Ruth 4:10
8 So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.”
9 At this, Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon.
Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”
11 “We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.
12 And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.”
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”
- KJV
- Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
- WEB
- Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, I have purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today.”
- ASV
- Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
- DARBY
- moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
- BLB
- And also Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired for myself for a wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, and the name of the dead will not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his place; you⁺ [are] witnesses this day.”
- ÅB
- Også moabittinnen Rut, Mahlons enke, har jeg vunnet meg til hustru for å oppreise den avdødes navn på hans arvelodd, så den avdødes navn ikke skal bli utryddet blant hans brødre og i hans hjemsteds port; det er dere vitner på idag.
- OTB
- Jeg har også fått Rut, moabittinnen, Mahlons enke, til kone, for å opprettholde navnet til den avdøde med hans eiendom, så hans navn ikke skal forsvinne fra hans slekt eller fra hans hjemby. Dere er vitner i dag."
- B1930
- Også moabittinnen Rut, Mahlons enke, har jeg vunnet mig til hustru for å opreise den avdødes navn på hans arvelodd, så den avdødes navn ikke skal bli utryddet blandt hans brødre og i hans hjemsteds port; det er I vidner på idag.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 25:6
The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.
Read in contextEphesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
Read in contextGenesis 29:27
Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you the younger one in return for another seven years of work.”
Read in contextHosea 12:12
Jacob fled to the land of Aram and Israel worked for a wife— for a wife he tended sheep.
Read in contextIsaiah 8:2–3
And I will appoint for Myself trustworthy witnesses—Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.”
Read in contextProverbs 31:10–11
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
Read in contextProverbs 19:14
Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
Read in contextProverbs 18:22
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
Read in context