RUTH 2:20 Parallel View

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The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

OET (OET-RV) “May he be blessed by Yahweh,” responded Naomi. “Yahweh hasn’t forgotten his kindness towards us who are still living and to our husbands who’ve died.” And then she added, “That man is a close relative of Elimelek. In fact, he’s one of those responsible for taking care of our family.”

Key: yellow:verbs, red:negative, green:YHWH.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by Yahweh, who has not forsaken his covenant faithfulness with the living and with the dead.” Naomi also said to her, “That man is close to us. He is one of our kinsman-redeemers.”

UST Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May Yahweh bless him! Yahweh has continued to act faithfully toward us who are still living, and to our husbands who have died.” Then Naomi said, “That man is a close relative of Elimelek. In fact, he is one of those responsible for taking care of our family.”

BSB § Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, who has not withdrawn His kindness from the living or the dead.” Naomi continued, “The man is a close relative. He is one of our kinsman-redeemers.[fn]”

2:20 The Hebrew word for kinsman-redeemer or guardian-redeemer is a legal term for the kinsman who redeems or vindicates a relative; see Leviticus 25:25–55.

OEB Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, ‘May the blessing of the Lord rest on this man who has not ceased to show his loving-kindness to the living and to the dead. The man,’ she added, ‘is a near relation of ours.’

CSB Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May the LORD bless him because he has not abandoned his kindness to the living or the dead.” Naomi continued, “The man is a close relative. He is one of our family redeemers.”

NLT “May the LORD bless him!” Naomi told her daughter-in-law. “He is showing his kindness to us as well as to your dead husband. That man is one of our closest relatives, one of our family redeemers.”

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.”

CEV "The LORD bless Boaz!" Naomi replied. "He has shown that he is still loyal to the living and to the dead. Boaz is a close relative, one of those who is supposed to look after us."

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.”

NASB Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed of the LORD who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Again Naomi said to her, “The man is our relative, he is one of our closest relatives.”

LSB Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed of Yahweh who has not forsaken his lovingkindness to the living and to the dead.” Then Naomi said to her, “The man is our relative; he is one of our kinsman redeemers.”

WEB Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by Yahweh, who has not abandoned his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Naomi said to her, “The man is a close relative to us, one of our near kinsmen.”

WMB Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, who has not abandoned his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Naomi said to her, “The man is a close relative to us, one of our near kinsmen.”

MSG Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Why, God bless that man! God hasn’t quite walked out on us after all! He still loves us, in bad times as well as good!”
Naomi went on, “That man, Ruth, is one of our circle of covenant redeemers, a close relative of ours!”

NET Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be rewarded by the Lord because he has shown loyalty to the living on behalf of the dead!” Then Naomi said to her, “This man is a close relative of ours; he is our guardian.”

LSV And Naomi says to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed [is] he of YHWH who has not forsaken His kindness with the living and with the dead”; and Naomi says to her, “The man is a relation of ours; he [is] of our redeemers.”

FBV “The Lord bless him!” Naomi exclaimed to her daughter-in-law. “He goes on showing his kindness to the living and the dead. That man is a close relative to us—a ‘family redeemer.’”[fn]

2:20 “Family redeemer”: a term for someone who had the responsibility to protect the interests of the family, particularly in the case of someone who died.

T4T Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “I hope/desire that Yahweh will bless him! He has not stopped acting kindly toward us, who are still living, and to our husbands who have died.” Then she added, “That man is a close relative of Elimelech; he is one of those who has a responsibility to help those who are his relatives.”

LEB And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by Yahweh, whose loyal love has not forsaken the living or the dead.” And Naomi said to her, “The man is a close relative for us, he is one of our redeemers.”

NRSV Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a relative of ours, one of our nearest kin.”

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.”

BBE And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, May the blessing of the Lord, who has at all times been kind to the living and to the dead, be on him. And Naomi said to her, The man is of our family, one of our near relations.

MOF No MOF RUTH book available

JPS 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 nigh of kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen.'

ASV And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Jehovah, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is nigh of kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen.

DRA And Noemi answered her: Blessed be he of the Lord: because the same kindness which he shewed to the living, he hath kept also to the dead. And again she said: The man is our kinsman.

YLT And Naomi saith to her daughter-in-law, 'Blessed [is] he of Jehovah who hath not forsaken His kindness with the living and with the dead;' and Naomi saith to her, 'The man is a relation of ours; he [is] of our redeemers.'

DBY And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Jehovah, who has not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead! And Naomi said to her, The man is near of kin to us, one of those who have the right of our redemption.

