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.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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 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.
- NKJV Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel!
- NASB Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.
- NLT Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel.
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
The women of Bethlehem bless the Lord for providing Naomi a kinsman-redeemer through the newborn child. Naomi's bitterness is answered by God's faithful provision.
Overview
The women praise Yahweh for not leaving Naomi without a redeemer, recognizing His hand in restoring her family. The child Obed becomes a sign of God's covenant faithfulness to the emptied and grieving Naomi. Their praise highlights the theme of redemption that runs through the book and points beyond to the ultimate Redeemer who would secure an everlasting name.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Matt 1:5–20Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,
- Gen 12:2I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
- Luke 1:58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
- Isa 11:1–4Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
- Ruth 4:21–22Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed,
- 1 Cor 12:26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
- Ps 34:1–3Of David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, so that the king drove him away. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.
- Rom 12:15Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
- Gen 29:35And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.
- 1 Th 5:18Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- 2 Th 1:3We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing.
- Ps 103:1–2Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name.
- Gen 24:27saying, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His kindness and faithfulness from my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”
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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 4:14 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.