Ruth 4 17

Ruth 4:17 kjv

And the women her neighbors 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 4:17 nkjv

Also the neighbor women gave him 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 4:17 niv

The women living there said, "Naomi has a son!" And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Ruth 4:17 esv

And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi." They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Ruth 4:17 nlt

The neighbor women said, "Now at last Naomi has a son again!" And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.

Ruth 4 verses

Ruth 4 17 Meaning

Ruth 4:17 narrates the communal naming of Obed, the son born to Ruth and Boaz, who is explicitly recognized as the one who brings restoration to Naomi. The verse also critically identifies Obed as the grandfather of David, firmly linking the narrative of redemption and faithful commitment to the future lineage of Israel's greatest king and, ultimately, the Messiah. It highlights divine providence in turning bitterness to blessedness, demonstrating how a simple act of kinsman-redeeming fulfills God's overarching plan for His people and the world.

Ruth 4 17 Context

Ruth 4:17 marks the triumphant culmination of the book of Ruth, occurring after Boaz has successfully completed the legal redemption process for Naomi's land and secured Ruth as his wife, ensuring the continuation of Elimelech's lineage. The preceding verses detail the precise legal procedures, highlighting Boaz's diligence and adherence to covenant law. This verse follows the successful consummation of their marriage and the birth of their son. The narrative moves from a bitter famine and tragic loss (Ruth 1) to an overflowing harvest and blessed lineage. Historically, the book is set during the period of the Judges, a time of spiritual and moral decline in Israel, making this story a beacon of faithful living and divine intervention. Culturally, the emphasis on a male heir, family lineage, and community involvement in life's significant events, such as naming a child, is prominent. The inclusion of Ruth, a Moabite, in such a crucial lineage subtly challenges potential ethnocentric tendencies in ancient Israel, pointing towards God's broader redemptive plan that transcends national boundaries, ultimately including all peoples through the Messiah.

Ruth 4 17 Word analysis

• The neighbor women (וַתִּקְרֶאנָה שְׁכֵנוֹת, va'tíqrənah shəkhēnōṯ):

  • Significance: "Neighbor women" highlights the communal aspect of Israelite society. Their active participation in celebrating the birth and giving a name signifies full community acceptance and recognition of the new life and its purpose within the clan. It underscores the social support network surrounding Naomi.

• gave him a name (לוֹ שֵׁ֑ם, lō šēm):

  • Significance: The act of naming (שֵׁם, shem) in ancient Israel was highly significant. It conveyed identity, character, destiny, and often reflected the circumstances of birth or parental hopes. Here, it is a public, communal declaration.

• saying (לֵאמֹ֑ר, lē'mōr):

  • Significance: Indicates the vocal declaration of their joy and reasoning behind the name.

• "A son has been born to Naomi!" (יֻלַּד־בֵּ֥ן לְנָעֳמִ֑י, yu’llaḏ-bēn lə-nā‘ōmî):

  • "son" (בֵּן, bēn): Emphasizes the male heir, critical for continuing the family line and inheriting land in ancient Israel.
  • "to Naomi" (לְנָעֳמִ֑י, lə-nā‘ōmî): This phrase is key. Although the child is biologically Ruth and Boaz's, the community names him for Naomi. This legal and communal recognition emphasizes that the son directly reverses Naomi's previous desolation ("Mara" – bitterness, Ruth 1:20) and provides for her future and the continuity of Elimelech's house. It highlights the purpose of the kinsman-redeemer: to "raise up the name of the dead" (Ruth 4:5, 10).

• So they named him (וַתִּקְרֶאנָה שְׁמוֹ, va'tíqrənah shəmô):

  • Significance: Reiterates the communal naming act.

• Obed (עוֹבֵ֑ד, ‘ōḇēḏ):

  • Meaning: From the Hebrew root עבד (‘aḇaḏ), meaning "to serve," "to worship," or "to work."
  • Significance: The name "Obed" can mean "serving," "worshiper," or "worker." It fittingly describes one who serves God's purposes or contributes diligently. His role as "father of Jesse" directly points to his pivotal place in the divine plan leading to David. It foreshadows the service and worship that would characterize his lineage, especially King David.

• He was the father of Jesse, the father of David:

  • Significance: This is the theological lynchpin of the verse and indeed, the book. It unequivocally connects the otherwise seemingly insignificant family in Bethlehem to the royal lineage. This statement transforms a touching story of loyalty and redemption into a foundational account of divine providence in salvation history. It highlights that even in a dark period (Judges), God was at work, preparing the way for His king, and ultimately, the Messiah.
  • "father of Jesse": Establishes the direct link. Jesse is widely recognized as David's father.
  • "father of David": The most critical link, pointing directly to the foundational king of Israel and the source of the everlasting Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7). This links the humble beginnings of the book of Ruth to the grand prophecies of the coming King and Messiah.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi!": This phrase emphasizes the profound restoration of Naomi through the birth of Obed. It's a public announcement that reverses her bitter lament in Ruth 1. The community celebrates not just a birth, but a divine intervention that has brought fullness to Naomi, highlighting the concept of communal care and blessing in Israelite society. This fulfillment reflects God's active involvement in the lives of His faithful.
  • "So they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.": This is the genealogical climax. The naming of "Obed" (meaning "serving/worshiper") sets the tone for his line, which includes the great servant-king David. This crucial genealogical link reveals the book's overarching purpose: to show the providential ancestry of David, emphasizing that the roots of kingship, and ultimately messiahship, are found in acts of chesed (loyal love), redemption, and faithful obedience, even from unexpected sources (a Moabite woman).

Ruth 4 17 Bonus section

The Book of Ruth is often considered a counter-narrative or a quiet polemic against the strict exclusionary policies found in some post-exilic decrees (e.g., Ezr 9-10, Neh 13) regarding intermarriage with foreign women. By unequivocally establishing a Moabite woman as a crucial ancestress of Israel's greatest king and the Messiah, Ruth 4:17 powerfully testifies to God's universal plan of redemption and His welcoming grace towards those who genuinely seek Him, regardless of their ethnic origin. This inclusion principle, deeply embedded in the narrative, anticipates the New Testament's emphasis on breaking down barriers between Jew and Gentile. Furthermore, the meticulous genealogy in this verse (and 4:18-22) solidifies the book's theological importance as foundational history for understanding God's providential working from humble beginnings to significant outcomes, embodying the truth that even in periods of moral decline (Judges), God's covenant purposes progress steadily towards their fulfillment.

Ruth 4 17 Commentary

Ruth 4:17 serves as the powerful conclusion to the Book of Ruth, pivoting the story from a personal account of hardship and redemption to a significant chapter in salvation history. The communal naming of Obed underscores the community's validation and celebration of the divine reversal of Naomi's fortunes. This act, led by the neighbor women, signifies a deep-seated belief that the new child legally belongs to Naomi's line, restoring Elimelech's legacy and turning her "Mara" (bitterness) into joy and "fullness." The name Obed ("serving" or "worshiper") may allude to the faithfulness displayed by Ruth and Boaz, or more broadly, to his lineage's future role in serving God's kingdom plan. The verse's final declaration – "He was the father of Jesse, the father of David" – elevates the narrative from a simple family story to a crucial link in God's redemptive timeline. It explicitly connects this humble family to the Davidic covenant and the future Messianic line, showcasing God's sovereign work through unexpected and often challenging circumstances, ultimately fulfilling His promises and bringing forth His chosen king. The inclusion of Ruth, a Moabite, in this lineage emphasizes God's inclusive nature, welcoming all who trust in Him into His redemptive plan.