Ruth 2:20 Meaning: God's Kindness to the Living and the Dead
Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by Yahweh, who has not abandoned his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Naomi said to her, “The man is a close relative to us, one of our near kinsmen.”
And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Jehovah, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is nigh of kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen.
And Naomi saith to her daughter-in-law, `Blessed is he of Jehovah who hath not forsaken His kindness with the living and with the dead;' and Naomi saith to her, `The man is a relation of ours; he is of our redeemers.'
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Jehovah, who has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead! And Naomi said to her, The man is near of kin to us, one of those who have the right of our redemption.
Meaning in one sentence
Naomi declares God has not abandoned His kindness to the living and the dead, and announces Boaz is a close kinsman-redeemer (go'el).
Context
Ruth has just returned from a day of gleaning in the fields of Bethlehem. She brings home an ephah of barley and the leftover food from her meal, a surprising abundance for a widow from Moab. Naomi, her mother-in-law, is astonished and asks where she worked. When Ruth tells her the man's name is Boaz, something shifts. Naomi, who had been bitter and empty, now sees a thread of hope. She blesses Boaz as an instrument of God's kindness, a kindness that reaches back to her deceased husband and sons. Then she reveals that Boaz is a go'el, a kinsman-redeemer. This verse turns the story toward redemption, showing that God has not forgotten the family even after death.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words anchor this verse. First, chesed (H2617) is the kindness that Naomi speaks of. It means more than a warm feeling, it is covenant loyalty, the stubborn faithfulness God promised His people. Naomi sees this loyalty still active, still caring for the living and the dead. Second, barach (H1288) appears in her blessing: baruch, be blessed. In Hebrew, to bless is to kneel, to acknowledge someone as the source of life and help. Naomi kneels before God by blessing Boaz as His gift. Third and most central is go'el (H1350), the kinsman-redeemer. This word carries a weight of concrete rescue. The go'el was a close relative with the right and duty to buy back family land, to avenge blood, and to marry a childless widow so the family name would not die out. Here it becomes the hinge of hope. What looked like ordinary kindness from a farmer turns out to be God arranging a redeemer for two widows. The word itself tells you: God's love has a legal, faithful structure. It does not just feel kind, it acts.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have noted the layered meaning here. Matthew Henry and others have seen Boaz as a clear type of Christ, the ultimate kinsman-redeemer who buys back what was lost. Wesley and Clarke focus on the historical legal context, showing how God worked through Israel's laws for widows. Gill emphasizes that God's kindness to the dead means He cares for the living who carry their memory. What unites these views is the sense that God's faithful love works through concrete, ordinary means, a harvest field, a relative's duties, to accomplish redemption. The verse invites all readers to trust that God is still at work, even through small kindnesses and family ties.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume that 'kindness to the dead' means Naomi believes God is showing mercy to departed souls directly or that the living can earn favor for the dead. In fact, the phrase means God has kept His covenant love active for the sake of the dead, by providing for their widows and continuing their family line. Naomi is not talking about the afterlife; she is seeing God's faithfulness in the present, through Boaz's care for Ruth and herself, the living representatives of her husband and sons.
Living This Out
You might be carrying grief for someone you have lost, or feeling that God's kindness has run out. This verse invites you to look for signs of His faithful love in the people around you, in the small provisions and unexpected helpers. It also challenges you to become a kind of go'el, to use your position, resources, or family ties to redeem the situations of others who are vulnerable. Maybe that means stepping in to help a grieving friend, or using your influence to restore someone's dignity. God's kindness never stops; He often delivers it through ordinary hands like yours.
Main takeaway: God’s faithful love does not stop when someone dies; He continues to care for those who remain, often through unexpected people.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God was still being kind to Naomi and Ruth, even though their family had died. Boaz was a special helper God sent to take care of them.
For ages 9, 12
In ancient Israel, a kinsman-redeemer (called a go'el) was a close relative who had the job of helping a family in trouble. He could buy back land, marry a widow, or rescue someone in debt. When Naomi learns that Boaz is this kind of relative, she sees God's kindness continuing even after death. God uses family and community to show His love. This verse reminds us that God cares about our whole story, not just the happy parts.
Questions People Ask
What does 'to the living and to the dead' mean in Ruth 2:20?
Naomi means that God has continued His covenant love to those who have died by caring for their widows. She and Ruth represent the living, while her husband Elimelech and her sons represent the dead. God's kindness to them is shown through Boaz's provision and willingness to act as a redeemer.
What is a kinsman-redeemer (go'el) in the Bible?
A go'el was a close male relative with specific duties under Israelite law: he could buy back family land that had been sold, avenge the blood of a murdered relative, and marry a childless widow to raise up offspring for the deceased. Boaz is identified as such a relative for Naomi and Ruth.
Why does Naomi bless Boaz instead of God directly?
She does bless God ('Blessed be he of the Lord'), but she also acknowledges Boaz as the human channel of that blessing. This pattern appears elsewhere in Scripture (like 2 Samuel 2:5). Both God and the person are recognized: God as the source, the person as His instrument.
Is Boaz a type of Christ in this story?
Many Christians throughout history have seen Boaz as a foreshadowing of Christ, the ultimate kinsman-redeemer who buys back what was lost and marries a Gentile bride (the church). Others emphasize the historical and legal details without typology. Both readings affirm God's redemptive work through ordinary human relationships.
How is God's kindness connected to the dead in this verse?
In the Old Testament context, kindness to the dead does not refer to an afterlife interaction. It means that God's covenant faithfulness extends beyond a person's death by caring for their surviving family, perpetuating their name, and preserving their inheritance. Boaz's actions honor the deceased by providing for their widows and continuing their lineage.
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