Ruth 4:14 · Bible study
Ruth 4:14 Commentary: Boaz or Obed, The Near Kinsman
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the debate over the 'near kinsman' in Ruth 4:14: is it Boaz or newborn Obed? Discover how God faithfully provided a redeemer for Naomi.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The women bless Yahweh for providing Naomi with a near kinsman, either Boaz (who redeemed) or Obed (the newborn who will restore her old age).
- Key words: Go’el (H1350), kinsman-redeemer; barukh (H1288), blessed; yom (H3117), day; qara’ shem (H7121 + H8034), call/proclaim a name.
- Main debate: Whether the “near kinsman” is Boaz (the legal redeemer) or Obed (the son born that day). Commentators divide on the referent.
- Theological theme: God’s faithful provision of a redeemer, both in the immediate family story and in the larger line leading to David and the Messiah.
- Best use: To explore how God works through human relationships (kinship, marriage, birth) to bring redemption, and to affirm the church’s role in blessing one another for signs of grace.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a kinsman-redeemer. May his name become famous in Israel.
WEB World English Bible 2000
The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be Yahweh, who has not left you today without a near kinsman. Let his name be famous in Israel.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be Jehovah, who hath not left thee this day without a near kinsman; and let his name be famous in Israel.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And the women say unto Naomi, `Blessed is Jehovah who hath not let a redeemer cease to thee to-day, and his name is proclaimed in Israel,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And the women said to Naomi, Blessed be Jehovah who hath not left thee this day without one that has the right of redemption, and may his name be famous in Israel!
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the women said to Noemi: Blessed be the Lord, who hath not suffered thy family to want a successor: that his name should be preserved in Israel.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y las mujeres decían á Noemi: Loado sea Jehová, que hizo que no te faltase hoy pariente, cuyo nombre será nombrado en Israel.
E as mulheres diziam a Noemi: Louvado seja o SENHOR, que fez que não te faltasse hoje parente, cujo nome será nomeado em Israel.
Les femmes dirent à Naomi: Béni soit l’ Éternel, qui ne t’ a point laissé manquer aujourd’ hui d’ un homme ayant droit de rachat, et dont le nom sera célébré en Israël!
Da sprachen die Weiber zu Naemi: Gelobt sei der HERR, der dir nicht hat lassen abgehen einen Erben zu dieser Zeit, daß sein Name in Israel bliebe.
Toen zeiden de vrouwen tot Naomi: Geloofd zij de HEERE, Die niet heeft nagelaten u heden een losser te geven; en zijn naam worde vermaard in Israel!
E le donne dicevano a Naomi: “Benedetto l’Eterno, il quale non ha permesso che oggi ti mancasse un continuatore della tua famiglia! Il nome di lui sia celebrato in Israele!
I rzekły niewiasty do Noemi: Błogosławiony Pan, który cię dziś nie chciał mieć bez powinowatego, aby zostało imię jego w Izraelu.
И говорили женщины Ноемини: благословен Господь, что Он не оставил тебя ныне без наследника! И да будет славно имя его в Израиле!
婦人們 對 拿俄米 說：「耶和華 是應當稱頌的！ 因為今日 沒有撇下你，使你 無 至近的親屬。願這孩子在以色列中 得 名聲。
And the women said to Naomi, A blessing on the Lord, who has not let you be this day without a near relation, and may his name be great in Israel.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Ruth 4:14
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the women of Bethlehem bless Yahweh for providing Naomi with a go'el (kinsman-redeemer), but they divide over who that kinsman is. Barnes argues the reference is to Boaz, since he performed the redemption and married Ruth. Cambridge notes that Bertholet and Nowack apply the phrase to the newborn son because of the words “this day,” yet Cambridge itself sides with Boaz, who “has done all, and more than all, that could be expected of a go’el.” Gill reports both views: some refer the title to Boaz, but he observes that the context of “this day” and the following wish for a famous name fit the child. Keil and Delitzsch firmly identify the “redeemer” as the newborn Obed, who would be Naomi’s “true goël” by restoring her old age. Both readings affirm the same conviction: God has not abandoned Naomi. Whether through the act of Boaz or the birth of Obed, a redeemer has come.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Boaz as the kinsman: Barnes, Cambridge and others argue that Boaz is the go'el throughout the story; he performed the redemption, and the phrase 'this day' can refer to the day of the legal transaction (Ruth 4:9-10).
- Obed as the kinsman: Keil & Delitzsch, supported by Bertholet and Nowack, note that the blessing is spoken on the day of the birth, and the child is described as a 'restorer of life' in verse 15, fitting the role of a redeemer for Naomi.
