Ruth 4:11

⁹ And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.

¹⁰ 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.

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:

¹² 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.

¹³ So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare 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 bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
Read in context
Matthew 2:6
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Read in context
Micah 5:2
But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Read in context
Genesis 35:16–20
And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
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Psalms 127:3–5
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
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Genesis 46:8–27
And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.
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Psalms 128:3–6
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
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Deuteronomy 25:9
Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house.
Read in context