RV 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 nigh of kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen.

WBS And Naomi said to 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 to her, The man is near of kin to us, one of our next kinsmen.

KJB 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.[fn]
(And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath/has 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.)

2.20 one of…: or, one that hath right to redeem

BB And Naomi said vnto her daughter inlawe: Blessed be he of the Lord, for he ceasseth not to do good to the lyuing & to the dead. And Naomi sayd agayne vnto her: The man is nye vnto vs, and of our affinitie.
(And Naomi said unto her daughter inlawe: Blessed be he of the Lord, for he ceasseth not to do good to the lyuing and to the dead. And Naomi said again unto her: The man is nigh/near unto us, and of our affinitie.)

GNV And Naomi said vnto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord: for he ceaseth not to doe good to the liuing and to the dead. Againe Naomi saide vnto her, The man is neere vnto vs, and of our affinitie.
(And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord: for he ceaseth not to do good to the living and to the dead. Again Naomi said unto her, The man is near unto us, and of our affinitie. )

CB Naemi sayde vnto hir doughter in lawe: The blessynge of the LORDE haue he, for he hath not lefte of to be mercifull vnto the lyuynge and to the deed. And Naemi sayde vnto her: The same man belongeth vnto vs, and is oure nye kynsman.
(Naomi said unto her doughter in lawe: The blessing of the LORD have he, for he hath/has not left of to be merciful unto the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her: The same man belongeth unto us, and is our nigh/near kinsman.)

WYC To whom Noemy answeride, Blessid be he of the Lord, for he kepte also to deed men the same grace, which he yaf to the quike. And eft sche seide, He is oure kynysman.
(To whom Noemy answered, Blessed be he of the Lord, for he kepte also to dead men the same grace, which he gave to the quick/alive. And after she said, He is our kinsman.)

LUT Naemi aber sprach zu ihrer Schnur: Gesegnet sei er dem HErrn, denn er hat seine Barmherzigkeit nicht gelassen, beide an den Lebendigen und an den Toten. Und Naemi sprach zu ihr: Der Mann gehöret uns zu und ist unser Erbe.
(Naomi but spoke to ihrer Schnur: Gesegnet be he to_him HErrn, because he has his compassion not gelassen, beide at the Lebendigen and at the Toten. And Naomi spoke to ihr: The man gehöret uns to and is unser Erbe.)

CLV Cui respondit Noëmi: Benedictus sit a Domino: quoniam eamdem gratiam, quam præbuerat vivis, servavit et mortuis. Rursumque ait: Propinquus noster est homo.[fn]
(Cui respondit Noëmi: Benedictus sit a Domino: quoniam eamdem gratiam, how præbuerat vivis, servavit and mortuis. Rursumque ait: Propinquus noster it_is homo.)

2.20 Propinquus. Cognoscit propinquum mater Ecclesia per gratuita beneficia populo gentium collata, et audito nomine recordatur beneficiorum antiquorum; unde: Memor fui dierum antiquorum, meditatus sum in omnibus operibus tuis Psal. 142..

2.20 Propinquus. Cognoscit propinquum mater Ecclesia per gratuita beneficia populo gentium collata, and audito nomine recordatur beneficiorum antiquorum; unde: Memor fui dierum antiquorum, meditatus I_am in omnibus operibus tuis Psal. 142..

BRN And Noemin said to her daughter-in-law, Blessed is he of the Lord, because he has not failed in his mercy with the living and with the dead: and Noemin said to her, The man is near akin to us, he is one of our relations.

BrLXX Εἶπε δὲ Νωεμὶν τῇ νύμφῃ αὐτῆς, εὐλογητός ἐστι τῷ Κυρίῳ, ὅτι οὐκ ἐγκατέλιπε τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ζώντων καὶ μετὰ τῶν τεθνηκότων· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ Νωεμὶν, ἐγγίζει ἡμῖν ὁ ἀνὴρ, ἐκ τῶν ἀγχιστευόντων ἡμῖν ἐστι.
(Eipe de Nōemin taʸ numfaʸ autaʸs, eulogaʸtos esti tōi Kuriōi, hoti ouk egkatelipe to eleos autou meta tōn zōntōn kai meta tōn tethnaʸkotōn; kai eipen autaʸ Nōemin, engizei haʸmin ho anaʸr, ek tōn agⱪisteuontōn haʸmin esti. )

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

The Family Redeemer

The idea of a family redeemer, established in the law of Moses, finds a vivid example in the story of Ruth. In that book, the expression “family redeemer” has a specific, technical meaning. Elsewhere, the underlying Hebrew term go’el is translated “nearest relative” (Num 27:11; 35:19, 24).

