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.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.
- NASB So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he had relations with her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
- NLT So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Boaz marries Ruth, and the Lord grants her conception so she bears a son. God's direct provision turns an empty story into one of fullness and new life.
Overview
After the legal and covenantal steps, the marriage is consummated and God Himself is credited with enabling Ruth to conceive. In a book that began with famine, death, and barrenness, this divinely given child marks the reversal of emptiness into blessing. The Lord who opens the womb is the same God orchestrating the line that leads to David and ultimately to the Savior.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Gen 29:31When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
- Gen 33:5When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” Jacob answered, “These are the children God has graciously given your servant.”
- Ps 127:3Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
- Ruth 3:11And now do not be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you request, since all my fellow townspeople know that you are a woman of noble character.
- Ps 113:9He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!
- Gen 25:21Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.
- 1 Sam 2:5The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away.
- Ruth 4:12And 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.”
- Gen 30:2Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”
- 1 Sam 1:27I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him,
- Gen 30:22–23Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb,
- Gen 20:17Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children—
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Boaz the kinsman-redeemer who buys back the destitute and takes a bride foreshadows Christ, our Redeemer who pays the price to make a people his own; and from Ruth's line comes David, and David's greater Son.
How Ruth 4:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.