Ruth 4:11

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.

¹⁰ 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.”

“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.”

¹³ So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And when he had relations with her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

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: “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.
KJV: And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Beth-lehem:
WEB: All the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which both built the house of Israel; and treat you worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem.
ASV: And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem:
DARBY: And all the people that were in the gate and the elders said, [We are] witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that cometh into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel; and acquire power in Ephratah, and make thyself a name in Bethlehem;
BLB: And all the people who [were] at the gate, and the elders, said, “Witnesses! May YHWH make the woman, the one coming to your house, like Rachel and like Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and you do virtuously in Ephrathah, and proclaim the name in Bethlehem.

ÅB: Og alt folket som var i porten, og de eldste sa: Ja, det er vi vitner på. Herren la den kvinne som nå drar inn i ditt hus, bli som Rakel og Lea, de to som bygget Israels hus, og gid du må bli en mektig mann i Efrata og få en navnkundig sønn i Betlehem!
OTB: Da sa alle folket ved porten og de eldste: "Vi er vitner. Måtte Herren gjøre kvinnen som kommer inn i ditt hjem lik Rakel og Lea, som sammen bygde opp Israels hus. Måtte du ha fremgang i Efrata og bli kjent i Betlehem.
B1930: Og alt folket som var i porten, og de eldste sa: Ja, det er vi vidner på. Herren la den kvinne som nu drar inn i ditt hus, bli som Rakel og Lea, de to som bygget Israels hus, og gid du må bli en mektig mann i Efrata og få en navnkundig sønn i Betlehem!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Genesis 29:32–30:24
And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”
Read in context
Matthew 2:6
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”
Read in context
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel — One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.
Read in context
Genesis 35:16–20
Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.
Read in context
Psalms 127:3–5
Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
Read in context
Genesis 46:8–27
Now these are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.
Read in context
Psalms 128:3–6
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine flourishing within your house, your sons like olive shoots sitting around your table.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 25:9
his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal, spit in his face, and declare, “This is what is done to the man who will not maintain his brother’s line.”
Read in context