What is clear: God has not left Naomi without a redeemer; the birth of a son and the faithful actions of Boaz together demonstrate Yahweh’s faithful provision.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the near kinsman | God has provided a redeemer for Naomi; the provision is cause for praise. | Some commentators (Barnes, Cambridge) identify the kinsman as Boaz, since he performed the redemption. Others (Keil & Delitzsch, Gill) identify him as the newborn Obed, since the blessing is spoken on the day of the birth. |
| The role of the go'el in Ruth | The go'el is responsible for redeeming land, marrying the widow, and continuing the family name. | Whether this role is fully accomplished by Boaz at the gate (Ruth 4:9-10) or requires the birth of a son to perpetuate the inheritance. |
| Significance of 'this day' | The phrase anchors the blessing to a specific moment, emphasizing timeliness. | Does 'this day' refer to the day Boaz completed the legal redemption (Ruth 4:9-10) or to the day of the child’s birth (Ruth 4:13)? The surrounding context suggests the birth, but the legal actions are said to happen 'today' as well. |
| The child's future fame | The naming of Obed and the genealogy show the child achieved fame through the Davidic line. | Whether the women’s wish for a 'famous name' refers to the child’s own reputation or to the honor brought by his descendants, and whether it is more directly about Boaz’s honorable act or the child’s future. |
| Connection to the Messiah | The genealogy in Ruth leads to David and ultimately to Christ (Matthew 1:5-6). | How directly the women’s blessing anticipates the messianic line, some see a typological reference to Christ as the ultimate redeemer; others read it as a simple act of community praise. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The Hebrew term go’el (kinsman-redeemer) carried specific legal and social obligations in ancient Israel. A near relative had the responsibility to redeem family land that had been sold (Leviticus 25:25), to act as an avenger of blood, and in some cases to marry a childless widow to preserve the family name (Deuteronomy 25:5, 6). The book of Ruth centers on this institution: Elimelech’s land had become alienated, and his family line was at risk of being “cut off.” Boaz, as a close relative, stepped forward to redeem the land and to marry Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, thereby raising up a son to inherit the property and continue the name of the dead.
When the women speak in Ruth 4:14, the legal redemption is complete and a son has just been born. The phrase “this day” marks the moment of the child’s birth. In Israelite culture, a child, especially a grandson, was considered a sign of divine favor and a stabilizing presence for an aging widow. The women’s blessing echoes the language of earlier biblical narratives: when God grants a child, the community responds with praise (Genesis 29:35). Bethlehem, Naomi’s hometown, had witnessed her departure full and her return empty (Ruth 1:21). Now the same neighbors who lamented with her celebrate the reversal. The “near kinsman” they name could be the one who completed the redemption (Boaz) or the one who would nurse Naomi in her old age (the child). Either way, the women recognize a single source: Yahweh, who has not left Naomi without a redeemer.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Ruth 4:14. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts and versions represented in the supplied traditions. A minor difference appears in the English renderings: some translations (KJV, ASV) use “famous” as an adjective, while others (YLT, Darby) read it as a passive verb (“be proclaimed”). This reflects the Hebrew Niphal imperfect yikkare (“may it be called/proclaimed”), which carries the force of a jussive wish.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, Ruth 4:14 has been read as a celebration of divine providence within the lineage of David. The Targum to Ruth explains Obed’s name as “the serving one,” emphasizing his role as a caregiver to Naomi. Medieval Jewish commentators such as Rashi saw the women’s blessing as a recognition that the child would become a link in the royal line.
Christian interpreters from the early church onward have drawn a typological connection between the kinsman-redeemer and Christ. The verse’s blessing, “who has not left you without a near kinsman”, has been applied to the incarnation: God did not leave humanity without a Redeemer. The genealogy that follows (verses 18-22) is explicitly used in Matthew’s gospel, cementing the verse’s place in the preparation for the Messiah.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God provides a redeemer at the right time. The women say “this day”, the same day the child is born. God’s timing meets Naomi’s deepest need after years of loss.
- God’s provision is personal. The kinsman is “for you”, not a distant benefactor but one near to Naomi, whether Boaz or the child.
- God’s provision carries a legacy. The wish “let his name be famous” points forward to Obed, Jesse, David, and ultimately the Messiah. What God does for one family ripples through generations.
Five-point outline
- A community that sees. The women of Bethlehem observe God’s work and respond with praise, their blessing becomes a model for congregational encouragement.
