4:14a
Then: his verse happened after Ruth’s baby was born.
the women said to Naomi: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the women refers to the women who lived in Bethlehem.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
The village women said to Naomi (NET Bible)
-or-
Then the women of the town said to Naomi (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Then the women said to Naomi (New Revised Standard Version)
4:14b
Blessed be the LORD: The women meant that the LORD deserved to have people praise him. They themselves praised the LORD, and they encouraged Naomi and everyone else to praise the LORD for what he had done for Naomi and her dead husband’s family.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
May the Lord be praised (NET Bible)
-or-
We should praise the LORD
-or-
Praise the Lord ! (Contemporary English Version)
4:14c
who has not left you this day without: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as who has not left you this day without means that the LORD has given a kinsman-redeemer to Naomi. In many languages, it may be best to translate this as a positive statement rather than use a double negative (“not left…without”).
Here is another way to translate this phrase:
has provided you with
this day: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this day means “today” or “now.” Perhaps the women were speaking on the very day that Ruth gave birth to a son.
a kinsman-redeemer: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as kinsman-redeemer refers to a close male relative who is responsible for helping or taking care of other relatives. The women were talking about the newborn baby, not Boaz. This is made clear in 4:15c. The women expected that when the boy grew up, he would provide for his grandmother in her old age.
Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:
Today he has given you a grandson to care of you. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
He has now provided you with a grandson who will care for you when you are old.
4:14d
May his name become famous: The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as May his name become famous means that the women wanted the baby to be well-known. In 4:11e, all the people had said that they desired that Boaz would be “famous.” In some languages, the same translation can be used in both verses.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
May the boy become well-known
-or-
We pray that the boy will grow up to be famous (Contemporary English Version)
in Israel: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in Israel means that they wanted him to be famous throughout the land of Israel and not just in Bethlehem.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
throughout Israel (New International Version)
-or-
everywhere in Israel (Contemporary English Version)
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