Ruth 4:14
“And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The women bless the Lord for giving Naomi a kinsman-redeemer whose name will be renowned.
What Does Ruth 4:14 Mean?
The women of Bethlehem turn to Naomi with rejoicing: Blessed be the LORD, who has not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. The very women who once asked, Is this Naomi? as she returned in grief, now bless God for the redeemer He has provided. Naomi, who came home empty, is empty no longer; the Lord has given her a redeemer and a future.
The blessing centers on God's faithfulness, He hath not left thee without a kinsman. The word for kinsman here is the very word for redeemer. Naomi's long night of loss has given way to morning. The God she once accused of dealing bitterly with her has, in His time, dealt with her in mercy and restoration. The women's praise reveals how completely the story has turned: from emptiness to fullness, from bitterness to blessing. The Lord who seemed to have taken everything has given back more than she dared hope, and His faithfulness becomes the theme of the whole town's joy.