Ruth 4:11

Ruth 4:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Beth–lehem:
• New International Version (NIV)Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, "We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem,
• New King James Version (NKJV)And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.

Context of Ruth 4:11

9Then Boaz said to the elders and to all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought everything that was Elimelech’s and everything that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s from the hand of Naomi. 10I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife to restore the name of the deceased to his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the gate of his birthplace. You are witnesses today.” All the people at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the household of Israel. May you achieve wealth and power in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. 12Further, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the Lord will give you by this young woman.” 13So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

Ruth 4:11 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ כָּל־הָעָ֧ם אֲשֶׁר־בַּשַּׁ֛עַר וְהַזְּקֵנִ֖ים עֵדִ֑ים יִתֵּן֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֶֽת־הָאִשָּׁ֜ה הַבָּאָ֣ה אֶל־בֵּיתֶ֗ךָ כְּרָחֵ֤ל׀ וּכְלֵאָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּנ֤וּ שְׁתֵּיהֶם֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַעֲשֵׂה־חַ֣יִל בְּאֶפְרָ֔תָה וּקְרָא־שֵׁ֖ם בְּבֵ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And all the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• in the gateשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
• and the eldersזָקֵןzâqên · old: elderH2205
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• witnessesעֵד‛êd · witnessH5707
• The Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• makeנָתַןnâthan · to give: makeH5414
• the womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• that is comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• into thine houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• like Rachelרָחֵלrâchêl · RachelH7354
• and like Leahלֵאָהlê'âh · LeahH3812
• which twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• did buildבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• and doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• thou worthilyחַ֫יִלchayil · strength: worthyH2428
• in Ephratahאֶפְרָ֫תָה'ephrâth 'ephrâthâh · EphrathH672
• and be famousשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
• and be famousקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call byH7121
• in Beth–lehemבֵּית לֶ֫חֶםbêyth lechem · BethlehemH1035

Cross-references for Ruth 4:11

• Genesis 24:60They blessed Rebekah and said to her, “May you, our sister, Become [the mother of] thousands of ten thousands, And may your descendants possess (conquer) The [city] gate of those who hate them.”
• Psalms 127:3Behold, children are a heritage and gift from the Lord, The fruit of the womb a reward.
• Psalms 128:3Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine Within the innermost part of your house; Your children will be like olive plants Around your table.
• Genesis 29:32Leah conceived and gave birth to a son and named him Reuben (See, a son!), for she said, “Because the Lord has seen my humiliation and suffering; now my husband will love me [since I have given him a son].”
• Genesis 30:1When Rachel saw that she conceived no children for Jacob, she envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I will die.”
• Genesis 35:16Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath (Bethlehem), Rachel began to give birth and had difficulty and suffered severely.
• Genesis 46:8Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.
• Numbers 26:1Then it happened after the plague that the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest,
• Deuteronomy 25:9then his brother’s widow shall approach him in the presence of the elders, and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face; and she shall answer and say, ‘So it is done to that man who does not build up his brother’s household.’
• Proverbs 14:1The wise woman builds her house [on a foundation of godly precepts, and her household thrives], But the foolish one [who lacks spiritual insight] tears it down with her own hands [by ignoring godly principles].
• Ruth 1:2The man’s name was Elimelech and his wife’s name was Naomi and his two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went to the country of Moab and stayed there.
• Psalms 132:6Behold, we heard of it at Ephrathah; We found it in the field of Jaar.
• Micah 5:2But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah; From you One shall come forth for Me [who is] to be Ruler in Israel, His goings forth (appearances) are from long ago, From ancient days.”
• Matthew 2:6‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not in any way least among the leaders of Judah; For from you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

Commentaries on Ruth 4:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11We are witnesses - It is not very likely that any writing was drawn up. There was an appeal made to the people then present, whether they had seen and understood the transaction; who answered, We have witnessed it. If any minutes of court were kept, then the transaction was entered probably in some such words as these: "On ___ day of ____, Boaz bought the land of Elimelech from Naomi his widow, and took Ruth, her daughter-in-law, to wife; ____, who had…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11See the margin. There is something of a poetical turn in this speech of the elders, and something prophetic in the blessing pronounced by them. It is unique and obscure. The Greek Version (lxx) is unintelligible. Jerome seems to have had a slightly different reading, since he applies both clauses to Ruth. “May she be a pattern of virtue in Ephratah, and have a name famous in Bethlehem.” The meaning of “be famous” seems to be, Get thyself a name which…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-12Verses 9-12 Men are ready to seize opportunities for increasing their estates, but few know the value of godliness. Such are the wise men of this world, whom the Lord charges with folly. They attend not to the concerns of their souls, but reject the salvation of Christ, for fear of marring their inheritance. But God did Boaz the honour to bring him into the line of the Messiah, while the kinsman, who was afraid of lessening himself, and marring his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11Rachel and Leah, Jacob’s two wives, were the mothers of Israel. Ephrathah: See study note on Ruth 1:2.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. all the people and the elders, said, We are witnesses--A multitude, doubtless from curiosity or interest, were present on the occasion. There was no signing of deeds; yet was the transfer made, and complete security given, by the public manner in which the whole matter was carried on and concluded. the Lord make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah--This was the usual bridal benediction.Read the comment

Topics related to Ruth 4:11

• Benedictions
• Covenant
• Ephratah
• Government
• Heir
• Inheritance
• Land
• Leah
• Marriage
• Ruth
• Witness

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Leah
• Rachel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Advertise
• Bethlehem
• Boaz
• Raise
• Agrarian Laws

Commentaries on Ruth 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary