Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss here is that this isn't just a dry list; it's tracing a path directly toward Jesus. The names Hezron, Ram, and Amminadab, though seemingly ordinary, represent crucial links in the lineage that God chose to bring salvation to the world. This brief genealogy grounds the grand story of redemption in specific, real human lives.
Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage concludes the book of Ruth by tracing the genealogy from Perez, through Hezron and Ram, to Amminadab. This lineage is significant because it ultimately leads to King David and, even more importantly, to Jesus Christ, fulfilling promises made to Israel and the nations.
Ever wondered why the Bible spends so much time listing names? These aren't just dry records; they're woven into God's grand plan.
Genealogies in the Bible serve several crucial purposes:
One name in this short verse holds connections that reach all the way to the Exodus and the leadership of Israel. Who was he, and why does he matter?
Amminadab, mentioned in Ruth 4:19, is more than just a name in a lineage. He represents a crucial connection to pivotal moments in Israel's history:
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Understand the original words
yalad · Hebrew Verb
The Hebrew word for "to father" or "to beget" signifies the act of procreation and the continuation of a biological or genealogical line. In the context of genealogies, it emphasizes the preservation of the family line and the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises through successive generations.
Boaz · Hebrew Noun
A name meaning "in his strength" or "swiftness." He was the son of Salmon and Rahab, and the husband of Ruth, playing a pivotal role in the preservation of the Messianic line. He is a type of kinsman-redeemer, illustrating God's grace in incorporating Gentiles into the lineage of the Messiah.
Obed · Hebrew Noun
A name meaning "serving" or "worshiper." He was the son of Boaz and Ruth, representing the bridge between the period of the judges and the establishment of the monarchy in Israel, continuing the line of promise.
Yishay · Hebrew Noun
A name meaning "Yahweh exists" or "gift of God." He was the son of Obed and the father of King David; he represents the common Israelite family through whom God chose to work in establishing the royal line.
David · Hebrew Noun
A name meaning "beloved." He was the second king of Israel, the "man after God's own heart," and the primary human ancestor of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The covenant made with him (the Davidic Covenant) established an eternal throne, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
This genealogy, appearing at the close of Ruth's story, anchors her foreign, humble beginnings to the most significant royal line in Israel's history. It highlights God's faithfulness in weaving even the most unlikely threads into His grand tapestry of redemption, culminating in the Messiah.
c. 1800 BC
Joseph and Jacob in Egypt
The lineage of Judah, including Hezron, likely traces back to Jacob's family who migrated to Egypt during a period of famine. This migration marked the beginning of their presence in Egypt.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
Centuries after their migration, the Israelites, including the descendants of Hezron, were led out of slavery in Egypt by Moses. This event established Israel as a distinct nation under God's covenant.
c. 1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Following the Exodus, the Israelites conquered and settled in the land of Canaan. The tribes, including Judah, were allotted their territories, setting the stage for future generations.
c. 1100 BC
Period of the Judges
After the conquest, Israel experienced a period of decentralized governance under charismatic leaders called Judges. This era was marked by cycles of faithfulness, apostasy, and oppression.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
Boaz marries Ruth
In Bethlehem, the Moabite woman Ruth marries Boaz, a relative of her deceased husband. This union is central to the lineage presented in the verse, connecting Ruth to the line of David.
c. 1000 BC
Birth of Obed
Ruth and Boaz have a son named Obed. Obed becomes the father of Jesse, who in turn is the father of King David.
c. 990 BC
Birth of David
Obed's son, Jesse, fathers David, who will become the most famous king of Israel and a pivotal figure in salvation history.
This passage directly quotes and continues the same genealogy, highlighting the lineage from Perez through Hezron, Ram, and Amminadab, showing its significance in the Messianic line.
1 Chronicles 2:9This verse lists the same individuals: Hezron fathering Ram, and Ram fathering Amminadab, providing another biblical confirmation of this specific ancestral line within the broader history of Israel.
Exodus 6:23This verse connects Amminadab to Aaron's wife, Elisheba, placing him in a significant family line within the context of the Exodus and the establishment of Israel's priesthood, demonstrating the importance of this ancestral link.
Ruth 4:17This verse immediately follows the introduction of the genealogy, naming Obed as the son of Boaz and Ruth, thus connecting this specific lineage to the birth of David's grandfather and underscoring its importance in the redemptive history leading to Jesus.
henryRuth 4:13-22: "So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son."
4:13-22 Ruth bore a son, through whom thousands and myriads were born to God; and in being the lineal ancestor of Christ, she was instrumental in the happiness of all that shall be saved by him; even of us Gentiles, as well as those of Jewish descent. She was a witness for God to the Gentile world, that he had not utterly forsaken them, but that in due time th…
clarkeRuth 4:19: "And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,"
Hezron begat Ram - He is called Aram here by the Septuagint, and also by St. Matthew, Matthew 1:3 .
What's easy to miss here is that this isn't just a dry list; it's tracing a path directly toward Jesus. The names Hezron, Ram, and Amminadab, though seemingly ordinary, represent crucial links in the lineage that God chose to bring salvation to the world. This brief genealogy grounds the grand story of redemption in specific, real human lives.
This passage concludes the book of Ruth by tracing the genealogy from Perez, through Hezron and Ram, to Amminadab. This lineage is significant because it ultimately leads to King David and, even more importantly, to Jesus Christ, fulfilling promises made to Israel and the nations.
This passage concludes the book of Ruth by tracing the genealogy from Perez, through Hezron and Ram, to Amminadab. This lineage is significant because it ultimately leads to King David and, even more importantly, to Jesus Christ, fulfilling promises made to Israel and the nations.
"Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David." — What's easy to miss here is that this isn't just a dry list; it's tracing a path directly toward Jesus. The names Hezron, Ram, and Amminadab, though seemingly ordinary, represent crucial links in the…
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Last reviewed October 2026