God’s Word Translation
Ruth 2:20
20Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May the Lord bless him. The Lord hasn’t stopped being kind to people—living or dead.” Then Naomi told her, “That man is a relative of ours. He is a close relative, one of those responsible for taking care of us.”
Ruth 2:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.
- New International Version (NIV)“The Lord bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!" Naomi also said to her, "The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” And Naomi said to her, “This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.”
Context of Ruth 2:20
18She picked it up and went into the town, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gathered. Ruth also took out what she had left over from lunch and gave it to Naomi. 19Her mother-in-law asked her, “Where did you gather grain today? Just where did you work? May the man who paid attention to you be blessed.” So Ruth told her mother-in-law about the person with whom she worked. She said, “The man I worked with today is named Boaz.” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May the Lord bless him. The Lord hasn’t stopped being kind to people—living or dead.” Then Naomi told her, “That man is a relative of ours. He is a close relative, one of those responsible for taking care of us.” 21Ruth, who was from Moab, told her, “He also said to me, ‘Stay with my younger workers until they have finished the harvest.’ ” 22Naomi told her daughter-in-law Ruth, “It’s a good idea, my daughter, that you go out to the fields with his young women. If you go to someone else’s field, you may be molested.”
Read all of Ruth 2Ruth 2:20 word by word
וַתֹּ֨אמֶר נָעֳמִ֜י לְכַלָּתָ֗הּ בָּר֥וּךְ הוּא֙ לַיהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹא־עָזַ֣ב חַסְדּ֔וֹ אֶת־הַחַיִּ֖ים וְאֶת־הַמֵּתִ֑ים וַתֹּ֧אמֶר לָ֣הּ נָעֳמִ֗י קָר֥וֹב לָ֙נוּ֙ הָאִ֔ישׁ מִֽגֹּאֲלֵ֖נוּ הֽוּא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Naomiנׇעֳמִיno‛ŏmîy · NaomiH5281
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto her daughter in lawכַּלָּהkallâh · daughter-in-lawH3618
- Blessedבָּרַךְbârak · to blessH1288
- he of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- who hath not left offעָזַב‛âzab · to leave: forsakeH5800
- his kindnessחֶ֫סֶדchêsêd · kindnessH2617
- to the livingחַיchay · aliveH2416
- and to the deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- unto her, The manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- near of kinקָרֹבqârôb qârôb · nearH7138
- unto us, one of our next kinsmenגָּאַלgâ'al · to redeem: redeemH1350
Cross-references for Ruth 2:20
- Revelation 3:10Because you have obeyed my command to endure, I will keep you safe during the time of testing which is coming to the whole world to test those living on earth.
- 2 Samuel 2:5So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead. He said to them, “May the Lord bless you because you showed kindness to your master Saul by burying him.
- Job 29:12because I rescued the poor who called ⌞for help⌟ and the orphans who had no one to help them.
- 2 Timothy 1:16May the Lord be merciful to the family of Onesiphorus. He often took care of my needs and wasn’t ashamed that I was a prisoner.
- 2 Samuel 9:1David asked, “Is there anyone left in Saul’s family to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
- Proverbs 17:17A friend always loves, and a brother is born to share trouble.
- Philippians 4:10The Lord has filled me with joy because you again showed interest in me. You were interested but did not have an opportunity to show it.
- Ruth 3:9“Who are you?” he asked. She answered, “I am Ruth. Spread the corner of your garment over me because you are a close relative who can take care of me.”
- Ruth 4:6The man replied, “In that case I cannot assume responsibility for her. If I did, I would ruin my inheritance. Take all my rights to buy back the property for yourself, because I cannot assume that responsibility.”
- Leviticus 25:25If your brother becomes poor and sells some of his property, then the one who can assume responsibility, his nearest relative, must buy back what he sold.
- Deuteronomy 25:5When brothers live together and one of them dies without having a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother must marry her and sleep with her. He must do his duty as her brother-in-law.
- Job 19:25But I know that my defender lives, and afterwards, he will rise on the earth.
Commentaries on Ruth 2:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20To the living and to the dead - Naomi and Ruth were the living; and they were also the representatives of Elimelech and Mahlon, who were dead. Naomi was of the family; and Ruth, though not of the family, was a representative of one of its deceased branches, being the widow of Mahlon. One of our next kinsmen - מגאלינו miggoaleynu, of our redeemers, one who has the right to redeem the forfeited inheritance of the family. The word גאל goel signifies a near…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Blessed be he of the Lord - We may gather from Naomi‘s allusion to the dead that both her husband and son had been faithful servants of Jehovah, the God of Israel. His kindness to the dead consisted in raising up (as Naomi hoped) an heir to perpetuate the name; and, in general, in His care for their widows. One of our next kinsmen - The word here is גאל gā'al the redeemer, who had the right: (1) of redeeming the inheritance of the person; (2) of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-23Verses 17-23 It encourages industry, that in all labour, even that of gleaning, there is profit. Ruth was pleased with what she gained by her own industry, and was careful to secure it. Let us thus take care that we lose not those things which we have wrought, which we have gained for our souls' good, 2Jo 1:8. Parents should examine their children, as Naomi did, not to frighten or discourage them, so as to make them hate home, or tempt them to tell a lie…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20kinsman-redeemers (Hebrew go’el): The law required the go’el, the closest male relative, to assist a family member facing financial difficulties (see “The Family Redeemer” Theme Note; see also study note on Leviticus 25:25).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. the man is ... one of our next kinsmen--Hebrew, "one of our redeemers," on whom it devolves to protect us, to purchase our lands, and marry you, the widow of his next kinsman. She said, "one of them," not that there were many in the same close relationship, but that he was a very near kinsman, one other individual only having the precedence.Read the comment
Topics related to Ruth 2:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ruth 2
- 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
- EGW Writings
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