Ruth 4 12

Ruth 4:12 kjv

And 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 4:12 nkjv

May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the LORD will give you from this young woman."

Ruth 4:12 niv

Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah."

Ruth 4:12 esv

and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the LORD will give you by this young woman."

Ruth 4:12 nlt

And may the LORD give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah."

Ruth 4 verses

Ruth 4 12 Meaning

The blessing spoken by the elders at the city gate expresses their hope for Boaz's house (his family and lineage through Ruth) to be established, prolific, and significant, echoing the house of Perez. This lineage, sprung from Tamar and Judah, was crucial in Israel's history, directly leading to King David. The phrase "because of the offspring the Lord will give you" highlights God's active role in granting children and establishing the future generation, making the fertility of Ruth divinely ordained for a specific purpose within God's covenant plan. It signifies a desire for divine blessing, fruitfulness, and the continuation of an honorable, blessed line that is vital to God’s redemptive narrative.

Ruth 4 12 Context

Ruth 4:12 is a crucial blessing delivered by the elders and all the people at the city gate of Bethlehem following the formal agreement between Boaz and the closest kinsman-redeemer. This moment culminates the book of Ruth's narrative, securing Ruth's place within the lineage of Israel and specifically Judah. Boaz has just completed the legal redemption process, including marrying Ruth to "raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance" (Ruth 4:10). The blessing confirms communal approval and expresses hope for divine favor on this new union, which would determine the future generations of Bethlehem. The invocation of "the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah" directly references Gen 38, highlighting a precedent where unconventional means—specifically Tamar's determination to secure progeny within Judah's line—were divinely instrumental in preserving a vital lineage for God's purposes. This specific historical-cultural context underscores the immense importance placed on having descendants to maintain one's name, inheritance, and ultimately, to fulfill God's covenant promises, especially concerning the lineage of the Messiah. The gate served as the public forum for legal transactions and community decisions, lending formal weight to this pronouncement.

Ruth 4 12 Word analysis

• and may your house:

  • Hebrew: וְיִהְיֶה בֵיתְךָ (v'yihyeh veitkā) - literally "and may become your house."
  • "House" (בַּיִת - bayit) here refers not merely to a physical dwelling but to a household, family, lineage, or dynasty. It embodies reputation, legacy, and the continuation of the family name through descendants. The desire is for Boaz's family line to be established and to flourish with progeny.
  • Significance: In ancient Israel, a man's lasting legacy was intrinsically tied to his offspring and the "house" they continued. A man without an heir was considered to have his "name cut off," which was a grave misfortune.

• be like the house of Perez:

  • Hebrew: כְּבֵית פֶּרֶץ (k'veit Peretz) - "like the house of Perez."
  • "Perez" (פֶּרֶץ - Peretz): Means "breach" or "bursting forth." He was one of Judah's twin sons by Tamar. His unusual birth, coming forth first when his twin had extended his hand, signifies an unexpected but pivotal beginning.
  • The "house of Perez" became a foundational line of Judah, through whom the royal line of David, and ultimately the Messiah, would come (Matt 1:3). This blessing is thus a deep prayer for foundational importance and prolific growth within redemptive history, even when origins may seem irregular.

• whom Tamar bore to Judah:

  • Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר יָלְדָה תָמָר לִיהוּדָה (asher yaledāh Tāmār l'Yehudah).
  • "Tamar" (תָּמָר - Tamar): Her story in Gen 38 is one of determined and unconventional action to secure an heir for Judah's lineage after his sons failed to fulfill their duty. This unusual origin highlights God's sovereignty working through unexpected means and seemingly flawed human choices to achieve His perfect plan.
  • "Judah" (יְהוּדָה - Yehudah): From whose tribe the Davidic kings, and ultimately Jesus Christ, would descend (Gen 49:10; Rev 5:5). Connecting Boaz's lineage to Judah via Perez affirms its vital role in the promised line.

