Ruth 4:22 kjv
And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
Ruth 4:22 nkjv
Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.
Ruth 4:22 niv
Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.
Ruth 4:22 esv
Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
Ruth 4:22 nlt
Obed was the father of Jesse.
Jesse was the father of David.
Ruth 4 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 1:1 | The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David... | Links Christ's lineage directly to David. |
| Lk 3:31-32 | ...the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed... | Traces Christ's lineage directly through Jesse and Obed. |
| Ruth 4:17 | ...they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. | Preceding verse in Ruth confirms this immediate connection. |
| 2 Sam 7:12-13 | I will raise up your offspring after you... and I will establish his kingdom. | God's covenant promising David an eternal dynasty. |
| Ps 89:3-4 | I have sworn to David my servant: 'I will establish your offspring forever...' | Reiterates God's eternal covenant with David's descendants. |
| Ps 132:11-12 | The LORD swore to David a sure oath... "One of your own sons I will set on your throne." | Further confirms the divine promise of David's royal succession. |
| Isa 11:1 | A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. | Prophecy of the Messiah (the "Branch") coming from Jesse's line. |
| Jer 23:5 | "Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch..." | Messianic prophecy, a "Branch" (Messiah) from David's lineage. |
| Zech 3:8 | For behold, I am going to bring forth my servant the Branch. | Messianic reference to "the Branch," foreshadowing Christ. |
| Rev 5:5 | The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed... | Identifies Christ as the fulfillment, "Root of David." |
| Rev 22:16 | "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David..." | Jesus' self-identification as the direct heir and fulfillment of David. |
| Rom 1:3 | concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh... | Highlights Christ's physical lineage from David. |
| Acts 2:30 | God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne. | Peter affirms the Davidic covenant's fulfillment in Christ's ascension. |
| Gen 49:10 | The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet... | Prophecy of a ruler lineage from Judah, leading to David. |
| 1 Chr 2:9-15 | Jesse was the father of Eliab... David the seventh. | Chronological account confirming David's place among Jesse's sons. |
| Deut 23:3-6 | No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD... | Provides crucial context to Ruth's Moabite origin and God's surprising grace. |
| Pro 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. | Illustrates divine providence guiding all human paths. |
| Gen 50:20 | As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good... | Example of God's sovereignty working through all circumstances. |
| Heb 11:32 | And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David... | David mentioned among Israel's heroes of faith. |
| Isa 9:6-7 | For to us a child is born... and of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David... | Directly points to the Messianic ruler on David's throne. |
| Eze 34:23-24 | I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them... | Prophecy of a future "David" (Messiah) as the ideal shepherd. |
| Lk 1:32-33 | He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. | Angel Gabriel's prophecy to Mary about Jesus inheriting David's throne. |
Ruth 4 verses
Ruth 4 22 Meaning
Ruth 4:22 unequivocally concludes the genealogical lineage of King David, stating that Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth, begot Jesse, and Jesse, in turn, begot David. This verse serves as the profound climax of the book of Ruth, unveiling the overarching theological purpose of the narrative: to reveal God's meticulous and sovereign hand in establishing the royal lineage from an unexpected Bethlehemite family, specifically integrating Ruth, a Moabite woman, into the very ancestry of Israel's greatest king, and ultimately, the Messiah. It underscores God's providential orchestration of seemingly mundane human affairs to fulfill His eternal redemptive plan.
Ruth 4 22 Context
The book of Ruth opens in Bethlehem during a famine, leading Elimelech and Naomi to migrate to Moab. After the tragic deaths of Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion, Naomi returns to Judah, accompanied by her loyal Moabite daughter-in-law, Ruth. The subsequent narrative vividly details Ruth’s faithful devotion, her provision through gleaning in Boaz’s fields, and the profound act of Boaz stepping forward as a kinsman-redeemer (goel). Ruth 4 culminates this process, outlining the meticulous legal proceedings by which Boaz redeems Elimelech’s land and marries Ruth, securing the family line. Ruth 4:18-22 then provides a precise genealogy, tracing the lineage from Perez (Judah's son) through Salmon, Boaz, Obed, and Jesse, concluding with David. Thus, Ruth 4:22 not only completes this essential lineage but also explains the divine providence inherent in what began as a tale of despair and became a narrative of faithfulness, redemption, and a restored future for Israel's kingship.
