Him, but also the Gentiles who believe in Him. Yahweh our God loves all people of the world, and He died and rose again so that all people might be saved through Him by grace through faith. Jesus is the ultimate Kinsman–Redeemer of the human race.

In verses 14-15, the women of Bethlehem praised Yahweh, and gave glory to Him for blessing Naomi with a redeemer to provide for her, and for blessing her with Ruth as a daughter-in-law who had shown herself to be better than seven sons. These were likely the same women who had greeted Naomi when she returned to Bethlehem, and who Naomi had told to call her “Mara,” which means “bitter,” because as she put it in Ruth 1:21, “I went away full, but Yahweh brought me back empty-handed! Why call me Naomi when Yahweh has testified against me and Shaddai has brought calamity upon me?”. Now, these ladies had the pleasure of witnessing Yahweh bestow abundant blessing on Naomi, and Naomi no doubt joined them in praising His name and giving thanks as we also read that she had the joy of becoming a nurse for the child.

Also, as they praised Yahweh, these ladies declared Ruth was better than seven sons. This is  because in this time and place sons were considered to be more valuable because the right of inheritance was passed down to them, and they were the ones who carried on the family name. So, Yahweh’s use of Ruth, and Ruth’s honorable character made a counter cultural statement about the value of a hard working, honorable woman. Yahweh loves women just as much as men, and He does great things with, to and through women just as much as men. These ladies had the joy of witnessing this happen in a powerful way, and they rightly gave praise and thanks to Yahweh.

Lastly, in verses 17-22, we read of what has already been mentioned, the child’s name was Obed. He was the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David. And the line of David is the family line from which Jesus of Nazareth, Yahweh incarnate, would be born (Matthew chapter 1). This genealogy seen in part in the book of Ruth, and more fully in the book of Matthew exhibits how Yahweh, the one true God, works all things together for His purposes in ways that we cannot always see in the moment. When Naomi’s husband and sons died, she could not see what would happen next, and she thought Yahweh was against her. When Jesus was crucified and buried, His followers scattered and thought all was lost. But we can look back and see How God worked these things together for good.

Now, as we face challenges in our lives, we must keep true stories like these in mind. Yahweh is the eternally existent, omniscient and omnipotent God over all time and space and He works all things together to accomplish His good and perfect plan. He even works through our failings and mistakes. In the face of what we do not know we must remember what we do know. He is wise, all-knowing, good, loving and just. He is worthy of our trust in all times and circumstances. Whatever hardships we might face, life in this world is as difficult as it will ever get for those who trust Jesus. And while we may experience either blessing or calamity in this life, we will pass on from this fallen world to live forever with our Lord in a new heaven and new earth where there will be only joy, pleasure and blessing upon blessing for evermore (Revelation 21:1-7).

Hold fast to Him who holds fast to you. Jesus Christ our God will never abandon us. Yahweh redeems. Blessed be His glorious name.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 ESV

Response (How does this change how I think, act and pray?):

This passage should cause us to think of the redemption Jesus, the incarnate Yahweh, has accomplished for us, and of what it cost Him. Boaz paid a sum of money to purchase back Naomi’s land, but Jesus suffered, bled and died nailed to a cross to redeem all mankind from sin (1 John 2:1-2). Then, He rose again three days later, proving His payment on our behalf had been accepted and demonstrating His victory over death itself. Although Jesus has paid our penalty for sin, just as Boaz did not force himself on Ruth, Jesus does not force redemption and a personal relationship on us. He extends the offer to us, but He gives us the dignity of choice. This fact should cause us to act.

Redemption is available to us by grace alone through faith alone. Grace means underserved favor. Jesus offers us salvation because of His love for us, so there is nothing for us to do to earn Jesus’ favor or redemption except to accept His offer by trusting in Him as our Lord God and Savior. All we need to do to accept this gift is to pray to Him, confess our sin, ask for and receive His forgiveness and trust that He died and rose again, fully paying our debt; and in so doing we will be immediately raised from death to life in Him.

