Ruth 4:14-17

4:14 The village women said to Naomi, “May the Lord be praised because he has not left you without a guardian ¹  today! May he ²  become famous in Israel! ³  4:15 He will encourage you and provide for you when you are old, ⁴  for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given him birth. She ⁵  is better to you than seven sons!” 4:16 Naomi took the child and placed him on her lap; ⁶  she became his caregiver. ⁷  4:17 The neighbor women named him, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. ⁸  Now he became the father of Jesse – David’s father!

[4:14]  ¹ tn Or “redeemer.” See the note on the phrase “guardian of the family interests” in 3:9. As the following context indicates, the child is referred to here.

[4:14]  ² tn The “guardian” is the subject of the verb, as the next verse makes clear.

[4:14]  ³ tn Heb “may his name be called [i.e., “perpetuated”; see Gen 48:16] in Israel.”

[4:15]  ⁴ tn Heb “and he will become for you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age” (NASB similar).

[4:15]  ⁵ tn Heb “who, she”; KJV “which is better to thee.”

[4:16]  ⁶ tn Or “breast”; KJV, NRSV “in her bosom.”

[4:16]  ⁷ tn Heb “his nurse,” but this refers to a dry nurse, not a medical attendant. Cf. NIV “and cared for him”; TEV “and took (+ good CEV) care of him.”

[4:17]  ⁸ tn The name “Obed” means “one who serves,” perhaps anticipating how he would help Naomi (see v. 15).