- A God who does not abandon. The negative “has not left you without” emphasizes divine faithfulness in contrast to Naomi’s earlier complaint that the Lord had dealt bitterly with her.
- A redeemer always on time. “Today” pins the provision to a concrete moment. God often works through ordinary human events, a marriage, a birth, to fulfill his promises.
- Redemption that restores. The kinsman-redeemer not only secures property and name but restores life. Verse 15 calls the child a “restorer of life.”
- Hope for an unexpected future. Naomi, who once wanted to be called Mara (“bitter”), now receives a grandson. God’s redemption includes joy after sorrow.
Illustration hooks
- The unexpected gift at just the right moment. A family waiting for a grandchild after years of loss, the birth brings healing not just for the parents but for the whole extended family.
- Why the community matters. The women speak as one. In a rural town, the birth of a child was a shared event. Their blessing reminds us that God’s provision often comes through and is witnessed by the people around us.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Who, exactly, is the “near kinsman”, Boaz or the baby? Does it matter?
- How do I recognize God’s provision in my life when it comes through ordinary people and everyday events?
- This story is set in a specific culture with kinship laws. What does it mean for me today that God is my redeemer?
Leading a Discussion
The women’s blessing in Ruth 4:14 poses a gentle riddle: who is the “near kinsman”, the man who performed the legal redemption or the child just born? Both answers reveal God’s faithfulness. As you discuss this passage, pay attention to how the community sees God at work in ordinary events: a wedding, a birth, a grandmother holding her grandson. What does this tell us about the way God provides for those who feel abandoned?
Discussion questions
- Read Ruth 4:13, 17 aloud. What has happened in the story just before the women speak? How does the context shape their words?
- The term “near kinsman” (go’el) appears throughout Ruth. Trace its use: who is called a go’el, and what actions are associated with the role? (See Ruth 2:20, 3:9, 3:12, 4:1, 6.)
- The women bless Yahweh for not leaving Naomi “without a near kinsman.” Does this refer to Boaz or to Obed? What evidence from the passage supports each view?
- How had Naomi described her situation earlier in the book (Ruth 1:20, 21)? How does the women’s blessing directly answer her complaint?
- Why do the women wish for the kinsman’s name to be “famous in Israel”? Look at the genealogy that follows (verses 18, 22). How does that wish come true?
- In what ways have you experienced God providing a “redeemer”, through a person, a community, or an unexpected turn of events, when you felt lacking or abandoned?
- This passage emphasizes the role of the community in recognizing and celebrating God’s work. How can your group become more like the women of Bethlehem, speaking blessing over one another?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 12:2 | I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. |
| Genesis 24:27 | He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me on the way to the house of my master’s relatives.” |
| Genesis 29:35 | She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise Yahweh.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing. |
| Ruth 4:21 | and Salmon became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed, |
| Ruth 4:22 | and Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David. |
| Psalms 34:1 | By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth. |
| Psalms 34:3 | Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let’s exalt his name together. |
| Psalms 103:1 | By David. Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name! |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Without a kinsman - i. e. Boaz, not the infant Obed.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible Schools notes that some scholars apply the phrase "this day" to the newborn son, but argues that the kinsman-redeemer throughout the story is Boaz. He has already redeemed the property, and now on this day he has secured an heir for Naomi's family, doing more than was required.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And the women sayd vnto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, and his name shalbe continued in Israel.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that the women's blessing could refer either to the newborn child or to Boaz as the kinsman-redeemer. He reports an observation linking the child to the Messiah, and also suggests the hope that this child would become famous as an ancestor of David and ultimately of the Messiah.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch stresses that the women called the newborn son, not Boaz, Naomi's redeemer. They interpret the name Obed as "the serving one," reflecting how he would care for his grandmother in her old age, rather than the more common meaning "servant of Jehovah."
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the story demonstrates how love, not law, achieves redemption. Ruth’s self-sacrificing love makes Obed a true son to Naomi, and the genealogy shows that such love, not legal pedigree, produces the messianic line. He also suggests Obed’s name carries the foreign-derived meaning of “son.”
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry contrasts Ruth's reward with Orpah's loss: Orpah returned to her people and gods, but Ruth chose to trust under God's wings and was blessed with a husband and child. Those who leave everything for Christ find more than they gave up, and Boaz became the answer to his own prayer for her.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley reads the phrase as a positive declaration that the kinsman did not fail or refuse his duty to the family, unlike the other relative. For Wesley, the promised fame means this man’s name will be held in honor throughout Israel for his noble and worthy action.