Ruth 4:13 Meaning: Lawful Marriage and Yahweh's Gift of a Son
So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and he went in to her, and Yahweh enabled her to conceive, and she bore a son.
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.
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in unto her, and Jehovah gave her conception, and she bare a son.
And Boaz taketh Ruth, and she becometh his wife, and he goeth in unto her, and Jehovah giveth to her conception, and she beareth a son.
And Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in unto her, and Jehovah gave her conception, and she bore a son.
Meaning in one sentence
Ruth's marriage to Boaz was lawful because she had converted to Israel's God. The verse shows that conception is a gift from Yahweh, not mere chance.
Context
The book of Ruth reaches its quiet climax here. Boaz has just redeemed the land that belonged to Naomi's husband and sons, and he has taken Ruth as his wife to raise up a name for the deceased Mahlon. The elders at the gate blessed him with words like those spoken over Rachel and Leah, who built the house of Israel. Now the marriage is consummated, and the narrator records one detail with care: Yahweh enabled her to conceive. Ruth was a Moabite by birth, but she had left her country and her gods to take refuge under the wings of Israel's God. The commentators agree that the Mosaic prohibition against Moabites entering the congregation did not apply to a woman who had become a sincere proselyte. So the marriage was lawful, and God confirmed it with a son.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this verse. First, laqach, 'took.' It is the ordinary word for taking a wife in the Old Testament, and it reminds us that marriage is an act of choosing and receiving. Second, bo, 'went in to her.' In Scripture this is the modest way to describe marital intimacy. It speaks of closeness and trust, not merely physical union. Third, the narrator says Yahweh natan (gave) to her herayon (conception). The verb 'gave' appears often in Genesis for God opening wombs. Here the point is clear: no child comes by chance. Every conception is a gift from the hand of the Lord, even when it happens through ordinary means. The verse quietly pushes back against any thought that fertility is merely a biological event. It is a divine gift.
How Christians Read This Verse
Across traditions, Christians have seen this verse as showing God's active involvement in the most personal moments of life. Reformed commentators like Matthew Henry note that 'the Lord gave her conception', it is God who brings forth children, and no circumstance of age or situation can prevent Him. Wesley, from the Methodist tradition, emphasizes that Ruth's marriage was lawful because she was a sincere convert, so 'he that forsakes all for Christ shall find more than all with him.' The Catholic tradition honours Ruth as a Gentile who entered the lineage of Christ, and the verse is read as part of the preparation for the coming of Jesus. All traditions agree: God is the giver of life, and He works through the faithfulness of ordinary people.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
This week, you may be waiting for something that only God can give, a child, a reconciliation, a way forward in a hard situation. Ruth and Boaz did everything that was theirs to do: they acted with integrity, followed the customs of their day, and trusted the Lord with the rest. The verse does not say they waited anxiously. It says simply that Yahweh gave. You can move through your days doing what is right and leaving the results with Him. He is still the one who gives, and what He gives is never too late.
Main takeaway: Yahweh alone gives life; every child is a gift from His hand, and every marriage is under His blessing.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God gave Ruth a baby boy. Every baby is a special gift from God, because He is the one who makes life.
For ages 9, 12
Ruth and Boaz got married, and God gave them a son named Obed. This was not just an ordinary birth, it was part of God's big plan to bring King David into the world, and later Jesus himself. When you see a new baby in your family or church, remember that God is the one who gives life, and He has a plan for every person.
Questions People Ask
Was it legal for Boaz to marry Ruth, a Moabite?
Yes, because Ruth had become a worshiper of the true God. The Old Testament law prohibited marriage with Moabites who remained in their idolatry, but Ruth had left her people and her gods to follow Yahweh. The commentators agree that the prohibition did not apply to sincere converts like her.
What does 'Yahweh enabled her to conceive' mean?
This phrase shows that God is the ultimate giver of life. Conception is not just a biological process; it is a gift from the Lord. The same Hebrew verb 'gave' is used in Genesis when God opened the wombs of Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel. It is a way of saying that every child comes from God.
Why does the book of Ruth include a genealogy at the end?
The genealogy connects Ruth's son Obed to King David and ultimately to Jesus Christ. It shows that God was working through ordinary people and a foreign woman to bring about His plan of redemption. The book of Ruth reminds us that God's purposes often unfold through family and faithfulness over many generations.
How does this verse relate to the blessing the elders gave in verses 11-12?
The elders had prayed that Ruth would be like Rachel and Leah, who built the house of Israel, and that Boaz's house would be like the house of Perez. In this verse, their blessing begins to be fulfilled: Ruth conceives and bears a son. The narrator is showing that God answered the community's prayer.
Does this verse imply that God directly caused the pregnancy?
Christians have understood this to mean that God is the source of all life, but not necessarily that the conception was miraculous in a supernatural sense. It was a natural conception within marriage, but the narrator deliberately credits Yahweh with the gift. This reminds us that even ordinary events are sustained by God's hand.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study