According to the law, family redeemers had three main responsibilities in Israel:

1. Leviticus 25:23-34 stipulates that if an Israelite became so poor that he had to sell his land, a family member was to pay off the debt so the land would remain in the family. If no relative could purchase the land and the seller was unable to buy it back, the land still reverted to the seller or his heirs in the Jubilee (fiftieth) Year. Two examples of family redeemers buying land for their relatives are Boaz (Ruth 4:1-12) and Jeremiah (Jer 32:6-15).

2. Similarly, if an Israelite became so poor he had to sell himself into debt-slavery, a family redeemer was to buy his relative from service to a non-relative (Lev 25:35-55). The poor Israelite would pay off his debt by working for his relative, who could be expected to treat him better than a stranger would.

3. The family redeemer was to pursue justice for an Israelite killed by another’s hand, under conditions described in Num 35:9-34.

The concept of the family redeemer reminds us that God is the true owner of all things, and he commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Lev 19:18; Matt 22:39-40). The New Testament presents Jesus as the perfect family redeemer, buying us from the slavery to sin and death into which we had sold ourselves (Matt 20:28; Rom 3:24-25; Eph 1:7; Titus 2:14; Rev 5:9; cp. Exod 6:6; 15:13; Ps 130:8; Isa 44:22; 59:20; 63:9; Jer 31:11). In the spirit of the Old Testament family redeemer (such as Boaz) and following the example of our great Redeemer, we, too, are commanded to act with love and compassion toward others (Lev 19:11-18; Matt 5:43-48; 19:19; 22:37-40; Rom 13:8-10; Gal 5:14; Jas 2:8-9).

Passages for Further Study

Lev 25:23-55; Num 35:9-34; Ruth 2:20; 3:9, 12; 4:1-10; Isa 59:20; Jer 32:6-15; Matt 20:28; Rom 3:24-25; Eph 1:7; Titus 2:14; Rev 5:9

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-blessing

בָּר֥וּךְ הוּא֙ לַ⁠יהוָ֔ה

blessed he/it to/for=YHWH

Naomi is asking God to bless Boaz. You could express this as either a blessing or a prayer, in whichever way is more natural in your language. Alternate translation: “I pray that he will be blessed by Yahweh”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

בָּר֥וּךְ הוּא֙ לַ⁠יהוָ֔ה

blessed he/it to/for=YHWH

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you use an active form, you may need to start a new sentence afterward, as in the UST.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹא־עָזַ֣ב

which/who not forsaken

If it would be clearer in your language, you could use a positive expression to translate this double negative that consists of the negative particle not and the negative word forsaken. Alternate translation: "who has continued to be loyal to"

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / pronouns

אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹא־עָזַ֣ב

which/who not forsaken

Here, who could refer to: (1) Yahweh, who has continued to be faithful to the living and the dead by acting through Boaz. (2) Boaz, who is showing faithfulness to Naomi's family by helping Ruth.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

אֶת־הַ⁠חַיִּ֖ים

DOM the,living

Naomi is using the adjective living as a noun to mean those who continue to live, referring to herself and Ruth. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “with the people who are still living”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

וְ⁠אֶת־הַ⁠מֵּתִ֑ים

and=DOM the,dead

Naomi is using the adjective dead as a noun to mean those who have died. She is referring to her husband and sons. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “and with the people who have already died”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

קָר֥וֹב לָ֨⁠נוּ֙ הָ⁠אִ֔ישׁ מִֽ⁠גֹּאֲלֵ֖⁠נוּ הֽוּא

close to/for=us the=man of,redeemers,our he/it

These two sentences mean basically the same thing. The second sentence repeats the meaning of the first using different words in order to emphasize the importance of this information for the story. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine the sentences or connect them in a way that shows that the second sentence is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “That man is closely related to us, which means that he is one of our kinsman-redeemers” or “That man is closely related to us. Yes, he is one of our kinsman-redeemers”

Note 8 topic: translate-unknown

מִֽ⁠גֹּאֲלֵ֖⁠נוּ

of,redeemers,our

A kinsman-redeemer was a close male relative who had the responsibility to take care of any widows in the family. If one of his brothers died childless, he had the responsibility to marry the widow if she was still of child-bearing age, to raise a child for his brother. He would also reacquire the land his relatives had lost due to poverty and redeem family members who had sold themselves into slavery. See the Introduction for more information.

Parallel RUTH 2:20