Skip to main content

    Ruth 4 (KJV)

    Read Ruth chapter 4 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    Ruth 4

    Deep Verse Commentaries in This Chapter

    Ruth 4:14

    "And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which ha…"

    Explore Topics Related to Ruth 4

    Continue your study with related content from across our library:

    Bible Story

    Ruth and Boaz

    Ruth 1–4 • redemption

    Bible Quiz

    Boaz Bible Quiz

    The kinsman-redeemer of Bethlehem who took Ruth to wife and entered the lineage

    Commentary

    Genesis 50:20 Commentary

    In-depth study • God's Sovereignty & Redemption

    Devotional

    Genesis 50:20 — Meaning & Devotional

    God's Sovereignty

    Commentary

    Genesis 45:5 Commentary

    In-depth study • God's Sovereignty

    Character

    Ruth in the Bible

    The Loyal Foreigner

    Ruth 4 Summary

    Ruth 4 brings the love story to its legal and spiritual climax. Boaz goes to the city gate — the ancient courtroom — and negotiates with a closer kinsman who has first right of redemption. When the nearer kinsman declines, Boaz redeems Naomi's land and takes Ruth as his wife, preserving the family line.

    The chapter ends with a genealogy that reveals the ultimate significance of this small-town love story: Ruth becomes the great-grandmother of King David, placing a Moabite woman in the lineage of the Messiah. God's redemptive plan unfolds through faithfulness, love, and willingness to embrace the outsider.

    Key Themes

    Kinsman-redeemerLegal redemptionOutsiders includedLineage of David and ChristGod's hidden sovereignty

    Key Verses in Ruth 4

    "Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel."

    — Ruth 4:14

    The women of Bethlehem celebrate God's faithfulness — and the child born would be grandfather to King David.

    "Ruth the Moabitess… have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead."

    — Ruth 4:10

    Boaz's redemption preserves the family line and prefigures Christ's redemptive work.

    "And they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David."

    — Ruth 4:17

    Connects this intimate story to the grand narrative of Israel's monarchy and the Messiah.

    Life Application

    The kinsman-redeemer concept teaches that someone with the right, the resources, and the willingness can rescue you from a hopeless situation. Boaz did this for Ruth; Christ does this for every believer. Ruth 4 also shows that God's purposes are often accomplished through quiet faithfulness in ordinary circumstances rather than dramatic interventions.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is a kinsman-redeemer?

    A kinsman-redeemer (Hebrew: goel) was a close relative who had the right and responsibility to buy back family property, marry a childless widow to continue the family line, or rescue a relative from slavery. Boaz fulfilled this role for Ruth and Naomi.

    Why is Ruth in the genealogy of Jesus?

    Ruth, a Moabite convert, appears in Matthew 1:5 as the great-grandmother of David and an ancestor of Jesus. Her inclusion demonstrates that God's redemptive plan extends beyond ethnic boundaries to embrace all who come to Him in faith.

    Read the full summary of Ruth

    Free Bible widgets and more ways to read