Ruth 4 22 Word analysis
- and: (וְ, wĕ) This Hebrew conjunctive particle signals a direct continuation and finalization of the genealogical list that began in Ruth 4:18. It rhythmically links this pivotal conclusion to the preceding historical account, emphasizing continuity.
- Obed: (עֹבֵד, ʿŌḇēḏ) Meaning "servant" or "worshiper." Obed's birth symbolizes the fulfillment of Naomi’s lineage and the integration of Ruth into the covenant people. His name fittingly points towards a future king, David, who was uniquely described as God's "servant," and foreshadows the ultimate Servant-Messiah.
- begot: (הוֹלִיד, hôlîḏ) Derived from the verb יָלַד (yalad), meaning "to bear, bring forth, beget." In biblical genealogies, this term signifies more than mere physical procreation; it underscores the divine orchestration and continuation of a specific, blessed lineage, particularly a covenantal and Messianic one. Its repetition affirms the direct, unbroken link of succession.
- Jesse: (יִשַׁי, Yišay) Potentially meaning "my gift" or "my strong one." Jesse, a shepherd from Bethlehem, was not prominent but chosen by God to be the father of David, showcasing God's sovereign preference for the humble (1 Sam 16:7-12). He becomes known as the familial "root" from which the Messiah would spring (Isa 11:1).
- David: (דָּוִיד, Dāwīḏ) Meaning "beloved." David is Israel’s second and greatest king, a man "after God’s own heart" (1 Sam 13:14). God established an eternal covenant with him, promising an unending kingdom and dynasty (2 Sam 7), a promise fulfilled ultimately in Jesus the Messiah. His inclusion as the final name here provides the foundational theological purpose of the entire book of Ruth.
Words-group analysis
- "Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David": This succinct phrase presents the critical three-generational link leading to Israel’s most pivotal king, David. The repetitive structure of "begot" highlights the direct and undeniable transmission of heritage and destiny, emphasizing God's careful and continuous work through individuals to achieve His grand design. It ties together the family saga of Ruth and Boaz, validating its purpose in God's broader history, specifically the establishment of the royal Davidic line from whom the Messiah would descend. The emphasis here shifts from the personal triumph of redemption to the larger theological purpose, preparing the reader for the subsequent narrative of God's chosen king.
Ruth 4 22 Bonus section
The book of Ruth stands as a profound theological narrative emphasizing divine providence and inclusion. While Mosaic Law (Deut 23:3-6) appears to exclude Moabites from the assembly of the LORD, Ruth's unwavering devotion and faithfulness to Naomi, and ultimately to the God of Israel (Ruth 1:16-17), resulted in her miraculous integration into the covenant community and the direct Messianic line. This highlights that God’s gracious plan of salvation transcends rigid ethnic or national boundaries and prejudices. The narrative beautifully demonstrates that even in seemingly ordinary events and in an era without clear prophets or kings (Judges 21:25), God is actively guiding individuals to fulfill His overarching redemptive agenda. Ruth fills a crucial gap in the biblical genealogies, bridging the story of Judah's son Perez (Gen 38) to the birth of David, thus providing the necessary foundation for understanding the significance of David's kingship and the future promises concerning the Messiah who would come from his lineage.
Ruth 4 22 Commentary
Ruth 4:22 forms the theological capstone of the book, transitioning from the heartwarming personal story of redemption in Bethlehem to the cosmic significance of God’s redemptive plan. By explicitly connecting Obed, Ruth’s son, through Jesse, to David, the verse establishes a foundational genealogical link for Israel’s monarchy and, profoundly, for the anticipated Messiah. This simple declaration highlights God’s meticulous providence, demonstrating how He weaves seemingly disparate individual acts of faithfulness into the larger tapestry of His eternal purpose. It shows that the narrative of Ruth is not merely a pleasant historical account but a crucial component of biblical history, providing the essential connection from the patriarchal age through Judah's lineage to the establishment of the divinely chosen king, ultimately foreshadowing the coming of Jesus Christ, the Root of David. The inclusion of Ruth, a Moabite, further accentuates God’s boundless grace and inclusive nature, subverting conventional human expectations and societal restrictions.