Ruth 4:21-22 Meaning Explained

Ruth 4:21-22

Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

English Standard Version (ESV)

This verse is more than just a list of names; it’s the crucial link in a divine tapestry, showing how God weaves the extraordinary into the ordinary to fulfill His redemptive plan. The power of this short passage lies in its placement, directly preceding the genealogy that culminates in Jesus, highlighting how even seemingly simple lineage is divinely orchestrated.

What Ruth 4:21-22 means

This concluding verse wraps up the story by tracing a significant lineage, highlighting how Boaz, through his marriage to Ruth, became the father of Obed, and thus an ancestor to King David and ultimately, Jesus. It serves as a crucial link in the genealogy, showing the divine providence weaving together seemingly ordinary lives into a grand redemptive plan.

A Bridge Between Worlds

The genealogy in Ruth isn't just a dry list of names. It highlights how God weaves unlikely people into His grand story.

The verse explicitly names Salmon, Boaz, and Obed. But the deeper context, especially from Matthew's genealogy, reveals that Salmon's wife was Rahab. Rahab, a Canaanite woman known for her faith in Jericho, married Salmon. Their son, Boaz, then married Ruth, a Moabite woman. This union of a woman from Jericho and a woman from Moab, both 'outsiders' to Israel, into the lineage of King David and eventually Jesus, is absolutely remarkable! It shows God's grace extends far beyond expectations, incorporating people from diverse and even questionable backgrounds into His redemptive plan. It's a powerful reminder that God's family isn't limited by ethnicity or past mistakes.

The Covenant Connection

This short verse marks the continuation of a vital covenant line, assuring God's faithfulness through generations.

The names Salmon, Boaz, and Obed aren't just historical figures; they are crucial links in the covenant promises God made. Salmon is often identified as the Salmon who, along with his wife Rahab, became part of the Israelite community and fathered Boaz. Boaz, through his faithful actions and marriage to Ruth, secured the family line of Elimelech and Naomi, ensuring their name would not be cut off. Obed, their son, became the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David. This uninterrupted chain highlights God's unwavering commitment to His promises, particularly the promise of a coming Redeemer who would spring from Abraham's line. Each generation, even through challenges and foreign intermarriages, faithfully passes the torch of this covenant relationship.

Understand the original words

Original language

fatheredיָלַד

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.

Boazבֹּעַז

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.

Obedעוֹבֵד

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.

Jesseיִשַׁי

Historical context

Written: Likely composed during the period of the United Monarchy, possibly in the 10th century BC.
Author: Traditionally understood to be the prophet Samuel, though the book's narrative style suggests it may have been compiled later by a Jewish historian.
Location: Written from the perspective of the events in Bethlehem, likely within the land of Israel.
Genre: Narrative, characterized by its focus on relatable human characters and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

Historical background

This genealogy places Ruth, a foreigner, squarely in the lineage of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ, highlighting God's redemptive plan that extends beyond ethnic boundaries.

~1400 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites under Joshua conquered the land of Canaan, including the territories of Moab and surrounding areas. This set the stage for future interactions and potential conflicts.
c. 1100 BC
Period of the Judges
A turbulent era in Israelite history marked by cycles of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance. This period saw various local rulers and tribal conflicts.
c. 1025 BC
Establishment of the Monarchy
Saul was anointed as the first king of Israel, ushering in a new era of centralized government and national identity, which would eventually lead to the rise of David.
c. 1010 BC— this verse
Boaz Redeems and Marries Ruth
Boaz, a prominent landowner in Bethlehem, exercises his kinsman-redeemer rights to marry Ruth, a Moabite widow, ensuring the continuation of Elimelech's family line.

Key themes

01Generational lineage established
02Key figures in Messiah's line
03Fulfillment of promises

Cross-references

Matthew 1:2-3

This passage directly quotes the lineage from Ruth, highlighting Boaz's parentage by Salmon and his own fathering of Obed, confirming the genealogical importance of this line.

1 Chronicles 2:11-12

This Old Testament record also lists Salmon as the father of Boaz and Boaz as the father of Obed, reinforcing the historical and genealogical significance of this family line.

Luke 3:32

This gospel account includes Obed as the son of Boaz in Jesus' genealogy, demonstrating the continued relevance of this lineage leading to the Messiah.

Ruth 4:13

This verse immediately preceding the one provided shows that Boaz's fathering of Obed was through his marriage to Ruth, connecting the genealogical statement to the narrative's central relationship.

Hebrews 11:31

This chapter on faith mentions Rahab, Boaz's mother, highlighting the faith of those in this very lineage and connecting their actions to God's redemptive plan.

Scholarly commentary

Ruth 4:21: "And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,"

And Salmon begat Boaz,.... Of Rahab the harlot, whom he married, Matthew 1:5 the very same person that makes a principal part of this book, and whom the Targum here takes to be the judge Ibzan; see Gill on Ruth 1:1 . and Boaz begat Obed; of Ruth; of whom see the preceding verses.
gill

Ruth 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…
henry

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What Ruth 4:21-22 means

Original language

fatheredיָלַד

yalad · Hebrew Verb

Boazבֹּעַז

Boaz · Hebrew Noun

Obedעוֹבֵד

Obed · Hebrew Noun

Jesseיִשַׁי

Historical context

Written: Likely composed during the period of the United Monarchy, possibly in the 10th century BC.
Author: Traditionally understood to be the prophet Samuel, though the book's narrative style suggests it may have been compiled later by a Jewish historian.
Location: Written from the perspective of the events in Bethlehem, likely within the land of Israel.
Genre: Narrative, characterized by its focus on relatable human characters and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

Historical background

This genealogy places Ruth, a foreigner, squarely in the lineage of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ, highlighting God's redemptive plan that extends beyond ethnic boundaries.

~1400 BC

Conquest of Canaan

Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites under Joshua conquered the land of Canaan, including the territories of Moab and surrounding areas. This set the stage for future interactions and potential conflicts.

c. 1100 BC

Period of the Judges

A turbulent era in Israelite history marked by cycles of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance. This period saw various local rulers and tribal conflicts.

c. 1025 BC

Establishment of the Monarchy

Saul was anointed as the first king of Israel, ushering in a new era of centralized government and national identity, which would eventually lead to the rise of David.

c. 1010 BC— this verse

Boaz Redeems and Marries Ruth

Boaz, a prominent landowner in Bethlehem, exercises his kinsman-redeemer rights to marry Ruth, a Moabite widow, ensuring the continuation of Elimelech's family line.