Ruth 4:15
What does Ruth 4:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Ruth 4:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ruth 4:15 means
The women foresee that the child will be a restorer of life and sustainer in Naomi’s old age. He embodies renewed hope, daily provision, and the continuation of family. They also honor Ruth, whose loyal love has proven better than seven sons—the number of completeness—thus overturning assumptions about worth and lineage. Ruth’s devotion, under God’s blessing, has preserved Naomi’s future more surely than a large number of sons might have. The community recognizes not only the gift God gave but also the instrument He used: a faithful daughter-in-law whose love mirrors covenant kindness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And he shall be unto thee a restorer of life, and a nourisher of thine old age, for thy daughter-in-law, who loveth thee, who is better to thee than seven sons, hath borne him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And he shall be unto thee a restorer of life, and a nourisher of thine old age, for thy daughter-in-law, who loveth thee, who is better to thee than seven sons, hath borne him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He will be a giver of new life to you, and your comforter when you are old, for your daughter-in-law, who, in her love for you, is better than seven sons, has given birth to him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and he hath been to thee for a restorer of life, and for a nourisher of thine old age, for thy daughter-in-law who hath loved thee--who is better to thee than seven sons--hath borne him.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And thou shouldst have one to comfort thy soul, and cherish thy old age. For he is born of thy daughter in law: who loveth thee: and is much better to thee, than if thou hadst seven sons.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And he shall be to thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age; for thy daughter-in-law who loves thee, who is better to thee than seven sons, has borne him.
Context
Continuing their blessing, the women explain how the child will practically bless Naomi, tying redemption to tangible care. They also exalt Ruth’s character, linking human faithfulness with God’s favor. The scene then becomes intensely personal: Naomi takes the child to her bosom. This shift from communal praise to intimate nurture shows the redemption applied in daily life. The narrative will then record the child’s name and lineage, connecting private joy to Israel’s royal future.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ruth 1:16
And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, and to return from following after thee, for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God;
- Proverbs 18:24
He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
- Genesis 45:11
and there will I nourish thee; for there are yet five years of famine; lest thou come to poverty, thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast.
- Isaiah 46:4
and even to old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; yea, I will carry, and will deliver.
- Genesis 47:12
And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.
- Ruth 2:11
And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people that thou knewest not heretofore.
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