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.
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.
- BSB 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.
- 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.
- 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 29:31Yahweh saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
- Gen 33:5He lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, “Who are these with you?” He said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”
- Ps 127:3Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward.
- Ruth 3:11Now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people knows that you are a worthy woman.
- Ps 113:9He settles the barren woman in her home, as a joyful mother of children. Praise Yah!
- Gen 25:21Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
- 1 Sam 2:5Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread. Those who were hungry are satisfied. Yes, the barren has borne seven. She who has many children languishes.
- Ruth 4:12Let your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the offspring which Yahweh will give you by this young woman.”
- Gen 30:2Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in God’s place, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
- 1 Sam 1:27I prayed for this child; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him.
- Gen 30:22–23God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her, and opened her womb.
- Gen 20:17Abraham prayed to God. God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his female servants, and they bore 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.