• because of the offspring:

  • Hebrew: מִן־הַזֶּרַע (min ha'zera') - "from the seed/offspring."
  • "Offspring" (זֶרַע - zera): Often translates as "seed," referring to literal descendants, but also carries profound theological weight, connecting to the Abrahamic promise of a numerous seed and the singular Messianic "seed" (Gal 3:16). This emphasizes the purpose for which the children are desired—to establish the lineage and fulfill covenantal promises.

• the Lord will give you:

  • Hebrew: יִתֵּן יְהוָה לְךָ (yitten YHWH lekha) - "the Lord will give you."
  • "Lord" (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, active involvement in the lives of His people and His fulfillment of promises.
  • "Will give" (יִתֵּן - yitten): Points to God's sovereignty and benevolent provision. Children are seen as a direct gift from God (Ps 127:3). This affirms divine authorship in establishing Boaz and Ruth's lineage, underscoring that this union is blessed by God.

• by this young woman:

  • Hebrew: מִן־הַנַּעֲרָה הַזֹּאת (min ha'na'arah ha'zot) - "from this young woman."
  • "Young woman" (נַעֲרָה - na'arah): Refers specifically to Ruth. It highlights that this blessing is predicated on her (and Boaz's) union. Despite being a Moabitess, Ruth is now fully embraced and considered the blessed instrument through whom God will bring forth the promised seed. Her foreign background, like Tamar's unconventional acts, signifies God's broad and inclusive redemptive plan.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah": This phrase ties Boaz and Ruth's future to a pivotal, yet unusual, ancestral line of Judah. It invokes a precedent of divine intervention and continuity through difficult circumstances. It's a prayer for fruitfulness, stability, and significance comparable to a foundational royal line.
• "because of the offspring the Lord will give you by this young woman": This section articulates the reason for the desired blessing – the birth of descendants from Ruth. It points directly to God's sovereign hand in granting fertility and determining the lineage. It shifts the focus from human effort or lineage alone to divine action through the union. The phrase underscores that the primary goal is not just any child, but the specific "seed" that YHWH Himself will grant through Ruth, signifying its covenantal importance.

Ruth 4 12 Bonus section

The reference to Tamar and Perez, a lineage with an unusual, even scandalous, beginning (Gen 38), serves to underscore God's redemptive power and His ability to work through flawed human situations to achieve His perfect will. It provides a theological validation for Ruth's integration into the Messianic line, despite her Moabitess origin. Both Tamar and Ruth acted proactively, in ways unconventional for their societies, to ensure the continuity of a family line – Tamar to maintain Judah's lineage, and Ruth by cleaving to Naomi and fulfilling covenant responsibilities within Israel. Their stories testify to God's sovereignty in election and His ability to utilize anyone, regardless of background or human missteps, to advance His sacred plan of salvation. This verse serves as a subtle theological argument for the legitimacy of David's line, reminding readers that God's grace transcends societal expectations and legalistic interpretations, focusing instead on faithfulness and divine purpose.

Ruth 4 12 Commentary

Ruth 4:12 stands as a potent prayer and prophecy, encapsulating key themes of the book of Ruth and indeed, of biblical theology. The blessing to Boaz and Ruth—that their "house" be like that of Perez—is not a simple wish for many children; it's a profound declaration of their significance within God's redemptive history. By explicitly referencing Tamar and Perez, the elders invoke a precedent where divine purposes transcended human conventions, ensuring the continuity of Judah's vital line. Just as God used Tamar's unconventional means to secure an heir for Judah, so too would He work through the Moabitess Ruth, and her redemptive marriage to Boaz, to bring forth the next crucial generation. This highlights God's sovereignty in preserving the lineage through whom the Messiah would come, often operating through unexpected individuals and circumstances, like the foreign woman or the scandalous situation. The emphasis on "the Lord will give you" underscores that fruitfulness and the establishment of a righteous house are ultimately divine gifts, part of God's overarching plan to provide a Savior from David's line. It reaffirms God’s faithful, consistent work across generations, orchestrating human events towards His divine, eternal purposes.