The big picture
Boaz, a relative of the widow Naomi's late husband, goes to the town gate. He seeks a secure future for Ruth, another widow. Both women live in Beth-lehem, a town in Israel. A nearer relative has the first right to act for their family. The land and Ruth's marriage are joined in the decision. Witnesses hear what each man chooses. A son later brings fresh joy to Naomi, and the closing family line reaches David, a descendant named at its end.
In this chapter
- Boaz Completes the Agreement Before Witnesses Ruth 4:1-12
Boaz calls the nearer relative and ten elders to sit at the gate.
- A Son Brings Joy to Naomi Ruth 4:13-17
Boaz marries Ruth, and God enables her to conceive and bear a son.
- The Family Line Reaches David Ruth 4:18-22
The final list begins with Pharez and follows fathers and sons through ten names.
Central truth
Boaz publicly takes responsibility for Ruth and the family land, and their son's birth brings Naomi care and a place in David's family line.
Scripture beside the summary
Ruth · King James Version · 22Ruth 4:1-12
Boaz Completes the Agreement Before Witnesses
Boaz calls the nearer relative and ten elders to sit at the gate. He explains that Naomi is selling family land. The man first agrees to buy it. When Boaz adds that Ruth is included to preserve her dead husband's name, he refuses for fear of harming his own inheritance. He removes his shoe to confirm the transfer of his right. Boaz declares before witnesses that he buys the land and takes Ruth as wife. The people bless them, asking God for a fruitful household like those of Israel's ancestors.
In everyday life
The solicitor seats a family around a hearing-room table and reads an agreement aloud. One relative withdraws after hearing the full duty attached to the property. Another accepts it openly, with witnesses able to say what was promised. The public act makes responsibility clear. Boaz's agreement includes marriage to Ruth and preserving a dead man's name within Israel.
Notice
Ruth 4:10 Boaz states why he takes Ruth as wife alongside the land. The aim includes preserving her dead husband's name, so the transaction reaches beyond gaining property.
Ruth 4:1-12
King James Version1Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
2And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.
3And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s:
4And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
5Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
6And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
7Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
8Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.
9And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.
10Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
11And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Beth-lehem:
12And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.
Ruth 4:13-17
A Son Brings Joy to Naomi
Boaz marries Ruth, and God enables her to conceive and bear a son. The women bless God for giving Naomi a relative who will renew her life and support her old age. They praise Ruth's love, saying she is worth more to Naomi than seven sons. Naomi holds the baby close and becomes his nurse. The neighbours name him Obed and speak of him as a son for Naomi. He is Ruth and Boaz's child, yet his birth restores hope to the older widow's household. He will become Jesse's father and David's grandfather.
In everyday life
The new grandmother settles a baby against her chest after years marked by funerals. Friends see the care moving both ways: the child needs her arms, and she finds new purpose in holding him. Their joy honours the daughter-in-law who stayed through the hard years. Obed's birth also carries the family name into the line ending with David.
Notice
Ruth 4:15 The women praise Ruth's love while celebrating the child. Naomi's renewed hope is connected to the woman who stayed beside her, not only to the birth itself.
Ruth 4:13-17
King James Version13So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
14And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
15And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
16And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
17And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Ruth 4:18-22
The Family Line Reaches David
The final list begins with Pharez and follows fathers and sons through ten names. Hezron, Ram and Amminadab lead to Nahshon and Salmon. Salmon fathers Boaz, Boaz fathers Obed, and Obed fathers Jesse. Jesse fathers David. The list places the newly formed household within a longer family line. Ruth's hard work and Boaz's public promise have concerned the immediate needs of widows. The ending now gives those events a wider setting in the generations that come before and after them. David is the final name readers receive.
In everyday life
The family researcher places a birth record into a chart and sees how one small household links several generations. Letters about food, work and grief now sit beside names of descendants their writers never met. The chart changes the scale without erasing daily life. Ruth's closing line specifically joins Boaz and Obed to Jesse and David.
Ruth 4:18-22
King James Version18Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,
19And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,
20And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,
21And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,
22And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Ruth 4:1 begins with “Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside…”
Where the chapter turns
Ruth 4:8 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.”
The final note
Ruth 4:22 leaves the reader with “And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words begat, Boaz, redeem, name, Naomi, kinsman help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- begat
- became the father of
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
