Ruth 4:14-17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ruth 4:13-22

Here is, I. Ruth a wife. Boaz took her, with the usual solemnities, to his house, and she became his wife (Ruth 4:13), all the city, no doubt, congratulating the preferment of a virtuous woman, purely for her virtues. We have reason to think that Orpah, who returned from Naomi to her people and her gods, was never half so well preferred as Ruth was. He that forsakes all for Christ shall find more than all with him; it shall be recompensed a hundred-fold in this present time. Now Orpah wished... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:14

And the women said unto Naomi ,.... The inhabitants of Bethlehem, as they fell into her company; or perhaps these were the women that were called to the labour of Ruth, and attended the birth of the child: blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman ; a grandchild born to her that day. In Moab she was bereaved of her husband and of two sons; but now she is not left without a relation, a kinsman, and a redeemer, for which the women blessed God, and stirred her... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:15

And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life ,.... Of the joys, pleasures, and comforts of it, which she had been deprived of through the death of her husband and her two sons, ever since which she had lived a sorrowful life; all the comfort she had was from her daughter-in-law, and now a grandchild being born to her of her would be a means of restoring comfort to her mourning sorrowful spirit, and give her pleasure in those years in which she did not expect any: and a nourisher of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:16

And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom ,.... As a token of her most tender love and affection for it; this it is probable she did quickly after the birth of it: and became a nurse unto it ; that is, after the mother had suckled and weaned it, then she took it from her, and brought it up. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:17

And the women her neighbours gave it a name ,.... Josephus says F17 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 9. sect. 4.) Naomi gave it, by the advice of her neighbours; very probably on the eighth day when he was circumcised, and the neighbours were invited on that occasion, at which time it seems it was usual to give names to children, see Luke 1:59 . The Romans gave names to females on the eighth day, to the males on the ninth; hence the goddess Nundina had her name F18 Alex. ab Alex.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:16

Naomi took the child - This might do for Naomi, but it was bad for the child. A child, unless remarkably healthy and robust, will suffer considerably by being nursed by an old woman, especially if the child sleep with her. The aged gain refreshment and energy by sleeping with the young; and from the same means the young derive premature decrepitude. The vigor which is absorbed by the former is lost by the latter. It is a foolish and destructive custom to permit young children, which is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:17

The neighbors gave it a name - That is, they recommended a name suitable to the circumstances of the case; and the parents and grandmother adopted it. They called his name Obed - עובד obed , serving, from עבד abad , he served. Why was this name given? Because he was to be the nourisher of her old age, Rth 4:15. And so he must be by lying in her bosom, even if services in future life were wholly left out of the question. These neighbors of Naomi were skillful... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:13-22

Little Obed. A birth, and in particular a first birth, in the homes of the "excellent of the earth" is always an interesting and exciting event. What multitudes of beginnings there are in childhood! What multitudes of buds and beautiful rose-buddings! What possibilities and uncertainties! What wonderful littlenesses of hands and feet, and other organs, all so marvelously harmonized and complete! What wondrous and wondering eyes, looking, and still looking, as if they would really read your... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:14

And the women said to Naomi, Blessed he Yahveh, who has given thee a kinsman this day! May his name become famous in Israel. Of course it is Ruth's son who is the kinsman referred to, the nearest kinsman, still nearer than Boaz. The kinsman was given, said the women, "this day," the day when the child was born. The expression which we have rendered, "who has given thee a kinsman," is, literally, "who has not caused to fail to thee a kinsman." The sympathetic women who had gathered together... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:14-17

The benevolent happiness of old age. The story of Ruth closes amidst domestic prosperity and happiness, and amidst neighborly congratulations. And it is observable that Naomi, whose trials and sorrows interest us so deeply at the commencement of this book, appears at its close radiant with renewed happiness: her daughter-in-law a mother, she herself a grand-parent, surrounded by rejoicing neighbors, expressing their congratulations, and invoking blessing upon her and those dear to her. The... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ruth 4:13-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ruth 4:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ruth 4:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:13-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:14

The Pulpit Commentary - Ruth 4:14-17

Group of Brands