Ruth (Person) — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Moabitess and the widow of Mahlon, the son of Naomi and Elimelech, who were Ephrathites from Bethlehem living in Moab because of a severe famine in Judah. After the death of Elimelech and Naomi’s two sons, Naomi returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law Ruth during the time of the barley harvest (Ru 1:4-22). While gleaning in the barley fields of Boaz, Ruth found favor in his eyes (2:2-22). She later married Boaz, when he, serving as nearest kin to the childless Naomi, purchased Naomi’s estate to keep it within the family (4:5-13). Ruth is mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy of Christ as the mother of Obed and the great-grandmother of David (Mt 1:5).

Show passage in OET: RUT 4:5–13

OET-RV RUT 4:5

5 “When you buy the land from No’omi,” Boaz continued, “you will also need to marry Ruth, our deceased relative’s widow from Moav, so that she’ll have a son who will inherit the property and continue Elimelek’s family line.”

OET-RV RUT 4:6

6 “I can’t buy it back myself, then,” the closer relative answered. “If I did that, I would ruin my own son’s inheritance. You can have the land and the woman instead of me, because I simply can’t take it.”

OET-RV RUT 4:7

7 (At that time in Yisrael (Israel), people had a different way of buying land or exchanging goods between them. In order to make these matters legally binding, one man would take off one of his sandals and give it to the other party. That was the way people in Yisrael confirmed what they had agreed to do.)

OET-RV RUT 4:8

8 “You buy it yourself,” the relative said and he took off one of his sandals and gave it to Boaz.

OET-RV RUT 4:9

9 Then Boaz said to the respected men and to all the other people who were there, “Today you have all witnessed that I’ve bought from No’omi all the property that belonged to Elimelek, Kilyon, and Mahlon.

OET-RV RUT 4:10

10 I am also taking Ruth, Mahlon’s widow from Moav, to be my wife so that she can have a son. Everyone will consider that son to be Elimelek’s descendant and he will inherit the property and carry on Elimelek’s family name among his relatives and here in his hometown. You’ve seen and heard that today and can tell anyone who asks about it.”

OET-RV RUT 4:11

11 All the respected men, and the others who were sitting at the town gate, agreed, and they said, “Yes, we are your. We pray that Yahweh will allow this woman who will be coming into your home, to be like Rahel (Rachel) and Le’ah, the two who gave birth to our ancestors and started our people, Yisrael. May you become great in the clan of Efratah and famous here in Beyt-Lehem (Bethlehem)!

OET-RV RUT 4:12