“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Romans 10:9-10 ESV

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV

Self Reflection:

1. In what area of my life can I relate to the grief and bitterness Naomi felt in chapter one of the book of Ruth? What am I facing now, or what have I faced in the past that has made me feel like God might be against me?

2. How does viewing Naomi’s story from beginning to end help me see that I do not have all the information? While Jesus does not guarantee a happy ending like Naomi’s in the short term on earth, what kind of guarantee does He give to those who trust in the longer term? (Revelation 21:1-7) How does this eternal perspective give me hope now?

3. What does the redemption price Jesus paid for me on the cross tell me about His love for me, and how does this help me trust in His goodness and His plans for me in the long term?

Definitions of the original language in the context of this passage (Source: Logos Exegetical Guide and Blue Letter Bible Interlinear):

-Boaz: “בֹ֖עַז”, “ḇōʹ·ʿǎz”; noun, proper, masculine, singular, absolute – Boaz = “fleetness”; ancestor of David, kinsman-redeemer to Ruth, daughter-in-law of Naomi; name of the left of two brazen pillars, 18 cubits high, erected in the porch of Solomon’s temple.

-Ruth: “ר֣וּת”, “rûṯʹ”; noun, proper, feminine, singular, absolute – Ruth = “friendship”; daughter-in-law of Naomi, wife of Boaz, and great-grandmother of David.

–Yahweh: “יְהוָ֨ה”, “YHWH”; noun, proper, masculine, singular, absolute – Jehovah (Yahweh) = “the existing One”, the proper name of the one true God.

-Naomi: “נָעֳמִֽי”, “nǒ·ʿǒmîʹ”; noun, proper, feminine, singular, absolute – Naomi = “my delight”; wife of Elimelech, mother of Mahlon and Chilion, and mother-in-law of Ruth and Orpah.

-Blessed Be: “בָּר֣וּךְ”, “bā·rûḵʹ”; verb, Qal, passive participle, masculine, singular, absolute – to bless; of God: בָּרוּךְ י׳ blessed be (or is).

-A Redeemer: “גֹּאֵ֖ל”, “gō·ʾēlʹ”; verb, Qal, participle, masculine, singular, absolute – redeem, redeemer, avenger; reclaim as one’s own; to act as kinsman, do the part of next of kin, act as kinsman-redeemer by marrying brother’s widow to beget a child for him, to redeem from slavery, to redeem land, to exact vengeance.

-May [his name] Be Renowned: “יִקָּרֵ֥א”, “yiq·qā·rē(ʾ)ʹ”; verb, Nifʿal, wᵊyiqtōl (waw-conjunctive + imperfect), third person, masculine, singular, jussive – standing, reputation, be famous, be proclaimed.

-A Restorer Of: “מֵשִׁ֣יב”, “mē·šîḇʹ”; verb, Hifʿîl, participle, masculine, singular, construct – bring back, refresh.

-A Sustainer: “כַלְכֵּ֖ל”, “ḵǎl·kēlʹ”; verb, Pilpēl, infinitive, construct – sustain, support, nourish, followed by accusative of person.

-Women of the Neighborhood: “שְּׁכֵנ֥וֹת”, “šeḵē·nôṯʹ”; noun, common, feminine, plural, absolute – neighbor.

-Obed: “עוֹבֵ֔דʿ”, “ô·ḇēḏʹ”; noun, proper, masculine, singular, absolute – Obed = “serving”; son of Boaz by Ruth and the grandfather of David.

-Jesse: “יִשַׁ֖י”, “yi·šǎyʹ”; noun, proper, masculine, singular – Jesse = “I possess”; grandson of Boaz and the father of king David.
-David: “דָוִֽד”, “ḏā·wiḏʹ”; noun, proper, masculine, singular, absolute – David = “beloved”; youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.