Ruth 4:11-12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ruth 4:11

See the margin. There is something of a poetical turn in this speech of the elders, and something prophetic in the blessing pronounced by them. It is unique and obscure. The Greek Version (lxx) is unintelligible. Jerome seems to have had a slightly different reading, since he applies both clauses to Ruth. “May she be a pattern of virtue in Ephratah, and have a name famous in Bethlehem.” The meaning of “be famous” seems to be, Get thyself a name which shall be celebrated in Bethlehem, as the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 4:11

Ruth 4:11 . Rachel and Leah Amiable and fruitful. These two are singled out, because they were of a foreign original, and yet ingrafted into God’s people, as Ruth was; and because of that fertility which God vouchsafed unto them above their predecessors, Sarah and Rebecca. Rachel is placed before Leah, because she was his most lawful and best beloved wife. Which two did build the house of Israel Were blessed with a numerous posterity. They do not mention the two handmaids, because the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ruth 4:12

Ruth 4:12. Like the house of Pharez As honourable and numerous as his family was; whom, though he also was born of a stranger, God so blessed, that his family was one of the five families to which all the tribe of Judah belonged, and the progenitor of the inhabitants of this city. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:1-22

Boaz marries Ruth (4:1-22)Feeling the effects of the poverty of widowhood, Naomi decided to sell her late husband’s land. To prevent the land from passing out of the family, she had to ensure that it was bought (or redeemed) by the nearest relative (cf. Leviticus 25:23-28). In this case that person was the same one who had to produce through Ruth an heir who could carry on the names of the late Elimelech (Naomi’s husband) and Mahlon (Elimelech’s son and Ruth’s husband). But should such an heir... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ruth 4:11

be famous = proclaim a name. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ruth 4:12

Pharez. Compare Genesis 38:29 . Genesis 38:1 Cbron. Ruth 2:4 .Matthew 1:3 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ruth 4:11

"And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that is to come into thy house like Rachel and Leah, which did indeed build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem.""Jehovah make the woman ... like Rachel and Leah." The text does not make it clear, but it seems that this extensive blessing might have been spoken by the elders, or one of them, whereas the populace which had gathered around merely... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ruth 4:12

"And let thy house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which Jehovah shall give thee of this young woman."It first appears that this mention of Judah's shameful action in begetting Perez of Tamar might have been inappropriate, but the significance of it lies, perhaps, in the fact of Tamar's having been a foreigner (a Canaanite), a non-Israelite, just like Ruth the Moabitess. Tamar and Ruth are both mentioned in the genealogy of Christ in the N.T. (Matthew 1:3,5),... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ruth 4:11

Ruth 4:11. The Lord make the woman—like Rachel, and—Leah— See Genesis 24:60. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ruth 4:12

Ruth 4:12. Like the house of Pharez, &c.— Pharez, the son of Judah by Tamar, was the chief of the family of Elimelech, and of all the Beth-lehemites. Nothing, therefore, could be more natural than this blessing which the elders of the village give to Boaz and Ruth upon their marriage. REFLECTIONS.—No sooner has the nearest kinsman quitted his right, than Boaz puts in his claim, ready to pay the money for the land to Naomi, and purchase Ruth for his wife; and he calls upon them to witness... read more

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