What is the meaning of Ruth 4:14? Then the women said to Naomi • These are the village women of Bethlehem, eye-witnesses to Naomi’s bitter return (Ruth 1:19) and now to her restoration. • Their communal voice reminds us that God’s dealings with individuals are meant to be celebrated in community, much like Elizabeth’s neighbors who “rejoiced with her” when John was born (Luke 1:58). • Naomi, whose name means “pleasant,” had asked to be called “Mara” (“bitter,” Ruth 1:20). The women address her by her true name again, signaling that the Lord has reversed her fortunes (Job 42:11). Blessed be the LORD • The spontaneous praise centers on the LORD (YHWH), the covenant-keeping God. • Scripture often links blessing God with recognizing His faithful acts (Psalm 34:1; Luke 1:68). • Their words teach that thanksgiving should immediately follow evidence of divine mercy. who has not left you this day without a kinsman-redeemer • “Kinsman-redeemer” points to Boaz, the close relative who legally rescued Naomi’s family line (Leviticus 25:25; Ruth 2:20). • God’s providence is highlighted: Naomi once felt “empty” (Ruth 1:21), yet God never truly abandoned her. • Boaz foreshadows the ultimate Redeemer, Jesus Christ, through whom “we have redemption through His blood” (Ephesians 1:7), underscoring the gospel woven into Ruth’s narrative. • The phrase “this day” underscores the tangible, timely nature of God’s provision (2 Corinthians 6:2). May his name become famous in Israel • The women look beyond the present to a legacy that will bless the nation. • Obed’s birth secures the family line that will lead to David (Ruth 4:17), fulfilling God’s covenant purposes (2 Samuel 7:12-13). • Ultimately, the fame reaches its climax in Jesus Christ, descendant of Boaz and Ruth (Matthew 1:5-6), whose name is “the name above every name” (Philippians 2:9). • Their blessing shows how ordinary faithfulness can bear extraordinary, far-reaching fruit. summary Ruth 4:14 celebrates God’s faithfulness in transforming Naomi’s emptiness into fullness. Through community praise, it spotlights the Lord as the source of blessing, reveals His provision of a kinsman-redeemer in Boaz, and anticipates a renowned lineage culminating in Christ. The verse invites us to see every act of divine kindness as part of God’s larger redemptive tapestry—personal, communal, and ultimately universal. |
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