Ruth 4:10
What does Ruth 4:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Ruth 4:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ruth 4:10 means
Boaz completes his declaration: he has acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, to be his wife, so that the dead man’s name might be maintained on his inheritance and not be cut off from among his brothers or from his place in the gate. His aim is not self-promotion but preservation of another’s line. Boaz accepts both love’s joy and law’s burden. He moves toward Ruth in covenant marriage, yet looks beyond himself to the honor of Mahlon and the consolation of Naomi. He asks the community to witness this intent, inviting accountability and blessing upon a selfless, restorative act.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And, further, I have taken Ruth, the Moabitess, who was the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to keep the name of the dead man living in his heritage, so that his name may not be cut off from among his countrymen, and from the memory of his town: you are witnesses this day.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and also Ruth the Moabitess, wife of Mahlon, I have bought to myself for a wife, to raise up the name of the dead over his inheritance; and the name of the dead is not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place; witnesses ye <FI>are<Fi> to-day.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And have taken to wife Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of Mahalon, to raise up the name of the deceased in his inheritance lest his name be cut off, from among his family and his brethren and his people. You, I say, are witnesses of this thing.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
Context
Boaz has addressed the land; now he affirms the marital and generational purpose of redemption. He intends to raise up Mahlon’s name, showing deep respect for family continuity in Israel. Having heard this vow, the gathered people and elders are ready to affirm and bless the union. The next verses relay their rousing response, invoking the matriarchs of Israel and the fruitful line of Perez, and praying for Boaz’s honored name in Ephrathah and Bethlehem.
v.9And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.
v.10This passage
v.11And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Beth-lehem:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Proverbs 19:14
House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
- Hebrews 13:4
Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
- Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;
- Psalms 109:15
Let them be before Jehovah continually, That he may cut off the memory of them from the earth;
- Hosea 3:2
So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and a homer of barley, and a half-homer of barley;
- Zechariah 13:2
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered; and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
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